Peripatetic Perambulation (NYC Metro): Port Washington, NY History Seen Through Its Sewer Manhole Covers

Manhasset Bay from the Port Washington Waterfront Walkway

A week or so ago I joined a SW/OC/UTC hike in Port Washington, NY. I had been there many times but not so much for walking. Upon exiting the railroad station, I stumbled across a sewer manhole cover dated 1916. I normally watch for manhole covers but only casually as they are only occasionally entertaining. So I sort of dismissed this one as a mildly interesting reflection of early 20th century civic pride. The railroad came in 1898 so that by 1916 Port Washington was a thriving bedroom community for NYC. Which meant sanitary sewers. It is possible the 1916 cover is from the town's first sewers, or may have reflected a need realized a bit later for expansion or improved maintenance access. The subject is fascinating and I refer you to www.sewerhistory.com rather than elaborating here. Anyway it was from the very early years of the Port Washington sewer system.

Port Washington Manhole Cover Timeline

Then I noticed one from 1928. Sensing a possible window into Port Washington's past, I started photographing manhole covers - unfortunately not being able to relocate the 1916 one rushing for the train at the end of the hike. I managed to capture examples from 1928, 1929, 1946, 1948, 1960, 1961 and 1987. None from the 1930s, 1950s, or the 1990s and later. I'd like to think there was some deep significance to this (the great depression in the 1930s for instance) but it is almost certainly because my limited route simply didn't pass covers from these other decades. Perhaps a scarcity of post-1987 covers reflects that Port Washington was largely built out by that time.

The geographical distribution of the manhole covers possibly illustrates the timeline of development for different parts of Port Washington. A much more thorough survey than I will ever undertake would be required to properly test this. But since my camera has GPS, it is easy enough to produce a map showing the locations of the ones I did photograph. Click Here for the Map. Trends are not obvious to me, but as noted the data set is rather limited.

Ghosts of the Past

Other manhole covers in Port Washington also harken to times past. For example those of the often reviled and now extinct LILCO and Ma Bell. And there are plenty of ordinary manhole covers about but I did not photograph any of them.

“Port Washington” itself is a curious entity, at least from a legal perspective. Wikipedia defines it as a hamlet and “census designated place”, or CDP, within the town of North Hempstead. In New York a hamlet would essentially be an unincorporated village (without defined borders) while a CDP is a census bureau abstraction created for statistical purposes (with defined borders). Further, despite what Wikipedia says, the CDP excludes four incorporated villages (with defined borders) – Manorhaven, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Sands Point. Manhole covers labeled “Port Washington” were seen in the CDP proper and at least two of the incorporated villages. Local residents think of all of these places as just the town of “Port Washington”. And the manhole covers tell us this has been the case since at least 1916 – probably earlier.

Sands Point Preserve

Of course the hike wasn't really about observing and photographing manhole covers. Not surprisingly I was the only participant engaged in such activity. Rather the main highlights were the waterfront walkway along Manhasset Bay and Sands Point Preserve with its Long Island north shore gold coast mansions, woodland trails, and magnificent views of Long Island Sound. The weather was great if a bit cool and the hike well attended. Thanks to Bill W. for leading a great hike.

As for manhole covers, don't expect a connect-the-dots hike anytime soon. But there are precedents. Artist Michele Brody has conducted manhole cover walks on 14th Street in Manhattan and provides an informative self-guided tour brochure (click here). But for me, manhole covers are best as adornments to peripatetic perambulations based on other themes.

Finally, here are a few more hike highlights: