The neighborhood of Chelsea date backs to 1750 where a retired American soldier by the name of Thomas Clarke decided to spend the last decades of his life. He built his house in this neighborhood because at the time it was over three miles away from the actual development of New York City giving him peace and quiet in the last half of his life. The expression soldiers used in the 1700’s “Dead as Chelsea” was thought to be where Thomas came up with the name of this neighborhood. This phrase seemed to suggest rest and quiet to Thomas so he ultimately came up with the name Chelsea for this district. In 1769 people started to actually settle in Chelsea and the name “Gloucester” which was originally what most people called this area was thrown away and Chelsea became the official name of the area. Into the 1800’s many writers and artists moved to Chelsea. Clemet C. Moore was said to have been inspired to write “A visit from Saint Nicholas” one Christmas eve while spending it in Chelsea. Fashion also streamed into Chelsea in the early 1860’s where fashion designer Madame Montez wrote her book entitled “Arts and Secrets of Beauty.” In the 1870’s wealthy people started to move to Chelsea because of the increase number of brownstones and churches being built. Not to mention in 1871 on Ninth Avenue and elevated train was built making travel in the city and around the Chelsea area much easier. Many more artists and writers such as Mark Twain and Andy Warhol stayed at the Hotel Chelsea and are said to have found much inspiration for their work though the walls and halls of the hotel.
In the early 1900’s, the Chelsea Piers got their names and was know for much of the ships coming in and out of the harbor as well as a place to walk and have recreation time. In 1928 one of the largest apartment complexes called the London Gardens was built up on twenty third Street and stretched through the entire block from ninth avenue to tenth avenue. The Chelsea Hotel became more and more renowned in the 1960’s and 70’s where art pieces where being hung in the lobby almost as an exhibit. In 1978 in the bathroom of the Chelsea Hotel Sid Vicious, guitarist of the Sex Pistols killed his girlfriend for what people still say is for some unknown reason. Thomas Wolfe spent the last few days of his life in the Chelsea Hotel telling people that “He just couldn’t go home.” He died of old age in one of the rooms there.
Present day Chelsea has changed much over the years and has kept that same artist feel to it even after over two hundred years of being around. The only addition to the artistic feel is the Gay scene that evokes the streets of Chelsea everyday. The real estate is higher than ever in Chelsea, and in fact almost every resident in Chelsea pays more rent in one month than Thomas Clarke paid for his entire land in Chelsea back in 1750. Most local businesses have gone and major pharmacies such as Duane Reade, super markets like Gristedes, and chain restaurants have sprawled up through Chelsea. Chelsea became the Gay area of New York City because of the many protested that were held back in the 1960’s and 70’s following the Stonewall riots. The Gay population also needed to expand itself and thus needed a neighborhood to thrive and protect each other in. This neighborhood was Chelsea. Looking back at the history behind Chelsea and seeing that it indeed was
straight at one time gives me more information and different angles to my story. Chelsea never seemed like a crime ridden area even when she was straight. In the past year there was only one murder in Chelsea. This history behind Chelsea is fascinating and unlike what I initially expected with this neighborhood.
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