Picture Sherman Creek a forgotten waterway. Now it’s a vibrant green space. Sherman Creek in upper Manhattan has a rich history. It wasn’t always the idyllic park it is today. Once a stream flowing further inland Sherman Creek now forms an indentation in the Harlem River. The creek’s name comes from the Sherman family who owned land there in the early 1800s. We don’t know much about them though.
In the 1800s the area was quite different. Maps from 1832 show Sherman Creek as an indentation next to Fort George. The city grid only reached as far as 155th Street then. An ambitious plan to extend Tenth Avenue across Sherman Creek never came to fruition. The proposed bridge remained a dream. That section of Tenth Avenue in Inwood however kept its name.
Sherman Creek played a crucial part in the Revolutionary War. The valley where Hessian Spring fed Sherman Creek was a battlefield. It was a key landing spot for British troops in 1776. Their successful attack led to the fall of Fort George and Fort Washington within a day.
Sherman Creek’s history isn’t just about war though. It was also home to unusual characters. Isobel and Peggy Stone daughters of a wealthy Pennsylvania governor lived on a barge in Sherman Creek. Their rags-to-riches story made national headlines. Isobel pursued a career in entertainment while Peggy sculpted. Their brief time on Sherman Creek is a fascinating chapter in the creek’s story.
Later Sherman Creek became a popular spot for rowing. The area between Sherman Creek and the 145th Street Bridge was known as Scullers’ Row. It rivaled Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row in popularity. Sadly pollution and development led to the decline of rowing there. Fordham University’s boathouse was even destroyed by arson in 1978.
A power generating station once stood at Sherman Creek. The Sherman Creek Generating Station opened in 1913. Thousands visited this impressive structure. Artists Aaron Douglas and Wladyslaw Brzosko even painted it. The station became obsolete in the 1970s. After several failed redevelopment attempts it was demolished in 1997.
Today thanks to the New York Restoration Project Sherman Creek is thriving. A massive cleanup removed tons of debris. Native plants were replanted. Swindler Cove Park a five-acre preserve was created. The Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse built in a Victorian style now hosts rowing events. Bette Midler played a key role in its restoration. She even got her hands dirty during the cleanup.
Sherman Creek’s transformation is a testament to the power of restoration. It showcases a remarkable comeback from neglect and pollution. The creek’s history is now visible in its revitalized form. It’s a beautiful place now. A place where nature and history beautifully blend.