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All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan The Wishbones of McSorley's Old Ale House

The Wishbones of McSorley's Old Ale House

Touching mementoes from those who didn't make it back from World War I still hang in one of New York's oldest bars.

New York, New York

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Luke Spencer
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The wishbones of departed soldiers.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
The wishbones of departed soldiers.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Wishbones   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Wishbones   Luke J Spencer
“Dark”   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Behind the bar.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Drinking by the cast iron stove.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
McSorley’s Old Ale House   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Behind the bar at McSorley’s.   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Nothing removed since 1910!   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
McSorley’s Old Ale House   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Poignant.   tylercole / Atlas Obscura User
The bar   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Pictures on the wall in the back room.   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  wolftoons / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Ask the many discerning New Yorkers, "light or dark?" and they will instantly know you are referring to the venerable institution of McSorley's Old Ale house. Quenching the thirsts of everyone from Abraham Lincoln to the lower denizens of the Bowery since 1854, John McSorley served his own beer in orders of two distinctive small glasses, with the only option being whether you chose light or dark. 

Not much has changed in McSorley's since the days when the Five Points dominated lower Manhattan. Sawdust still covers the floor, a pair of Houdini's supposed handcuffs lie chained to the bar railing (these were actually made after Houdini's death; the older handcuffs more likely associated with Houdini are hanging up higher by the bar), and the walls are covered with portraits of long forgotten politicians, pre-theatre dinner menus, and newspaper reports of early baseball games. The last time a piece of memorabilia was taken down off the wall was in 1910. No wonder the bar has painted on the glass facing East 7th street: "We were here before you were born." 

But amidst all the relics of over 150 years of New York history, hanging over the bar's electric lamps, lies a touching memorial to the First World War. McSorley's started a tradition of giving soldiers departing for the front a leaving present of a turkey and ale dinner. The turkey wishbones were placed by the soldiers on the lamp rail hanging over the bar for good fortune and a safe return home. On their return, the lucky ones would take down their wishbone and celebrate long into the night. Visitors today glancing up over the bar will see two dozen wishbones, long since covered in dust, left behind by the young soldiers who didn't return home. Back in 2011, due to health regulations, they finally had to remove them and clean the dust before replacing the small bones, some disintegrating at the touch. Yet they are still a simple and poignant reminder to the men who never again were asked the pleasurable question, "light or dark?"

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Added By

Luke J Spencer

Edited By

Rin Wolfe, tylercole, wolftoons, Julius Spada

  • Rin Wolfe
  • tylercole
  • wolftoons
  • Julius Spada

Published

September 29, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/nyregion/07wishbone.html
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/dining/reviews/comfort-from-the-cold-winds.html
  • http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2008/06/podcast-mcsorley-old-ale-house.html
The Wishbones of McSorley's Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street
New York, New York, 10003
United States
40.728772, -73.989688
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