Oral history interview with George Gabriel, 2016

Biographical Note

George Gabriel was born in Hawaii in the 1930s. He know from childhood that he wanted to live in New York. In 1951, he joined the Navy. He eventually was stationed in Staten Island, and moved to Manhattan after his service was completed. In 1956, he married Julia, a seamstress from Puerto Rico. They had three children. The family was living in the Morningside Heights neighborhood by the 1960s. Before Blennerhasset, they lived in landlord Morningside House's property at 503 West 111th Street, but the landlord sold the property. As a result, Gabriel moved into Blennerhasset apartments in 1969. He served on the tenant co-op board for seven years and helped plant trees on the block as a part of the 111th Street Block Association. He worked as a dental technician in Brooklyn. Gabriel was still living at Blennerhasset at the time of the interview

Scope and Contents

In this interview, George Gabriel recalls moving-in into the Blennerhasset apartments from a neighboring building in 1969 and the events that led up to, and followed, the creation of one of New York City’s first tenant co-ops at the Blennerhasset. As a member of the 111th Street Block Association, Gabriel helped with planting trees and maintaining the Morningside Heights neighborhood. Gabriel describes life in the Blennerhasset, shares his philosophy of a co-op as a community, and notes changes to the neighborhood over the years.

Subjects

• Gabriel, George--Interviews.
• Gentrification--United States--20th century.
• Home ownership--Social aspects.
• Interviews.
• Morningside Heights (New York, N.Y.)--Buildings, structures, etc.
• Morningside Heights (New York, N.Y.)--History.
• New York (N.Y.)--History.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Phillips, Tom, interviewer.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2018