1900 - 1930
Fireworks on the night of the opening of the new bridge over the East River. 1907. Courtesy of Harper's Magazine,
Williamsburg’s location and proximity to Manhattan had made it a primary destination for those fleeing the crowded city slums or immigrating from countries abroad. Housing policy improvements helped to establish New Law Tenements in the area, allowing better light, ventilation, and plumbing into buildings that were quickly popping up throughout the Southside.