Letters to Phil

The introduction is a super interesting but brief history of NYC in the mid-19th century, and particularly the Schermerhorn family. The rest are illustrated letters from the author, Gene, to his nephew, Phil, in the late 18th century describing what it was like growing up in New York in the 1850s.

While the letters themselves are quite boring, and the illustrations immature and likely inaccurate, I did find it fascinating that New York was essentially just farms and country side north of 23rd street, with literal pigs running amok on 6th ave. Wild (literally)!