Entry from
October 12, 2004
Ladies’ Mile
Everyone knows that the "ladies' mile" is that stretch of shopping on Sixth Avenue, from 14th to 23rd Streets. But when was it called that?
From the Encyclopedia of New York City, pg. 650: "The name retrospectively applied to a shopping district along Broadway and 6th Avenue that took form in the mid nineteenth century, as wealthy residents of lower Manhattan moved north."
Retrospectively? An early "ladies' mile" just isn't in the full-text digitized New York Times. The best citation is 1912 - and "ladies' mile" is Fifth Avenue!
24 November 1912, New York Times, pg. SM12:
Search for New York's "Soul."
Mr. (James - ed.) Milne realized that the job of a transcriber of travel impressions carries with it stern duties, so he rushed forth bent on finding the "soul" of New York. He didn't have an easy time. New York, judging from what he says, doesn't wear its soul on its sleeve.
First he tackled Fifth Avenue on his quest. But his call of "Soul, Soul!" was answered by groups, bevies, swarms of delightful American girls. The "ladies' mile" is the neat name he applied to our finest avenue's business section.
16 July 1956, Hammond (Ind.) Times, pg. 11, col. 6:
The mercantile palace was built in 1862 on Broadway's then fashionable "Ladies' Mile." The Wanamakers took it over in 1896 and abandoned it in 1954 to move to the suburbs.
From the Encyclopedia of New York City, pg. 650: "The name retrospectively applied to a shopping district along Broadway and 6th Avenue that took form in the mid nineteenth century, as wealthy residents of lower Manhattan moved north."
Retrospectively? An early "ladies' mile" just isn't in the full-text digitized New York Times. The best citation is 1912 - and "ladies' mile" is Fifth Avenue!
24 November 1912, New York Times, pg. SM12:
Search for New York's "Soul."
Mr. (James - ed.) Milne realized that the job of a transcriber of travel impressions carries with it stern duties, so he rushed forth bent on finding the "soul" of New York. He didn't have an easy time. New York, judging from what he says, doesn't wear its soul on its sleeve.
First he tackled Fifth Avenue on his quest. But his call of "Soul, Soul!" was answered by groups, bevies, swarms of delightful American girls. The "ladies' mile" is the neat name he applied to our finest avenue's business section.
16 July 1956, Hammond (Ind.) Times, pg. 11, col. 6:
The mercantile palace was built in 1862 on Broadway's then fashionable "Ladies' Mile." The Wanamakers took it over in 1896 and abandoned it in 1954 to move to the suburbs.