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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| New York Today: Our Past in Pencils | New York Today: Our Past in Pencils |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Updated, 7:57 a.m. | |
| Good morning on this brisk Tuesday. | Good morning on this brisk Tuesday. |
| With school back in full swing (except, that is, for all the days off recently), let’s sharpen our knowledge of New York history. | With school back in full swing (except, that is, for all the days off recently), let’s sharpen our knowledge of New York history. |
| Today’s lesson: How our city was once the capital of pencil manufacturing in the United States. | Today’s lesson: How our city was once the capital of pencil manufacturing in the United States. |
| In 1861, a Bavarian immigrant named Eberhard Faber established the country’s first lead-pencil factory — eventually named the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company — in a four-story building overlooking the East River near 42nd Street. | In 1861, a Bavarian immigrant named Eberhard Faber established the country’s first lead-pencil factory — eventually named the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company — in a four-story building overlooking the East River near 42nd Street. |
| (This specific writing utensil ran in the family: The Faber clan began producing pencils in Germany as early as 1761, and the New York factory was a branch of that booming business.) | (This specific writing utensil ran in the family: The Faber clan began producing pencils in Germany as early as 1761, and the New York factory was a branch of that booming business.) |
| About a decade after it opened, the factory, which had grown to employ hundreds of workers, was destroyed in a fire that incinerated pencils and machinery then worth an estimated $250,000. | About a decade after it opened, the factory, which had grown to employ hundreds of workers, was destroyed in a fire that incinerated pencils and machinery then worth an estimated $250,000. |
| And so Mr. Faber set up shop in a factory in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where his company pioneered the production of colored pencils. (The company also made rubber erasers in Newark.) | And so Mr. Faber set up shop in a factory in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where his company pioneered the production of colored pencils. (The company also made rubber erasers in Newark.) |
| Other items in its repertoire: eyebrow pencils, eyeliners, fountain pens, thumbtacks and pencil cases. | Other items in its repertoire: eyebrow pencils, eyeliners, fountain pens, thumbtacks and pencil cases. |
| In 1956, as many of Brooklyn’s manufacturing businesses fizzled out in the wake of World War II, Mr. Faber sold its headquarters in Greenpoint to move operations to Pennsylvania. | In 1956, as many of Brooklyn’s manufacturing businesses fizzled out in the wake of World War II, Mr. Faber sold its headquarters in Greenpoint to move operations to Pennsylvania. |
| Nonetheless, it’s worth penciling in some time for a stroll along Greenpoint Avenue and Kent and West streets. | Nonetheless, it’s worth penciling in some time for a stroll along Greenpoint Avenue and Kent and West streets. |
| Among the mishmash of laundromats, graffiti-covered walls, boutiques and bodegas, you can still see the factory. | Among the mishmash of laundromats, graffiti-covered walls, boutiques and bodegas, you can still see the factory. |
| The company’s emblem — a large star inside a diamond — crowns several of the area’s red-brick buildings. | The company’s emblem — a large star inside a diamond — crowns several of the area’s red-brick buildings. |
| And larger-than-life, perfectly sharpened, golden-yellow pencils decorate the facades. | And larger-than-life, perfectly sharpened, golden-yellow pencils decorate the facades. |
| You can learn more from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which designated the two-block complex a historic district in 2007. | You can learn more from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which designated the two-block complex a historic district in 2007. |
| Write on. | Write on. |
| Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
| Things are getting chilly. | Things are getting chilly. |
| The last two nights have seen lows of 47 degrees, the coldest temperatures recorded in the city since mid-May. | The last two nights have seen lows of 47 degrees, the coldest temperatures recorded in the city since mid-May. |
| And more sweater weather is on the way. | And more sweater weather is on the way. |
| Today’s high is near 62. | Today’s high is near 62. |
| But say hi to the sun, it will be out all day. | |
| • For homeless children in the city, getting to school is the hard part. [New York Times] | • For homeless children in the city, getting to school is the hard part. [New York Times] |
| • Despite his short tenure as Brooklyn’s district attorney, the agenda of Kenneth P. Thompson may endure. [New York Times] | • Despite his short tenure as Brooklyn’s district attorney, the agenda of Kenneth P. Thompson may endure. [New York Times] |
| • Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign was wary of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a sentiment that dated back years and grew worse as the primary contest gained steam, according to emails released by WikiLeaks. [New York Times] | • Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign was wary of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a sentiment that dated back years and grew worse as the primary contest gained steam, according to emails released by WikiLeaks. [New York Times] |
| • The Trump Taj Mahal closed after 26 years, the fifth casino to shut down in Atlantic City since 2014. [CBS] | • The Trump Taj Mahal closed after 26 years, the fifth casino to shut down in Atlantic City since 2014. [CBS] |
| • By the end of the century, New York could be hit by superstorms as powerful as Hurricane Sandy every 20 years, according to a new study. [Newsday] | • By the end of the century, New York could be hit by superstorms as powerful as Hurricane Sandy every 20 years, according to a new study. [Newsday] |
| • The city has dropped a plan to convert a Holiday Inn Express in Maspeth, Queens, into a homeless shelter, citing local opposition. [Gothamist] | • The city has dropped a plan to convert a Holiday Inn Express in Maspeth, Queens, into a homeless shelter, citing local opposition. [Gothamist] |
| • The number of food vendor permits may be doubled. [New York Times] | • The number of food vendor permits may be doubled. [New York Times] |
| • The M.T.A. is testing cars on the Second Avenue subway line. [New York Magazine] … | • The M.T.A. is testing cars on the Second Avenue subway line. [New York Magazine] … |
| • … and garbage cans with nets designed to help drivers throw trash into them from their vehicles are also getting a trial. [DNAinfo] | • … and garbage cans with nets designed to help drivers throw trash into them from their vehicles are also getting a trial. [DNAinfo] |
| • A woman who accused former Gov. Eliot Spitzer of choking her at the Plaza Hotel was arrested on suspicion of trying to extort him. [Daily News] | • A woman who accused former Gov. Eliot Spitzer of choking her at the Plaza Hotel was arrested on suspicion of trying to extort him. [Daily News] |
| • The police have arrested a man who is accused of groping several young women on the subway, including twin sisters in separate attacks about five years apart. [New York Post] | • The police have arrested a man who is accused of groping several young women on the subway, including twin sisters in separate attacks about five years apart. [New York Post] |
| • A stolen forklift was used to flip a Parks Department car in Brooklyn Bridge Park. [A Walk in the Park] | • A stolen forklift was used to flip a Parks Department car in Brooklyn Bridge Park. [A Walk in the Park] |
| • “Go Back to China”: Readers respond to racist insults shouted at a New York Times editor. [New York Times] | |
| • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “A Gift for the City of New York” | • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “A Gift for the City of New York” |
| • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Tuesday Briefing. |
| • Mr. de Blasio and the city’s police commissioner, James P. O’Neill, will address 700 new officers at a swearing-in ceremony at the Police Academy in Flushing, Queens. 1 p.m. | • Mr. de Blasio and the city’s police commissioner, James P. O’Neill, will address 700 new officers at a swearing-in ceremony at the Police Academy in Flushing, Queens. 1 p.m. |
| • Enter a lottery to take part in New York Philharmonic Off the Grid, a series of chamber music parties at secret locations across the city. | • Enter a lottery to take part in New York Philharmonic Off the Grid, a series of chamber music parties at secret locations across the city. |
| • Check out a spooky, 360-degree Halloween pop-up shop at Macy’s Herald Square. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. [Free admission] | • Check out a spooky, 360-degree Halloween pop-up shop at Macy’s Herald Square. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. [Free admission] |
| • It’s New York Techweek — get the lowdown about the latest gadgets and gizmos, at panels, parties and other events. Times, locations and prices vary. | • It’s New York Techweek — get the lowdown about the latest gadgets and gizmos, at panels, parties and other events. Times, locations and prices vary. |
| • Watch stand-up comedians improvise TED Talks in a show at Q.E.D. in Astoria, Queens. 9 p.m. [$7] | • Watch stand-up comedians improvise TED Talks in a show at Q.E.D. in Astoria, Queens. 9 p.m. [$7] |
| • Looking ahead: Take a scenic, Halloween-themed ride up the Hudson River aboard New York Water Taxi’s Sleepy Hollow Ferry on Oct. 15. [Tickets here] | • Looking ahead: Take a scenic, Halloween-themed ride up the Hudson River aboard New York Water Taxi’s Sleepy Hollow Ferry on Oct. 15. [Tickets here] |
| Regular service has been restored on Long Island Rail Road. | Regular service has been restored on Long Island Rail Road. |
| • Subway and PATH | • Subway and PATH |
| • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak | • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak |
| • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. | • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. |
| • Alternate-side parking: in effect until Oct. 12. | • Alternate-side parking: in effect until Oct. 12. |
| • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry | • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry |
| • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark | • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark |
| At sundown, many Jews in our city — which has the largest Jewish population outside Israel — will begin observing Yom Kippur. | At sundown, many Jews in our city — which has the largest Jewish population outside Israel — will begin observing Yom Kippur. |
| The holiday, known as the Day of Atonement, is one of the most important dates of the Jewish calendar. | The holiday, known as the Day of Atonement, is one of the most important dates of the Jewish calendar. |
| This is the first year that the United Nations has recognized Yom Kippur as an official holiday. | This is the first year that the United Nations has recognized Yom Kippur as an official holiday. |
| The decision was made in December to add the Jewish High Holy Day to the other major holidays officially recognized, which include Christmas, Good Friday, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. | The decision was made in December to add the Jewish High Holy Day to the other major holidays officially recognized, which include Christmas, Good Friday, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. |
| For many, the period of repentance that started with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, which was celebrated last week, culminates in Yom Kippur. | For many, the period of repentance that started with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, which was celebrated last week, culminates in Yom Kippur. |
| Those observing will typically spend a full day — this evening through nightfall tomorrow — fasting, praying, reflecting on self-improvement and asking God for forgiveness. | Those observing will typically spend a full day — this evening through nightfall tomorrow — fasting, praying, reflecting on self-improvement and asking God for forgiveness. |
| New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. | New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. |
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| Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
| You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |