The small playground in front of building 9 at the Marble Hill housing development was the backdrop for a special reunion Saturday, which attracted former residents of the project from as far as Switzerland to honor its memory on its 60th anniversary.
On Friday, Coogan’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Washington Heights hosted an informal gathering to launch Marble Hill Weekend. Then, on Saturday, about 40 past Marble Hill residents and their families assembled to pay tribute to Ted Corbitt, a legendary Olympic runner who grew up and trained in Marble Hill. His son, Gary Corbitt, flew to New York City from Florida for the occasion. A plan is in motion to rename the corner of 228th Street and Broadway “Ted Corbitt Way.”
“In so many ways I’m trying to preserve my father’s legacy,” said Mr. Corbitt in a speech he made at the ceremony. “What better way than to name a street after him. That’s tremendous.”
Before Mr. Corbitt’s speech, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez presented a check for $350,000 to Marble Hill for security cameras on behalf of the New York City Council. Marble Hill’s former residents had taken notice of how the development wasn’t as safe as it used to be.
“I see Marble Hill as a reflection of society in itself. I see more violence than there was before, and less respect for elders,” said Tom Lockhart, one of the principal organizers of the reunion. “Something drastic has to happen to get that in order.”
Mr. Lockhart lived in Marble Hill from 1965 to 1976, when he moved to Europe to play professional basketball, where he has lived ever since.
He recalled getting into scuffles over the basketball court with the Irish boys. Eventually, though, they decided not to fight and developed a mutual respect for each other. Mr. Lockhart said he even formed a lifelong friendship with one of them, who has visited Mr. Lockhart at his home in Switzerland several times.
The changing demographics of the neighborhood was a major topic of conversation among the reunion’s participants.
