Terminal City

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“Is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud monuments, until there will be nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children? If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future?”

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis wrote those words to the mayor of New York City in 1975, when she learned of plans to demolish the majestic Grand Central Terminal. Her handwritten plea in support of the Municipal Art Society’s valiant efforts to save the iconic Manhattan building helped turn the tide. And now, in the second century of its storied life, Grand Central is the thriving centerpiece of the city.

Some of my most vivid childhood memories involve train trips to Manhattan. I remember arriving on the lower concourse, walking up the ramps with a tight grip on my mother’s hand. We would always stop to take in the enormity of the great space, look up at the magical celestial ceiling, watch the images on the massive Kodak Colorama screen, amuse ourselves for a moment in the Whispering Gallery, and marvel at the masses of people at the beginning or end of a day’s journey.

I love Grand Central Terminal. And I was pleased to find how many others-New Yorkers and citizens of the world-share my passion for its design, its purpose, and its intrigue.

The brilliant architects who revitalized and restored Grand Central Terminal in the 1990s were with the firm Beyer Blinder Belle. It was through the eyes of one of their visionaries, Frank Prial Jr., that I got to see the building from top to bottom, learn riveting details that could make up an entire book, come to understand the meticulous care that went into the project, and walk the glass catwalks. It was one of the most thrilling days of my professional life.

Then I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Daniel Brucker, who included me in a most unusual tour. Danny started working at Metro-North in 1987 as a press secretary and is the terminal’s best ambassador to this day. Tracks, tunnels, presidential private trains, hidden staircases-they all come alive because of his passion for the history, and mystery, of GCT.

The Municipal Art Society, in conjunction with Metro-North and the MTA, offers tours by docents every day. I walked them frequently and learned something new on every visit.

Sam Roberts is a great journalist and the author of many fine books. He is also a longtime friend. His 2013 book-Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America-is not only a fantastic read but was my go-to source for facts, stories, photographs, and inspiration.

Other interesting works I relied on for research include Grand Central: Gateway to a Million Lives by John Belle and Maxinne R. Leighton, Grand Central Terminal: 100 Years of a New York Landmark by the New York Transit Museum and Anthony W. Robins, and Grand Central Terminal: Railroads, Engineering, and Architecture in New York City by Kurt C. Schlichting.

One of the most fascinating books I read in preparation for writing was The Mole People by Jennifer Toth, a compassionate and frank look at life underground.

As always, I endlessly clip good news stories from my favorite papers. The New York Times is a wonderful source for metropolitan life pieces, especially Corey Kilgannon’s story on the ratters, this time out. And the Boston Globe staff piece titled “The Fall of the House of Tsarnaev” was informative and compelling. To all those who survived the marathon bombing-Boston Strong-my boundless respect.

I don’t know the federal prosecutors who tried the actual cannibal cop case, but I have great admiration for their work and words. To assistant United States attorneys Randall Jackson and Hadassa Waxman-my gratitude.

My real-life heroes remain the prosecutors and police officers who work on the side of the angels every day, especially in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and NYPD. Melissa Mourges and Martha Bashford-you two keep my forensics honest.

My team at Dutton is extraordinary-and patient. It all starts at the very top with Brian Tart and most especially buoys me up under the leadership of my superb editor, Ben Sevier. My thanks always to Christine Ball, Jamie McDonald, Jessica Renheim, Stephanie Kelly, Carrie Swetonic, and Andrea Santoro. To David Shelley and my Little, Brown UK family, cheers always.

Esther Newberg is first and foremost my friend. That she is a formidable force in my corner at ICM Partners is an added starter.

As always, my family and my friends are my greatest joy. There are several muses who hover over me whenever I sit down to write-Justin Feldman, Bobbie and Bones Fairstein, Karen Cooper. Stay close.

And this one is for Michael, whose friendship of forty-five years is a gift beyond imagining.