Laura Mullowney sent us the photos below of herself in the summer of 1989, when she was a nanny taking children to Riverside Park. Laura was born in Hoboken, but grew up on West 112th — her bedroom had a view of Tom’s Restaurant. “Every morning we [she and her siblings] walked hand in hand to the Hungarian Pastry Shop for the freshest prune danish.”
These shots were taken in Riverside Park, during a summer break while she was a student at Barnard. The top one, she says, is around 90th street.
Laura says she got these photos developed at Westside Camera, the photo store that used to be at 2400 Broadway.
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I like the photograph where she’s holding the cigarette and the baby.
It says that photo was from 1989! For Christ sake! A heck of a lot of people were smoking back then. And yes, even parents and nannies!
She must be French.
Omg! Hope that poor baby doesn’t have lung cancer present day. My gosh! Some nanny!
Ah, Please! My mother smoke and drank wine when I was a kid as well as when she was pregnant. I’m just fine as well as millions of other baby boomers! And besides, back then and even in 1989 cigarette smoking wasn’t banned nor did we know as much then as we do now. So don’t admonish this woman for being a nanny because she smoked! How naive!
Such anecdotes mean nothing; there will always be some people who defy the odds that way. Such cases are the exception and not the rule.
If you wish to argue that the consumption of alcohol and smoking while pregnant or exposure to second-hand smoke are not the dangers that they are accepted as being, then you need to cite actual, credible evidence.
I’m evidence, my siblings are evidence, my friends and people I know are evidence, hundreds of thousands of others are evidence! Many, many people smoked and drank a glass of wine or two while pregnant during the 60’s. Before that time and after as well.
I am not inferring she is a child abuser, but in 1989 cigarettes were definitely known to be cancerous!
odd set of photos. it was only 1989, not 1969. the middle one looks 80-90s, that bottom one looks 60s or 70s (including her hair…not very 1989)…not sure what to say about the top one. also, smoking was well know to be bad for you in 1989. odd set.
Nothing “odd” about these photos. The first one is obviously “artsy” and what is now called “retro.” And smoking went on openly in restaurants back then with plenty of children in attendance. BUt I think you already know that.
Yes, Smoking well known to be bad for you in 1989, even a lot earlier for that matter but a lot of people still smoked. There was smoking in Bars and Restaurants, smoking section on planes and trains, even smoking sections in movie theaters. For that matter A Lot of Doctors smoked. I’m not condoning smoking. I gave it up 14 years ago and it’s one of my bigger accomplishments. I’m just saying, people weren’t as informed as they are now.
Who am I to judge? But-as the then young woman in photos (and enjoyed all comments-truly!-thank you)-I started smoking to fit in with the other nannies rather “au pairs” who actually were French-took years and many attempts to quit- (did-best/hardest thing -for me…) Didn’t want to incite any nerves or debate-objectively a case of genetics and environment (nicotine receptors fired up after that first puff-oh-I knew…..) And the gaul-I mean, I would never hire “me” as a nanny this day and age. Glad photo-and a good one I think, of just a moment bygone
sparked good banter.
Cancer because of one cigarette 26 years ago? I think we’re forgetting how many parents smoked (and still smoke) in front of their kids, often indoors. I strongly doubt this was her only exposure to cigarette smoke in the last quarter century. And I’m sure Laura was an excellent nanny and highly regarded by the fine family who employed her. She shines with such child-like enthusiasm in the “nanny” photo. But I’ve taken a shine to the beret photo (and the rain hat). Ooh-la-la!