New York Today: The Battle of Marble Hill

The New York Times James F. Lyons, right, the Bronx borough president, and an assistant tried to retake Marble Hill from Manhattan on this date in 1939.

Updated 5:49 a.m.

Good Tuesday morning to you.

New York City’s five boroughs do not always get along.

Case in point: 75 years ago today, the Bronx invaded Manhattan.

The conflict was over a little settlement called Marble Hill.

It was originally the northern tip of Manhattan.

In 1895, it was cut off by a ship canal and became an island.

Later, the water was filled in from the north, joining Marble Hill to the Bronx.

But it never stopped belonging to Manhattan.

Enter the Bronx borough president, James F. Lyons.

On March 11, 1939, at 11:41 a.m., Mr. Lyons and an assistant drove a few blocks and breached Marble Hill’s border.

Mr. Lyons climbed a rock pile, planted the flags of Bronx and the United States, and declared, “I hereby proclaim this territory of Marble Hill to be part of my borough.”

Residents jeered.

“The natives did not like the Bronx or its leader,” The Times reported.

Mr. Lyons withdrew.

Cut to the present.

“I am happy to declare that the flag that flies over Marble Hill is still that of the Manhattan archipelago,” the Manhattan borough president, Gale Brewer, said on Monday.

But the Bronx has not forgotten.

“Marble Hill should be the Bronx,” said the borough’s current president, Rubén Diaz. “Marble Hill residents identify so much with the Bronx that they often don’t realize they live in Manhattan until they’re summoned for jury duty.”

The Manhattan borough historian, Michael Miscione, will speak on the Marble Hill border war at 6:30 tonight at New York University. In Manhattan.

Here’s what else is happening.

WEATHER

More history: the last time the temperature hit 60 degrees, a guy named Bloomberg was mayor.

It could happen today, under partly sunny skies.

But it won’t last. Cold rain and maybe a little snow tomorrow, below freezing on Thursday.

COMMUTE

Subways: Delays on the L. Check latest status.

Rails: O.K. Check L.I.R.R., Metro-North or N.J. Transit status.

Roads: No major delays. Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s.

Alternate-side parking is in effect all week.

COMING UP TODAY

- Another kind of president, named Obama, speaks at a fund-raiser for Senate Democrats tonight at a home on the Upper East Side. He has no plans to visit Marble Hill.

- Mayor de Blasio will appoint several new members of his administration at noon. He’ll also go see the president tonight.

- Public Advocate Letitia James promotes a plan to provide free lunch for all public school students, outside City Hall at 1 p.m.

- Former Chris Christie aides, including Bridget Kelly, are due in court to explain why they have not turned over documents.

- A lecture on Vladimir Putin’s presidency, by the head of the think tank Institute of Democracy and Cooperation. At Columbia at noon. [Free]

- A talk on “the Fascinating Evolution of the Pipe Organ” at the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen in Midtown. 6:30 p.m. [$15]

- Train buffs: the author of “The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City’s Unbuilt Subway System” speaks at the Mid-Manhattan library. 6:30 p.m. [Free]

- For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

IN THE NEWS

- Methodist ministers can now conduct same-sex marriages in New York without punishment, even though the denomination’s laws forbid it. [New York Times]

- An 11-year-old Brooklyn boy who went missing for five days turned up unharmed. He had run away from home and lived on the subway. [New York Times]

- A community garden on the Lower East Side sued a developer over ownership of the garden. [DNAinfo]

- Mayor de Blasio conceded on MSNBC that he needs to get better at public relations. [New York Times]

- Scoreboard: Knicks deep-six Sixers, 123-110. Nets snare Raptors, 101-97. Islanders rout Canucks, 7-4.

Joseph Burgess contributed reporting.

New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email.

What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, email us at nytoday@nytimes.com or reach us via Twitter using #NYToday.

Follow the New York Today columnists, Annie Correal and Andy Newman, on Twitter.

You can always find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com.