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Near Red Hook Playground
Posts & Stories
(4)
Red Hook Play Center
Post
Red Hook Play Center, June 26, 1961. The Red Hook Play Center, one of eleven public pools built by the WPA, opened to the public in August, 1936. Today, the Olympic-sized pool is named for benefactor Sol Goldman and is part of the larger Red Hook Recreation Area, which includes athletic fields and fitness facilities. The pool facility was built on a lot created by landfill in 1904 for a freight terminal that was never constructed. In 1939, three years after the Play Center’s opening, the Red Hook Houses development was completed across several adjoining blocks. By the 1980s, the pool’s condition had deteriorated, necessitating a three-year restoration project funded in part by Sol Goldman (Goldman was again called on to contribute funds when a budget shortfall imperiled public pool openings in the summer of 1991).
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Post
By the 1830s, inspired by the Erie Canal, Alderman Daniel Richards built the Atlantic Basin at Red Hook, which was followed by the Erie Basin. This was a massive success in terms of industrial activity and the home to the first grain elevator in the burgeoning Port of New York. At the time, 80% of grain in the state traveled through Brooklyn. By 1869, the Gowanus Canal — a project through which the natural Gowanus Creek was widened and adjacent swampland was dredged for factories and warehouses — was complete, and 700 buildings were constructed here per year for the next decade. The current Hamilton Avenue Bridge, seen in the far distance in this image, was built in 1942 and, like the Union and 3rd Street bridge, is a vascular bridge (where two leaves lift up to allow marine traffic through). Today the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway also towers over the Hamilton Avenue Bridge.
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Post
In this image you can see four structures above the Canal: in the foreground, the Hamilton Avenue Bridge; the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway; the 9th Street Bridge; and the Culver Viaduct, which carries the F and G trains. Built in 1927, the Viaduct stands 90 feet above the canal to avoid the need for tunneling under the canal, the 4th Avenue line, and the bedrock of Park Slope heading east. The Smith-9th Streets station, pictured far left, is the highest subway station in the world at 87.5 feet above the canal.
Tugboat Strike of 1946
Story
The world's busiest harbor was left at a standstill when 3,500 tug boat workers launched a strike on the docks of New York City. The halt of sea bound coal and oil left New York without fuel for over two weeks, forcing subways to be left unheated and the closure of schools, stores, and restaurants.
Photos
(42)
Red Hook Playground
\[Red Hook playground] Playground located at Cramer Street, Clinton Street, and Court Street, with four parked automobiles in foreground, several pedestrians, and several residential and commercial buildings and large gas tank in background.
616 Court Street
Brooklyn: Court Street - Bush Street 600-616 Court Street, west side, from and including Bush, to and including Lorraine Streets. The houses concerned are frame. June 1926. Bg98n Brothere.
Red Hook Play Center
Brooklyn 15, Play Center, Clinton St & Bay St--Red Hook Rec. Area; Jerry Spearman, Photographer
Red Hook Play Center
\[Red Hook Play Center on Bay Street.] Red Hook Play Center on Bay Street between Clinton Street and Henry Street.
Red Hook Play Center
Red Hook tennis courts View of tennis courts at an unknown location in Red Hook with a large, commercial building, possibly a warehouse or factory, in the background.
183 Lorraine Street
Brooklyn: Lorraine Street - Henry Street Lorraine Street, north side, east from Henry to Clinton Streets, showing several old shacks. This area later became part of the Red Hook Houses, the government low rental housing development. On the right is the Sapolin warehouse. June 25, 1931. Views 1,2 F.L. Sperr
Red Hook Park
\[Red Hook view.] Red Hook view. Park opposite Red Hook Play Center looking south.
FDNY Engine 279/Ladder 131
Court Street and Bryant Street
Brooklyn: Court Street - Bryant Street Court Street, from Bryant Street to Gowanus Canal, showing in the background the Ira S. Bushey and Sons boat building plant. October 8, 1937. P. L. Sperr. Note: Ira S. Bushey was more than a shipyard. They also were a fuel terminal. The fuel tanks are still in use as of 2015. Submitted by Carolina Salguero, PortSide NewYork, www.portsidenewyork.org, portsidenewyork@gmail.com
659 Smith Street
Ahoy there, skipper! Image represented is one of a related set (NEIG 1298), some of which may also be described in this new record; Dispatcher with megaphone looking out window to passing tugboat and moored ships on Gowanus Canal. Caption: "Ahoy there, skipper! -- Still the central point for tugboat operations along the Gowanus Canal after 75 years is the office of the Gowanus Towing Company, overlooking the South Brooklyn waterway at the foot of Smith St. A barge pickup is to be made upstream, and the dispatcher Bill Van Pelt megaphones the order to Capt. Pierce Farley of the Taurus."
659 Smith Street
Ahoy there, skipper! Image represented is one of a related set (NEIG 1298), some of which may also be described in this new record; Dispatcher with megaphone looking out window to passing tugboat and moored ships on Gowanus Canal. Caption: "Ahoy there, skipper! -- Still the central point for tugboat operations along the Gowanus Canal after 75 years is the office of the Gowanus Towing Company, overlooking the South Brooklyn waterway at the foot of Smith St. A barge pickup is to be made upstream, and the dispatcher Bill Van Pelt megaphones the order to Capt. Pierce Farley of the Taurus."
U.S. Post Office, Red Hook Station
\[U. S. Post Office, Red Hook Station.] U. S. Post Office, Red Hook Station, Brooklyn 31, N.Y. (on Clinton Street).
584 Court Street
\[Southwest corner of Court Street.] Southwest corner of Court Street (left) and Hamilton Avenue, Brooklyn Corner at far right.
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Subway & above Gowanus Canal Portion of Gowanus Canal beneath elevated subway bridge; docked barges on both sides of canal; silos, smokestacks, chutes, and other industrial structures lining canal; smaller drawbridge open beneath elevated bridge. Inscription: "Subway & above Gowanus Canal. Photo taken from Hamilton Ave. Bridge."
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Waterway Portion of Gowanus Canal, with tugboats, barges, and rowboats; elevated subway bridge in background; warehouses, girders, steam shovels, and industrial debris on both sides of canal; industrial silo at right reads, "Cranford Ready Mixed Concrete." Caption: "Waterway -- Passing years have left little mark on historic Gowanus Canal, still a bee-hive of marine activity. Ships from every port in the world tie up near its mouth at the foot of Columbia St., above, and the canal itself is a constant scene of traffic congestion, as shown at the left, above the Hamilton Avenue Bridge."
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Hamilton Ave. Bridge Men repairing or constructing Fort Hamilton Bridge at Gowanus Canal; three steel arches with ornamental lamps over bridge; round bridge house at left; work shed, tools, and construction debris in foreground; canal with docked barges at right; factory with smokestacks in background.
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Bridges - Gowanus Canal Bridge - Hamilton Avenue - Brooklyn. Gowanus Canal Bridge--Hamilton Avenue: The south end of the Hamilton Avenue bridge. F. L. Sperr July 26, 1940
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Hamilton Avenue Bridge Aerial photograph. Portion of Gowanus Canal showing Hamilton Avenue beneath elevated expressway; elevated subway line near station at Smith and Ninth Street in background; Brooklyn skyline and water tower beyond elevated subway line; parked truck and automobiles near warehouse in right foreground. Label: "Hamilton Avenue Bridge -- A movable bascule bridge carrying Hamilton Avenue over the Gowanus Canal and placed under the Gowanus Parkway Bridge . . . ."
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Bridges - Gowanus Canal Bridge - Hamilton Avenue - Brooklyn. Gowanus Canal Bridge--Hamilton Avenue: Three views of the drawbridge. P.L. Sperr July 26, 1940 NO REPRODUCTIONS Views 1-3
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Bridges - Gowanus Canal Bridge - Hamilton Avenue - Brooklyn. Gowanus Canal Bridge--Hamilton Avenue: The south end of the Hamilton Avenue bridge. F. L. Sperr July 26, 1940
Hamilton Avenue Bridge
Vital waterway Aerial photograph. Gowanus Canal with view to elevated Smith and Ninth Street subway station and Hamilton Avenue bridge; docked barges and tugboats on canal; warehouses, silos, smokestacks, and industrial debris on both sides of canal; warehouse at left reads, "Cirillo Bros. Coal and Fuel Corp."; silo at right reads, "Cranford Ready Mixed Concrete"; large water tank behind elevated subway tracks; Brooklyn skyline in background. Caption: "Vital waterway -- Old Gowanus, victim of a multitude of gags, rolls along with the help of an impeller which keeps the water moving. Industrial installations important to the life of the borough flank its turgid sides and in the right background may be seen the Williamsburgh Bank Building . . . ."
360 Hamilton Avenue
\[Southwest corner of Court Street.] Southwest corner of Court Street and Hamilton Avenue.
147 Centre Street
\[#147 Centre Street, Red Hook.] \#147 Centre Street, Red Hook. North side of street between Clinton and Court Streets. Brooklyn, N.Y.
435 Hamilton Avenue
Brooklyn: Hamilton Avenue - 14th Street Hamilton Avenue, east side, between 14th Street and the Gowanus Canal, showing the M. Schneider and Sons soap factory after a fire destroyed the interior. Views 2 and 3 show the same section of the avenue after the soap factory and other buildings were torn down and construction begun on the widening of the avenue as Brooklyn's northerly link in the Belt Parkway systam of highways. P. L. Sperr View 1: April 44, 1931 NO REPRODUCTIONS Views 2,3: October 17, 1940
Hamilton Avenue and Mill Street
Brooklyn: Hamilton Avenue - Mill Street Hamilton Avenue (right), at Mill Street, viewing north. View P shows the northeast corner of Hamilton and Swmith Streets, and demolition for the Gowanus Parkway. P. L. Sperr July 26, 1943 NO REPRODUCTIONS Views 1,2 -Ri T Neg Ne ~-97s ie2 VNy No.~-77G
562 Court Street
Brooklyn: Court Street - Garnet Street
562 Court Street
\[Northwest corner of Court Street and Garnet Street.] Northwest corner of Court Street and Garnet Street. Court Street at right.
581 Clinton Street
Brooklyn: Clinton Street - Hamilton Avenue Clinton Street, south from Hamilton Avenue and West 9th Street, showing where the Red Hook Houses--a New York City Housing Authority project--will be erected on the west side of the street (right). June 9, 1938 P. L. Sperr (2) The east side of Clinton Street, viewing south from Hamilton Avenue, showing the changes that have taken place. The building in modernistic design, beyond the taxpayer, is the Clinton Theatre. September 7, 1940 P. L. Sperr
45 Garnet Street
\[#45 Garnet Street.] \#45 Garnet Street. On north side of street between Clinton Street and Smith Street.
41 Garnet Street
\[View of north side of Garnet Street.] View of north side of Garnet Street. #41 Garnet Street at far left.
51 Garnet Street
\[#51 Garnet Street.] \#51 Garnet Street.
546 Court Street
\[West side of Court Street.] West side of Court Street looking south Southwest corner of West Ninth Street and Court Street at far right (between Court Street and Garnet Street)
Mill and Henry Street
Brooklyn: Mill Street - Henry Street Mill Street, east from Henry to Clinton Streets. This and surrounding areas are to be demolished. The Red Hook Housing Project has taken over the area to erect low rent multiple dwellings thereby slowly removing the slum areas of Greater New York. June 9, 1938. P. L. Sperr
81 Lorraine Street
Brooklyn: Lorraine Street - Hicks Street 81-85 Lorraine Street, north side, 100 ft. west of Hicks Street (right, not shown). In the center of the view is seen No. 83 which is partially located in the rear of two homes and contains a front garden which is unusual for this area. June 9, 1938. P. L. Sperr
West 9th Street and Hamilton Avenue
Brooklyn: 9th Street (West) - Hamilton Avenue West 9th Street, east from and across Hamilton Avenue. The Red Hook government houses are being built behind the fence on the right. View 1: April 9, 1939 P. L. Sperr 2,3-Buildings on the east side of Hamilton Avenue were torn down to make way for the widening of the avenue and the construction of Gowanus Parkway, a link in the Belt Parkway system. Views 2,3: October 23, 1940 P. L. Sperr
West 9th Street and Hamilton Avenue
Brooklyn: 9th Street (West) - Hamilton Avenue (1) West 9th Street, west from Hamilton Avenue. The houses on the south side of the street (left) were demolished later in the year to make way for the Red Hook housing project sponsored by the New York City Housing Authority. June 9, 1938 P. L. Sperr (2) The same, at a later date, showing the housiug center under construction. April 9, 1939 P. L. Sperr
West 9th Street and Hamilton Avenue
Brooklyn: 9th Street (West) - Hamilton Avenue (1) West 9th Street, west from Hamilton Avenue. The houses on the south side of the street (left) were demolished later in the year to make way for the Red Hook housing project sponsored by the New York City Housing Authority. June 9, 1938 P. L. Sperr (2) The same, at a later date, showing the housiug center under construction. April 9, 1939 P. L. Sperr
110 West 9th Street
Heap big pow-wow Caption: Heap big pow-wow--Colorfully bedecked in full Injun regalia \[beating tom-toms], the three little Indians cavorting at the seventh annual circus of the Red Hook Community Center were, left to right, Teresa Seire, 8, of 146 w. 9th St.; Janet Kirkland, 6, of 604 Clinton St., and Frances Cimato, 6, of 165 Carroll St."
110 West 9th Street
Red Hook Community Center Children wearing Indian and other costumes in Red Hook Community Center circus parade with several parked and moving vehicles, including three trucks, several pedestrians, and portions of several buildings and houses in background.
110 West 9th Street
Red Hook Community Center Caption: "Children of the Red Hook Community Center, 110 W. 9th St. spent some time carving a plaque which they presented to Supreme Court Justice George J. Beldock, president of Youth United. Justice Beldock accepted the plaque from a group of representative of the center. Left to right--Beldock, Bernard Resnick, Rhoda Weinberg, David L. Clark, \[Charles Dial] and Salvatore Parrinello."
110 West 9th Street
\[Red Hook Community Building] Exterior view of the Red Hook Community Building located at 110 West 9th Street.
110 West 9th Street
Red Hook Community Center Closeup: five people dressed as animals and boy dressed as ringmaster at Red Hook Community Center circus with long, brick building, tree, and small boy in background.
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