“BFD,” the initials fancifully engraved just above the first story of this Romanesque Revival style fire station, say a lot more than one might think on first glance. Standing for “Brooklyn Fire Department,” the initials confirm that this building dates to sometime between 1869, when the Brooklyn Fire Department was organized, and 1898, when the boroughs were consolidated to form the Greater City of New York. The Brooklyn Fire Department only lasted a few decades before merging with the FDNY after the city’s consolidation. Interestingly, this building was constructed in 1895 to house Engine 36, so it only served the Brooklyn Fire Department for about three years. Shortly after the consolidation, the fire companies were renumbered to avoid confusion, and this company became Engine 136 until 1913, when it was reorganized again to become Engine 236. Referred to as “The Pride of East New York,” Engine 236 continues to serve the community today

Pitkin Avenue at Shepherd Avenue, September 8, 1963. The entrance to the Shepherd Street station of the IND Fulton Street line is visible at far left. The station was one of four East New York stations on today's A/C line to open on November 28, 1948.

Pubic School 64, ca. 1905. The original Public School 64 was a wood-frame structure constructed prior to 1892. As the community of East New York grew at the end of the 19th century and became a part of the greater New York City, a larger school, created by the now city-wide Board of Education, was desired. The large brick schoolhouse see here was completed in 1901. (The former school was moved a few blocks to New Lots Avenue where it served as St. Gabriel's Church for the next 50 years.) The 1901 school remained open until 1974. The building was demolished in the mid 1980s and replaced with a housing complex.

Pitkin Avenue, north side, east from Shepherd Avenue, September 14, 1940.

Glenmore Avenue Presbyterian Church ca. 1913 This lovely Shingle Style church at the corner of Glenmore Avenue and Doscher Street might seem more at home on a country lane in the Hudson Valley, but when it was constructed in 1899, East New York was still a quiet suburban enclave. It was built for the Glenmore Avenue Presbyterian Church, which is still an active congregation. While the structure has suffered some insensitive alterations, including the loss of its original clapboard siding and the replacement of its front porch, it retains its general massing, including a graceful and oversized corner tower with an arched belfry and bell-shaped roof, as well as most of its original windows and dormer windows on both of its side façades.