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(14)
Church of the Ascension
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Church of the Ascension, 1935. Designed in Early English Gothic style by noted church architect Henry Dudley, the Church of the Ascension hosted its first mass in 1866. Funding for the church was donated by two notable parishioners: J.W. Valentine and Thomas Fitch Rowland, the owner of Greenpoint’s Continental Iron Works. Following the devastation of 2012's Hurricane Sandy, the church became the logistical base in North Brooklyn for the 'Occupy Sandy' relief efforts.
144 Franklin Street
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144 Franklin Street Alonzo B. Jones, ca. 1895 This Renaissance Revival structure features a rich texture comprised of rough-cut brownstone at the base and brick and red terra cotta on the upper floors. Its bays consist of impressively scaled arches separated by equally monumental pilasters with Corinthian capitals. Separating the arched bays from the bracketed cornice is an ornate frieze. Attention is drawn to the Greenpoint Avenue façade, whose central bay is flanked by oval windows that further accentuate the building’s Renaissance inspiration.
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Crosstown Depot/Clubhouse
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The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company's Clubhouse was located on Manhattan Avenue in Clay Street. The Electric Railway Review of 1903 reported of its opening on Tuesday, July 7th. The building cost a sum of $40,000 and included the headquarters for the BRT's Benefit Association, who at the time had over three thousand members. The clubhouse portion of the facility provided access for any employee of the train company to 200 lockers, four pool tables, four bowling lanes, and a sizeable library. For the two dollars a year, employees could also be instructed on a variety of subjects. Evening courses ranged from foundational classes such as penmanship, literature, music, and arithmetic, or on topics closely related to their trade like electricity and mechanical drawing. Students of these classes had additional admission to the clubhouse gym and bathing facilities. Companies at the turn of the century would provide amenities of this sort to keep their workforces happy.
20 Commercial Street
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Pottery Beach, located where West Street met the East River, was named for a pottery factory that once stood on its site. A reporter from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle set out to meet the man who gave the beach its name on Christmas Eve of 1883. The account reads more like a fable than an actual news report, though it provides an account of life in Greenpoint before the waterfront was lined with heavy industry. Of the name "Pottery Beach," the man claimed: "there used to be an old pottery here, but it went to ruin after the owners had died and gone, and year after year...there was nothing left but a few old sticks and bricks which told the tale. Well, when I found out that the beach used to be used as a pottery, I concluded at once to call it pottery beach, an' by that name it has gone ever since." The so-called "owner" of the beach, as the newspaper christened him, decided to live on the beach after finding himself homeless. The man, who referred to himself in the third person only as "Jack," was in his past life a captain "of as pretty a ship as did ever sail the ocean," so it was fitting that the residence he built was a haphazardly fashioned cabin on top of a boat. In fact, the journalist for the Eagle was forced to take a row-boat out for an interview because the evening tides were high enough to partially submerge the sunken ship. Jack claimed that Greenpoint's sandy shore was a popular fishing spot, swimming hole, and place to watch yacht races. The former captain had lived on the beach for fifteen years, making a living selling provisions like ginger-snaps, lemonade, soda water, ginger beer, and cigarettes to young beach-goes "their mothers don't know it...they will not git a licking because Jack will not say anything about it." After bidding the man farewell, the reporter reflected on the fate of the area. He wrote: "\[it] will in a very short time be a thing of the past. Large manufactories are constantly springing up in Greenpoint, and all available waterfront will be needed...The property is convenient to all Greenpoint ferries and is within a few minutes of New York, and will doubtless in a short time be built upon by one of the large oil companies now located in Hunter's Point and Greenpoint."
144 Franklin Street
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This 1895 Neo-Classical building was the headquarters of the Mechanics and Traders Bank, founded in 1867 by Archibald Meserole, of the prominent Greenpoint family. Architect Alonzo B. Jones incorporated a variety of building materials and architectural styles: a rusticated brownstone base; arched, palladian, and oval windows with terra cotta detail; full-height (second and third stories) red brick pilasters with Corinthian capitals; and a wavy stemlike motif frieze beneath the cornice.
Then-and-Now Challenge: Greenpoint
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What happens when two Urban Archive staff members are practically neighbors? They go on a walk capturing as many then-and-now pictures as they can! If you’re in North Brooklyn sometime soon, see if you can take some of your own!
St. Elias Catholic Church
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St. Elias Catholic Church 149 Kent Street Church: William B. Ditmars, 1869–70 School: W. Wheeler Smith, 1879 St. Elias Greek Rite Catholic Church, formerly the Reformed Dutch Church of Greenpoint (bottom), combines elements of the Romanesque Revival and Victorian Gothic styles, both popular in the post-Civil War period. Its brick and stone façades have round-arch openings, polychromatic ornament and a columned portico entrance. Its polygonal Sunday school building mimics a medieval Italian baptistery, but another Victorian touch can be found in the handsome wooden porch on its east end.
"Blue House"
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“Blue House,” 1958. 119 Milton Street is one half of a pair of Neo-Grec rowhouses designed by Thomas C. Smith and completed in 1876. Curiously, the 1982 Historic District Designation Report makes no mention of no. 119’s bold color scheme.
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Crosstown Depot/Clubhouse
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BRT Depot/ Clubhouse, 1906.
Foot of DuPont Street
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These tugboats belong to the Reichert Towing Line, which was founded by Jacob Charles Reichert in 1906. Reichert, having worked on tugboats since the age of 16, was promoted to Captain by the time he was 21. He went on to assemble his own fleet of ten ships which formed the Reichert Towing Company. The tugs in Reichert's Line are docked at Dupont Street and participating in the Tugboat Strike of 1946, a two-week strike beginning on February 1st which aimed to bring all activity of the bustling harbor to a standstill. Strikers demanded higher wages, a reduction of working hours, and two weeks of vacation. Wages, kept at a standstill even after World War II, ranged from 67 cents an hour for deckhands and cooks to just over one-dollar an hour for captains and engineers. The strike affected every corner of the city. Mayor William O'Dwyer warned of brown-outs because tuggers wouldn't be bringing in coal. The subway system had to be kept unheated, and public schools were closed and converted to either hospitals or housing for those without fuel for heating. Lights for streetlamps were dimmed or shut off. The strike ended on February 14th, and thus the Mayor's forecast of mass chaos never came into fruition. Both members of the International Longshoremen's Association, the labor union group, and the Employers Wage Adjustment Committee, representing owners and operators of the tug companies, agreed to assemble a three-person panel to negotiate the union's demands and found a compromise.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church
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The Roman Catholic Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, October 19, 1958. This Roman Catholic parish was founded by members of Greenpoint's Polish Community in 1916, with the church itself completed the following year. In the 1958 photo, black bunting appears over the entrance, commemorating the mourning of Pope Pius XII, who had died 10 days earlier.
St. Elias Catholic Church
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St. Elias Catholic Church, October 29, 1958. Built in “Ruskinian Gothic” style with alternating white and brownstone arches, the Reformed Dutch Church of Greenpoint was completed in 1870. A Sunday School building was added in 1879. The church was sold St. Elias, a Greek Catholic congregation, in 1943, when the Reformed Dutch Church moved to a smaller building on nearby Milton Street. The Kent Street church has been abandoned since 2007.
WNYC Transmitter Park
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“Greenpoint Avenue, west from West Street. In the foreground, is the City of New York Municipal Ferry to 23rd Street, Manhattan. March 1929.” In 1852, Neziah Bliss established a ferry between Manhattan’s 10th and 23rd Streets and the East River terminus of Greenpoint Avenue. Bliss, a prominent landowner, was responsible for pushing Greenpoint’s 19th century commercial development with infrastructure projects including the East River ferry and the Ravenswood turnpike (today’s Franklin Street). Public radio station WNYC purchased the former ferry terminal site in 1935, and built two AM broadcast antennae. In 1990, WNYC moved their transmitters to New Jersey, leaving the waterfront site vacant until 2012, when it was redeveloped as a public park.
179 Freeman Street
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179 Freeman Street, October 19, 1958.
Photos
(119)
88 Green Street
Corner of Franklin Street and Green Street Former service station on the corner of Franklin Street and Green Street.
60 Freeman Street
Courier Packaging Co. at 220 West Street Courier Packaging Co. at 220 West Street at Freeman Street. View on Freeman Street.
109 Huron Street
House at 109 Huron Street Single family house at 109 Huron Street, between Franklin Street and Manhattan Avenue.
87 India Street
\[View of north side of India Street.] View of north side of India Street between Franklin Street and Manhattan Avenue.
27 India Street
India Street & The East River View West on India Street, looking toward the East River.
180 FRANKLIN STREET
Astral Apartments photo via Pratt Institute Archives.
180 FRANKLIN STREET
Astral Apartments
87 Java Street
\[View of north side of Java Street.] View of north side of Java Street, looking toward east from near corner of Franklin Street + Java Street, Greenpoint.
Huron Street Bath
Public Bath located on Huron Street between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street, Brooklyn, architect Louis H. Voss. The original designs for the façade were disapproved in part by the Art Commission on August 11, 1903 "so far as they relate to the finials above the balustrade." The decorative finials were removed for the final design.
Huron Street Bath
Public Bath located on Huron Street between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street, Brooklyn, architect Louis H. Voss. Photograph by Russell & Wylie.
Huron Street Bath
20 Commercial Street
\[Newtown Barge Terminal Playground] Aerial view of Newtown Barge Terminal Playground bounded by Commercial Street, Dupont Street, and West Street in Greenpoint, with portion of the East River and Manhattan skyline in background.
280 FRANKLIN STREET
NuHart Plastics Factory
108 West Street
Kent Street between West Street and Franklin Street Looking West on Kent Street between West Street and Franklin Street.
108 West Street
Greenpoint -West Street - between Kent Street and Java Street The East side of West Street, between Kent Street and Java Street.
1021 Manhattan Avenue
Corner of Manhattan Avenue at Green Street; IND Crosstown Line Photograph documents the buildings on the northwest corner Green Street and Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, NY; as part of the construction and maintenance of the IND Crosstown Line. Shows sidewalk, street, signage, advertisements, pedestrians, and storefronts with apartments above.
95 Kent Street
\[View of north side of Kent Street.] View of north side of Kent Street looking northeast from near corner of Franklin Street and Kent Street, Greenpoint.
95 Kent Street
\[#95 Kent Street (larger + nearer building).] \#95 Kent Street (larger + nearer building).
160 Franklin Street
\[Northeast corner of Kent Street and Franklin Street.] Northeast corner of Kent Street and Franklin Street, Greenpoint. Kent Street side showing.
Foot of DuPont Street
Strikers tugs Caption: "Strikers tugs tied up at foot of Dupont St., Greenpoint, as skippers and crews went ashore in harbor-wide walkout today. Seventy-five tugs were laid up in Brooklyn berths."
991 Manhattan Avenue
\[Manhattan Avenue and Huron Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn ] Photograph is of Manhattan Avenue and Huron Street, and tracks along the Erie Basin Trolley Line. Image of catenary and billboards for Wonder Bread and Coca Cola.
105 Kent Street
\[Kent Street.] Kent Street. #105 Kent Street at left + #107 Kent Street at right.
109 Kent Street
\[#109 Kent Street.] \#109 Kent Street.
113 Kent Street
\[#109 Kent Street.] \#109 Kent Street.
West Street and Kent Street
Greenpoint Terminal Fire - Smoke and Spectators Greenpoint Terminal Fire - View of the burning fire on West Street from Kent Ave. near N 15th.
11 Clay Street
Brooklyn: Clay Street - Commercial Street Clay Street, at Commercial Street, viewing westward toward the latter and showing operations on a W. P. A. sewer project. On the north side of Commercial Street is a coal yard, on Newtown Creek. Views\_\_ and \_\_ are in the opposite (eastward) direction, the houses bearing numbers 11 to 19 Clay Street. Views 1,2,3,4: July 22, 1936 Works Progress Administration Five Boroughs Project
11 Clay Street
Brooklyn: Clay Street - Commercial Street Clay Street, at Commercial Street, viewing westward toward the latter and showing operations on a W. P. A. sewer project. On the north side of Commercial Street is a coal yard, on Newtown Creek. Views\_\_ and \_\_ are in the opposite (eastward) direction, the houses bearing numbers 11 to 19 Clay Street. Views 1,2,3,4: July 22, 1936 Works Progress Administration Five Boroughs Project
West Street and Kent Street
Greenpoint Terminal Fire - Smoke Over Greenpoint Greenpoint Terminal Fire - The burning fire on West Street seen from Kent Avenue.
11 Clay Street
Brooklyn: Clay Street - Commercial Street Clay Street, at Commercial Street, viewing westward toward the latter and showing operations on a W. P. A. sewer project. On the north side of Commercial Street is a coal yard, on Newtown Creek. Views\_\_ and \_\_ are in the opposite (eastward) direction, the houses bearing numbers 11 to 19 Clay Street. Views 1,2,3,4: July 22, 1936 Works Progress Administration Five Boroughs Project
West Street and Kent Street
Greenpoint Terminal Fire - Man with Binoculars Greenpoint Terminal Fire - Man with binoculars looking at the burning fire on West Street from Kent Avenue near N 15th, fire fighters on fire engine in the background.
West Street and Kent Street
Greenpoint Terminal Fire - The Fire from Bushwick Inlet Greenpoint Terminal Fire - View of Fire on West Street from Kent Avenue near N 15th Street, Bushwick inlet in foreground.
11 Clay Street
Brooklyn: Clay Street - Commercial Street Clay Street, at Commercial Street, viewing westward toward the latter and showing operations on a W. P. A. sewer project. On the north side of Commercial Street is a coal yard, on Newtown Creek. Views\_\_ and \_\_ are in the opposite (eastward) direction, the houses bearing numbers 11 to 19 Clay Street. Views 1,2,3,4: July 22, 1936 Works Progress Administration Five Boroughs Project
Java Street Pier
Abandoned Pier - Java Street Abandoned pier on the East River at Java Street (Demolished in 2000).
Java Street Pier
Abandoned Pier - Java Street Abandoned pier on the East River at Java Street (Demolished in 2000).
1054 Manhattan Avenue
\[#1054 Manhattan Avenue.] \#1054 Manhattan Avenue.
Public School 22
Borough schools to house vets Caption: "Borough schools to house vets--Here \[is one of] three Brooklyn public schools which under Governor Dewey's program will be converted at a cost of about $380,000 to provide 86 housing units for veterans and their families. \[Shown here] is P. S. 22, 132 Java St;" portions of attached buildings on both sides, portion of horse-drawn carriage in far left background, and large section of street in foreground.
1054 Manhattan Avenue
\[#1054 Manhattan Avenue.] \#1054 Manhattan Avenue.
Church of the Ascension
\[Church of The Ascension (Episcopal) on Kent Street.] Church of The Ascension (Episcopal) on Kent Street (north side), between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street.
Church of the Ascension
Church of the Ascension
Church of the Ascension
New altar of the church of Ascension Interior, Church of the Ascension, 129 Kent Street. Altar with candles in candlesticks, candlabras, vases, plate, and cross in center. Portions of stained glass windows behind altar.
1032 Manhattan Avenue
\[#1032 Manhattan Avenue.] \#1032 Manhattan Avenue.
131 Kent Street
\[Kent Street, Greenpoint.] Kent Street, Greenpoint. A portion of #129 Kent Street at left then #131 Kent Street, + then #133 Kent Street + part of #135 Kent Street (at far right).
955 Manhattan Avenue
\[Huron Street and Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY] Intersection of Huron Street and Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. View showing Crosstown Line trolley tracks along Manhattan Avenue, as well as storefronts, signage and automobiles.
955 Manhattan Avenue
Bushwick: Greenpoint Methodist Episcopal Church, west side of Manhattan Avenue between India Street and Java Street, Greenpoint, 1923.
129 Kent Street
\[Rectory of Church of The Ascension.] Rectory of Church of The Ascension (next to church) at 129 Kent Street.
955 Manhattan Avenue
Bushwick: Greenpoint Methodist Episcopal Church, west side of Manhattan Avenue between India Street and Java Street, Greenpoint, 1923.
1085 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn: Dupont Street - Manhattan Avenue Dupont Street, south side, at and west of Manhattan Ave., showing at the corner, the former Hotel National and beyond it the School of S.S. Cyril and Methodosius. September 1923. Eugene L. Armbruster Collection.
1085 Manhattan Avenue
Bushwick: Hotel National, southwest corner of Manhattan Avenue and Dupont Street in Greenpoint, 1923.
1085 Manhattan Avenue
Bushwick: Hotel National, southwest corner of Manhattan Avenue and Dupont Street in Greenpoint, 1923.
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