In the heart of where the old orchard once stood is P.S. 31, an elegant old school with a gorgeous façade that is being refurbished. Previously, P.S. 31 was on Dupont Street and the present school was once a middle school.

This post marks the first in a series of posts that will recount the history of different streets in Greenpoint. Meserole Avenue is named for the Meserole family who once had a gorgeous orchard

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  1. I was born and raised in Greenpoint! Seeing PS31 brought back all my childhood memories of good times past when life was easy and care free.
    Born in 1954 and lived on Huron St (between West and Franklin St). Times were so different back then. I could only wish my children and grandchildren (whom I tell stories of those times) could have grown up in that long gone era! Love to Greenpoint always!!!

    1. H Linda , I remember you from Huron St. I lived across the street next to Muss Bruno’s grocery store. How are you? Are you still in Greenpoint?

    2. Hi Linda, how are you ? I lived across the street from you and your family. Are you still in Greenpoint? Are you even in NY?

    3. Thanks,
      Have you read my book” Greenpoint’s Forgotten Past? THink you might enjoy it.

      Have you read my book” Greenpoint’s Forgotten Past? THink you might enjoy it.

  3. Fantastic! Keep up the good work for it is fascinating and heartwarming! Being 59 and growing up in Greepoint (on the other end Sutton St., Meeker Ave. then finally Apollo St.) “old Greenpoint” was always a great great area to roam around in its gritty historic way.

    1. HI Joe,
      Have you read my book” Greenpoint’s Forgotten Past? THink you might enjoy it.

  5. Was born in 54 grew up on java and west right above the bar. Had a great child hood there went to st. Alphonsus on java street. Went to the Chinese restaurant a lot was in the police station but that’s another story my friend grew up on lorimore right around the corner police station the restaurant was great growing up in greenpoint.

  6. SPENT MY CHILDHOOD IN THE YOUTH CENTER.PLAYED ALL KINDS OF SPORTS ,GOT DRUNK ,AND BASICALLY GREW UP IN AND AROUND THIS PLACE

  7. I was born and raised on Meserole Ave in the late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Sadly my childhood home was sold to a builder, knocked down and replaced by a condominium. I will always be a Greenpointer! Greatest times in my life!!

    2. A lot of history. You might enjoy my book on local history ” Greenpoint’s Forgotten Past>”

  9. I am related to the original Meserole family. Jan Meserole was my Grandfather x s , I wonder what he would think of Greenpoint today. He owned around 170 acres and Kie Kiuit Farm ( suppose to be Indian for look out)

  10. My Great Great Great Grandmother was Lottie Meserole who lived here in the 1840’s. She is related to John William Hoogland (born 1839) and Annette Elizabeth Hoogland (born 1845). Lottie’s granddaughter was Cornelia Elizabeth Hoogland (1845). Charlotte Elizabeth Hoogland (born 1870) married Marston Taylor Bogert (Columbia University Professor Inorganic Chemistry) in 1893 (my great grandfather) . They had Charlotte Elise Bowden Bogert. (my grandmother), who had my mom Winifred Bogert Huber -Low (born 1933). They all lived in the Manhattan ; Flushing; Brooklyn or Bay Shore area.

  11. Thank you Geoff for the information. In my searches over the years I’d located an old sketch map of the Greenpoint area showing some of the early parcels, many of which were Meserole-owned. Could be an interesting addition to your collection. I shoukd check out your book sometime. Also, great account of your lineage CGrant & Diane. I have only been able to piece together segments over the years but I’ve found the name came over in 1663 from a ship out of the Netherlands called the Spotted Cow.

  13. My great grandmother was Cora Isora Messerole. I have been studying my ancestry and have gone back to the 1600’s. I have quite a bit of information and think C Grant could be related to me. I have traced this back to Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret Tudor.

  14. I’m trying to remember the name of the Chinese restaurant at the corner of Meserole and Manhattan, up the block from the 94th. It was upstairs and they had a waiter that always reminded me of Peter Litre.

    2. That was the New Garden Chinese Restaurant. It was on Meserole and Manhattan with the entrances on Meserole. I remember a waiter named Pang who had a skin discoloration on his face/neck. He was a good waiter and my dad always asked to be seated at his tables. I also remember a waiter that looked like Peter Lorre. Is that who you mean?

  15. I lived at 163 Meserole. A real dump. They tore it down to widen Oakland Street to McGuiness Blvd.

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