There is no more important geographical feature of Greenpoint than our waterfront defined by piers, wharves and docks, so let us take a moment and examine in more detail the […]
Posts by Author Archives: Geoff Cobb
Geoffrey Cobb is a Brooklyn high school history teacher and writer of the blog historicgreenpoint.wordpress.com. He has lived in Greenpoint for over 20years and is the author of a book on the history of the area, "Greenpoint Brooklyn's Forgotten Past."
Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint
The Williamsburg Roots of the Adler Acting Dynasty
American theater and film acting owes a huge debt to Stella Adler who is perhaps the most influential teacher of the dramatic method in American theater history. Adler’s method […]
Posted inCulture
Maria Stewart: America’s ‘First Black Woman Political Writer’ Who Taught in Williamsburg
This story was originally published in 2019.
Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint
Brooklyn Label: Rediscovering the Astral’s Legacy
A lot of local history is quickly disappearing, but one place that is holding strong is Brooklyn Label (180 Franklin St.) and the historic building it calls home. French Greenpointer […]
Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint
Honoring Greenpoint’s Pioneering Female Factory Workers
The iconic industries of North Brooklyn were staffed by females who were underpaid and often worked in dangerous conditions. It’s high time we honor these anonymous, but heroic local workers. […]
Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint
New York City’s First Black Principal Sarah Tompkins Garnet Began Her Career in Williamsburg
March is Women’s History Month when we celebrate the achievements of North Brooklyn’s greatest women. Sarah Tompkins Garnet was not only the first black woman to serve as a […]
Posted inCulture
Will Eisner: Williamsburg’s Father of The Graphic Novel and Legendary Comic Artist
North Brooklyn has produced a slew of creative geniuses in many fields, but Will Eisner created a new genre of art. A gifted and innovative comic artist, Eisner was the […]
Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint
Williamsburg’s Forgotten Great Abolitionist Editor: Willis Hodges
Last week I spoke about Brooklyn’s great poet Walt Whitman who served as the editor of Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Daily News in the late 1850s, but I also mentioned the name […]
Posted inUncategorized
Greenpoint’s Adam ‘Babyface’ Kownacki Follows Local Boxing Tradition
Recently, heavyweight boxer Adam ‘Babyface’ Kownacki has generated a lot of local excitement. The Polish-born, but Greenpoint bred, Konwacki is 19- 0 in his professional career. A huge contingent of […]
Posted in(Not)Forgotten Greenpoint
The Unlikley Story Behind Williamsburg’s Washington Statue
These last bone-chilling, frigid days have been hard to bear, but these freezing days have reminded me of the horrible cold the Continental Army endured during the darkest moments of […]