For years I passed the graceful façade of Saint Anthony of Padua church (862 Manhattan Avenue) and admired its beauty, but never really thought much about the man who built […]
Category: Historical Greenpoint
Posted inUncategorized
Greenpoint’s Notorious Sonny Franseze Released from Prison at Age 100
The reputed local crime boss, John “Sonny” Franzese was recently released from the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts. The hundred-year-old reputed member of the Colombo crime family had been […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
How New York’s Most Notorious Gangster Bankrolled Mae West’s Broadway Hit
In my book about local history, Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past, I told the story about how in 1927, local Greenpoint gal Mae West scandalized New York by staging a play called […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
Greenpoint: The Birthplace of the American Carousel
Our area has been the birthplace of many things: the American porcelain industry, oil refining, but carousels? Who knew? Actually, Greenpoint has a long history of carousel production that goes […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
Greenpoint and World War I: Farewell Parades, Lives Lost & A Fitting Monument
Last month marked the hundredth anniversary of America’s entry into World War I, a war which had many profound effects on Greenpoint. A hundred and fifty local men lost their lives […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
How A Greenpoint Statue Became A Target of Anti-Americanism
Many Greenpointers know that Ferdinand De Lesseps famous Iwo Jima memorial was cast locally at Bedi Rassy Art foundry on India Street; however many people do not know the story […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
A History of the Greenpoint Ferry
Starting this morning, the East River Ferry is no more—it’s transitioning into a new entity, NYC Ferry, to provide city-wide service. The good thing about the new city-subsidized service is that fares […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
A History of Greenpoint in 25 Buildings: 85 Calyer Street
85 Calyer Street looks like many other frame houses in Greenpoint, but it was the home of the greatest mechanical genius to ever live in Greenpoint, Thomas Fitch Rowland, and […]
Posted inCulture
Weekend Art Roundup: April 14 – April 16
Ok, y’all. Don’t freak out. But, yes, winter is over. Perhaps only art speaks truer to the soul than the spring. So, here’s a few things to hit this weekend, […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
A History of Greenpoint in 25 Buildings: The Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center
One of the oldest surviving local factory buildings is the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center located in the sprawling former factory building at 1155–1205 Manhattan Avenue. The factory dates from […]