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 […]
Category: Historical Greenpoint
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 […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
Artist Fredrick Remington’s Debt to Greenpoint
Frederic Remington is perhaps the most iconic artist of the American West, and his bronze sculptures capture the essence of the American frontier. Remington’s figures of cowboys and horses seem […]
Posted inHistorical Greenpoint
How Greenpoint Helped Build The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a majestic span with its elegant gothic towers and roadway suspended above the East River. Today we take it for granted, but at the time it […]