16 Comments
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Jenna Park's avatar

This was such a thorough dive into the history of the Navy Yard. Thank you, Rob, and the photos are fantastic.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Thanks Jenna! Even after having worked here for 15 years I knew next to nothing about the place so it was fun to work on. So glad you enjoyed it!

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Kathryn Kellinger's avatar

Great post. I became fascinated with the Navy Yard after reading Jennifer Egan's Manhattan Beach which somehow made all that industry seem romantic - and this adds to it! Seeing the Concorde while getting on the ferry back in September was a very groovy surprise.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Such a great book! And the Concorde was so cool to see. Seeing it out my window coming into port was a surreal discovery

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JJ Stavros Schaffer's avatar

Cool post. I was at the Navy Yard for open house weekend a month ago, and the proprietor of a woodworking studio recommended this substack when I mentioned my interest in New York street photography.

I had been to the Navy Yard a couple of times for volunteer work, but Open House was the first time I really explored the place. It's a fascinating area, one of my favorite places in the city.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Oh wow cool! Do you remember which woodworker? Now I maybe I forgive them for all the dust they blanket my negatives in.

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JJ Stavros Schaffer's avatar

I think his name is Tom Edmonds.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

My landlord!

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Anne Kadet's avatar

Can you imagine if all those skulls washed up in the Navy Yard now.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

It would blow up on Tik Tok!

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Alon's avatar

This looks so great - "delicious"!

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Kimberly Brown's avatar

Oh and my husband the history buff wanted me to mention the "Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument" in Fort Greene Park. It commemorates the POWs who died on those ghost ships, and there are some remains interred there too.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Yes! I thought I had mentioned that but I see I left it out. Pretty amazing that there are so many bones under the stairs. Will definitely make it into the Fort Greene edition.

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Kimberly Brown's avatar

We made the trek out to see Admiral's Row before it was demolished. I hardly remember the visit except that it was quite gothic. Thanks for all the history and loved the photos, especially the one of (what I guess is) the depth measurements.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Thanks Kimberly, glad you got to see it before it was gone!

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Anne Kadet's avatar

“Ok, settle down Newlab.” Lol

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