Great edition, Rob. I have cycled on Sands St. many times but had no idea of its history. Throughout the city, it's like every red brick public housing complex is a monument to the ghosts of an old neighborhood.
Given the number of distilleries that used to be in the area, it's fitting that the King's County Distillery is just inside the Navy Yard Sands St. entrance. I recommend their tour and tasting.
Great stuff. A a displaced Brooklynite who grew up next to Ebbitts Field, lived in Crown Heights, Flatbush, Midwood and Canarsie, and worked in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, I really appreciate the posts and the pictures, Great photos. I edited the Crown Height Courier for three years. The audience was graduates for P.S. 161.
Those signs are all over any kind of big city power infrastructure sites. You can see them if you use google street view and zoom in.... https://maps.app.goo.gl/oYRFvB5G6Bz3Hf3b6
Robert Moses strikes again! That man's revisionist footsteps are all over NYC now.
While he didn't explicitly set it in Irishtown, Stephen Crane's first book "Maggie: A Girl Of The Streets" depicts much of the raucous and reckless activities that would have happened in the area in the 19th century. The title character's mother is portrayed as a neglectful drunkard not unlike Mrs. Jordan.
I kept getting Stephen Crane and Hart Crane mixed up. Looks like they share more than just a surname. I was up in the Bronx today where Moses' handiwork is at its most egregious. He really is everywhere.
Your photographs in this week’s piece felt especially moving. I’m not sure how you make images of abandoned cars and closed shops look romantic, but you do.
Thanks, Will! The abandoned cars and closed storefronts are, in a way, low-hanging fruit; it's the meticulously maintained or brand-new neighborhoods that I dread. Thankfully, there is always something to see.
Love Vinegar Hill- thank you for the tour! I always intrigued by the story of the Mansion - I would love to see the inside. I also recommend King's County Distillery and a tour there - been a while since I was there but now you put it back on my list, thank you.
Good work. Lovely to listen to the audio while looking at your photos. Live near Vancouver but next time in NYC we'll take a walk around your hood. Thank you!
Thank you for this article. I have lived in Vinegar Hill since I was 5 years old. I always love to read new articles from people who discover this neighborhood.
A fantastic account of the past - thank you. With family history in that area it’s sparked imagination as to what it was like living and working or growing up in Vinegar Hill in the 19th century.
😆👍 to the caption, “There goes the neighborhood” with the cyber truck.
Hopefully they were just visiting
Great edition, Rob. I have cycled on Sands St. many times but had no idea of its history. Throughout the city, it's like every red brick public housing complex is a monument to the ghosts of an old neighborhood.
Given the number of distilleries that used to be in the area, it's fitting that the King's County Distillery is just inside the Navy Yard Sands St. entrance. I recommend their tour and tasting.
Thanks Bill! I work in the Navy Yard and had no idea Sands Street was so happening either.
I've been to the Distillery but never for a tour, that's a good idea!
Great stuff. A a displaced Brooklynite who grew up next to Ebbitts Field, lived in Crown Heights, Flatbush, Midwood and Canarsie, and worked in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, I really appreciate the posts and the pictures, Great photos. I edited the Crown Height Courier for three years. The audience was graduates for P.S. 161.
I may need to pick your brain when I attempt to cover Crown Heights. Happy you are following along. Thanks!
Wow! What a storied little patch. I have but one questions: Why are there signs warning people not to take photos of the Con Ed plant?
Those signs are all over any kind of big city power infrastructure sites. You can see them if you use google street view and zoom in.... https://maps.app.goo.gl/oYRFvB5G6Bz3Hf3b6
It's even more weird that it's on friggin street view and yet they're worried about whatever they're worried about. Like...what's the issue?
exactly!
Robert Moses strikes again! That man's revisionist footsteps are all over NYC now.
While he didn't explicitly set it in Irishtown, Stephen Crane's first book "Maggie: A Girl Of The Streets" depicts much of the raucous and reckless activities that would have happened in the area in the 19th century. The title character's mother is portrayed as a neglectful drunkard not unlike Mrs. Jordan.
I kept getting Stephen Crane and Hart Crane mixed up. Looks like they share more than just a surname. I was up in the Bronx today where Moses' handiwork is at its most egregious. He really is everywhere.
could look at these all day... thank you.
I want to be the Adam and Eve of something!
It's not too late. Camel Milk?
Damn the neighborhood is so empty and peaceful now. It’s hard to imagine all this going on!
I dunno…”Brooklyn Clean Energy Hub” sounds very 2022.
Yeah, especially now that someone who thinks wind farms cause cancer is back in charge. Maybe it will become a $TRUMP mining operation.
Your photographs in this week’s piece felt especially moving. I’m not sure how you make images of abandoned cars and closed shops look romantic, but you do.
Thanks, Will! The abandoned cars and closed storefronts are, in a way, low-hanging fruit; it's the meticulously maintained or brand-new neighborhoods that I dread. Thankfully, there is always something to see.
Love Vinegar Hill- thank you for the tour! I always intrigued by the story of the Mansion - I would love to see the inside. I also recommend King's County Distillery and a tour there - been a while since I was there but now you put it back on my list, thank you.
Rumor has it that it was designed by the same architect as the US Capitol. Here are some more pics. I may need to make a followup article. http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/record=b11197714
Good work. Lovely to listen to the audio while looking at your photos. Live near Vancouver but next time in NYC we'll take a walk around your hood. Thank you!
Thanks Marty! I'm glad I got the audio back and working especially when I hear that people are listening in. Glad you like it!
Thank you for this article. I have lived in Vinegar Hill since I was 5 years old. I always love to read new articles from people who discover this neighborhood.
A fantastic account of the past - thank you. With family history in that area it’s sparked imagination as to what it was like living and working or growing up in Vinegar Hill in the 19th century.
Beautifully researched, written and presented. Many thanks.
Super enjoyable and informative read — and loved the images.