[Woman in front of a damaged home caused by Hurricane Sandy]; 2012, 2014.010.8; Michael Claro Hurricane Sandy photograph collection, 2014.010; Brooklyn Historical Society.Where were you when Hurricane Sandy hit? The 2012 superstorm devastated homes, businesses, public transportation, and lives all throughout the region. It’s been over two years since the storm, but the damage and memory of that event is not easily forgotten.Teacher and photographer Michael Claro documented Hurricane Sandy through his lens, and donated…
[Glimpses of Brooklyn], circa 1894, V1986.12.1.4; Glimpses of Brooklyn viewbooks, ARC.227; Brooklyn Historical Society.The Brooklyn Bridge is one of my favorite Brooklyn landmarks, and fortunately for me, the bridge is just a few blocks from the BHS office. Pictured above is the Brooklyn Bridge in 1894, with just a few women and one man walking along the pedestrian bridge. Today, nearly 4,000 people walk the bridge every day. Can you imagine experiencing the bridge without the crowds?When the bridge opened to the public…
[351-357 Fulton Street], ca 1940, V1974.16.0028; Edna Huntington papers and photographs, ARC.044; Brooklyn Historical Society.What’s your go-to lunch spot in Brooklyn? Pictured above is Bickford’s, a luncheonette on Fulton Street, in 1940. The restaurant opened in 1921 with the goal of providing quick service and moderately priced fare.Bickford’s had 24 locations and extended hours, which attracted characters of all types and backgrounds. Most notably, Beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg were spotted late at…
[Scene in Park “wild”], ca 1880, V1974.7.110; Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, 1974.7, Brooklyn Historical Society.It’s officially March, which hopefully means the worst of this long winter is behind us. According to the New York Times, this frigid winter has its benefits: the snow covered ground is a great insulator, and creates the perfect environment for beautiful and lush spring foliage. As reporter Andy Newman said in the article last week, “Enjoy the hard winter that makes a good spring.” That’s something to…
[Brooklyn City Hall Tower Fire], 1895, V1981.15.132; Ralph Irving Lloyd lantern slides, 1981.15, Brooklyn Historical Society.This week marks the 120th anniversary of the 1895 fire at Brooklyn City Hall (today’s Borough Hall). This photograph displays a roof level view of the 1895 City Hall cupola burning. If you look closely, you can see fire ladders propped against the building and firefighters on the roof using hoses to extinguish the fire. The fire started because of a lighted gas jet in a third floor closet. The…
[Brooklyn Photographs: Prospect Park], 1978, V1990.2.183; Donald L. Nowlan Brooklyn collection, 1990.2, Brooklyn Historical Society.How are you surviving this never-ending winter? With temperatures dipping into the single digits and sporadic snow and sleet showers, it feels like there’s no end in sight. The upside is there’s no better time for sledding!The Photo of the Week features a sledding scene in Prospect Park on New Year’s Day in 1978. This photograph was taken by Donald L. Nowlan, a long-time Brooklyn resident,…
”Sweethearts,” Tobyhanna 09,’ 1909, v1981.283.3.53; Burton family papers and photographs, 1981.283, Brooklyn Historical Society.With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, this week’s photograph is a portrait of “sweethearts” dated 1909 from the Burton family collection. The collection contains over 189 photographs, of the Burton family and others. The couple above is unidentified but possibly related to the family. It’s unclear what Tobyhanna indicates, but it likely references Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. It’s all…
[Beverley Road Station BMT.], 12/31/1958, V1974.4.1414; John D. Morrell photographs, 1974.4, Brooklyn Historical Society.The New York Times reported recently that subway fares are increasing again in March. Pictured above is my local subway stop, the Beverley Road Station, in 1958. Back then, a singe ride fare would cost a mere $0.15, compared to $2.75 with the most recent increase. The Brighton Line (Q train) which serves Ditmas Park and Flatbush follows the old Brooklyn, Flatbush & Coney Island Railroad. It was…
[People in the street after the blizzard, Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue], March 15, 1888, V1974.7.77; Adrian Vanderveer Martense collection, ARC.191, Brooklyn Historical Society.Brooklyn is covered in snow this week! Pictured above is from the Blizzard of 1888, which hit New York City by surprise in March, with over 21 inches of snow. The New York Times reported on Tuesday, March 13, 1888, “It had a power of slinging the snow into doorways and packing it up against the doors; of sifting it through window frames of…
[Emmanuel House Basketball Team], ca. 1910, V1981.284.26; Emmanuel House lantern slide collection, 1981.284, Brooklyn Historical Society.It’s basketball season in Brooklyn! I recently saw my first Brooklyn Nets basketball game and was reminded how much fun watching and playing basketball can be, especially when the weather makes me want to hibernate inside. Basketball has a long history in Brooklyn. In the photo above, young men from the Emmanuel House basketball team are pictured in 1910. The Emmanuel House was located in…
[Polar Bear Club member at Coney Island], ca. 1978, V2008.013.3; Lucille Fornasieri Gold photographs, 2008.013, Brooklyn Historical Society.When most people think of winter in Brooklyn, swimming at Coney Island isn’t the first thing to come to mind. Brooklyn Photographer Lucille Fornasieri Gold captured this man—a member of the Polar Bear Club—doing just that during the winter of 1978. The Polar Bear Club was founded in 1903 by Bernarr Macfadden. Macfadden was an early pioneer of “physical culture”—bodybuilding, exercise…