Dredging In The Polluted Gowanus: Two Whole Cars Were Just Fished Out Of The Canal

Mention the Gowanus Canal to anyone in the Gowanus neighborhood and they will inevitably wonder aloud what one may find buried beneath its fetid waters. History buffs have guessed that the toxic black sludge that has accumulated over decades at the bottom of the canal may hold artifacts from the Battle of Brooklyn which was fought nearby. Author Jonathan Lethem describes the Gowanus Canal as "the only body of water in the world that is 90 percent guns" in his book Motherless Brooklyn. 

And many old timers mention bodies....lots and lots of bodies, including, perhaps, that of famous teamster Jimmy Hoffa.

The speculations increased last month when dredging in the upper portion of the canal began this past November 16 as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund clean-up of the canal.  Since that day, excavators on barges have been digging up the contaminated material one shovelful after the other. It is a fascinating sight.

So, one can imagine the surprise of the excavator operator on site last Friday when he 'hooked' a whole car, possibly a Mercedes, on the East side of the canal between the 1st Street Basin and the Carroll Street Bridge (see the yellow dot on the map below).

What is even more amazing is that yesterday a second car was pulled out just feet away from the first one.

This one was located a bit nearer the 363-365 Bond Street development at Second Street, 

Car #2

The Police was called by the contractor, but apparently the detective in charge did not know what to do about the discovery and needed to talk to his supervisor.

In the meantime, both cars have been transported to an off-site facility to be cleaned. There are no reports of findings inside the cars yet, but we will keep everyone updated when we find out.

If you are as fascinated by all things IN the canal, you might want to read these PMFA articles.

From 2016:

It Came From The Gowanus: Viewing Debris Recently Removed From 4th Street Basin

From 2018:

It Came From The Gowanus Part II: More Items See The Light Of Day After Being Dredged From The Bottom Of The Canal

From 2009: 

Car Plunges Into Gowanus Canal Early On Saturday Morning

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"It Came From The Gowanus Canal, Again": Comic Release Party At Gowanus Souvenir Shop

From "It came from the Gowanus, Canal,  again"

"It's not the water you should fear. It's him."

We know that there is plenty of coal tar at the bottom of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. We know that raw sewage flows into it during heavy downpours, compliment of the City of New York. Occasionally, a whale will lose its way and swim into the polluted waterway to die.

According to Tales of the Night Watchman, a comic book series published by So What? Press, there is something even more sinister lurking in the murky waters of everyone's favorite EPA Superfund: the Gowanus Golem, "Brooklyn’s most toxic monster."

Golem made his first appearance in the 2014 "It came from the Gowanus Canal" issue.  Now he is back in Issue 7, a follow-up of one of the series' most popular tales. In "It came from the Gowanus, Canal,  again", the monster is after a couple of thugs who are responsible for the death of a young boy.
Barista and blogger Nora and her roommate Charlie come to the rescue to put an end to the supernatural activity.

Writer Dave Kelly, artist Brett Hobson, colorist Clare DeZutti, and cover artist Tim Hamilton will be attending a "It Came From the Gowanus Canal, Again" comic release party on Friday, November 3 at 7pm at the Gowanus Souvenir Shop, 567 Union Street, between Nevins and Third Avenue.

So come, chat with the comic's creators and have your copy signed.

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