One Of The Large London Plane Trees Snaps In Half On President Street

Photos of tree pruning along President Street between Smith and Court this morning.

(photos courtesy of Mary P.)

London Plane tree on this block snapped in two just a few hours later.

(photo by Jim C.)

(Photo Credit: Liz)

This morning, our friend and PMFA reader Mary P. sent us photos of Beucler, a sub-contractor for the New York City Parks Department pruning some of the old London Plane trees along President Street between Smith and Court Street. "I hope they are just pruning and not taking the whole trees down," Mary wrote.

I assured her that the trees had been in dire need of pruning for a while and that the Parks Department almost never cuts down living trees.

Well, wouldn't you know.  Just a few moments ago, friend Jim C. sent us a photo of one of the trees on that block, near the entrance to the Carroll Park ball field,  snapped in half, with its branches blocking the entire street. 

Luckily, there have been no reports injuries, but it looks as though at least two or three cars sustained some damage.
By this afternoon, the Fire Department had cut the tree into pieces and cleared the road.  However, there were quite a few pieces on the sidewalk across the street in front of several brownstones.

Of course it could be coincidence that the tree pruning on that block and one of them snapping in half happened just hours apart. But those London Plane trees have stood there for decades and it looks health.
Not sure we will be able to find out, but it is sad to lose one of these old giants.

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Picture Of The Day: On President Street

Another beautiful block in Carroll Gardens.
President Street between Court and Clinton Streets.

What a pity that these beautiful buildings are not landmarked.

#landmarknow

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Picture Of The Day: Night Fall On President Street

President Street looking towards Smith Street at nightfall.

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Young Woman Attacked On Hoyt Street Near President Street Last Friday Night At 11:30 PM

Yes, Carroll Gardens is one of the safest neighborhoods in the City, but it doesn't mean that one shouldn't be careful.
The attack on a young woman on Hoyt Street right at the corner of President Street last Friday evening at around 11:30 PM shocked residents because of its brazen nature. Though Hoyt Street can be quiet at night, there are still lots of people walking around the neighborhood at that time of the evening.
According to several block residents, this is what happened:
A young woman in her mid-20's was walking back over the Carroll Street Bridge towards Carroll Gardens from Park Slope. She was approached by a man who told her that he had lost his cell phone.  He used this as a conversation starter and as a distraction. He started to follow her, then grabbed her and put her in a chokehold, covered her mouth and forced her to the ground. She managed to free herself and to scream for help. Neighbors and a dog walker immediately came to her help.
The attacker fled towards 3rd Street.  He was described as "hispanic with elbow-length curly hair," wearing a white T-Shirt. 911 was called and officers of the 76th Precinct on Union Street responded.
It would appear that the police may be familiar with the suspect.

Thankfully,  the woman was fine, just badly shaken. She got in a squad car with Police to try and locate the man who had attacked her.

I have reached out to the 76th Precinct and am waiting for a call back.  I will update the post as soon as I have further information.





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Without Much Fanfare, Carroll Street F Train Stop Loses A Booth

photo credit: David C.

Last week...and yesterday

While I was away last week, friend David sent me the photo above of the Carroll Street F and G train station's President Street Manhattan-side entrance, where the MTA booth was removed recently.

Granted, there still is a booth with a clerk at the other entrance at Second Place and there are two Metro card machines on the President Street side, but it always seemed safer at that end of the station when there was a clerk available, even if only occasionally. 

Over the years, there have been many instances when the MTA wanted to eliminate this particular  booth, but there always came an angry outcry from the neighborhood and our politicians, who cited safety concerns. The MTA always backed off. I guess this time, the agency moved ahead without much advance notice to the community.

If the MTA isn't going to staff the booth with a station clerk at this end of the station, it's obsolete, of course, but I can't help being a bit sad about losing it. 

How about you, neighbor? 

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When A Section Of President Street Was Secor Place And Carroll Street Was Carroll Place

An 1874 Map of the Gowanus Canal area

Detail of 1874 Map

Union Street between Smith and Hoyt was once called Bergen Street

This section of President Street was Secor Place

The former Carroll Place, now Carroll Street

Second Street was known as Balchen Place

Carroll Gardener and friend Alexandrea is as passionate about the neighborhood's history as I am. Over the years, she has amassed an amazing collection of old photos and maps, which she generously shares often with me and PMFA readers. Recently, Alexandrea and I have emailed back and forth about a map from 1874 that she found of the area along the Gowanus Canal.

Very interestingly, four of the blocks between Smith and Hoyt Streets in our neighborhood had different names than they have today. For those blocks, Union Street was once called Bergen Street, President Street was Secor Place and Carroll Street was actually named Carroll Place. And Second Street, believe it or not, was called Balchen Place.

This new knowledge prompted Alexandrea and me to check historical documents and sure enough, we came across plenty of evidence that these blocks went by those names.

It has even been suggested by some neighborhood old-timers that Carroll Place and Secor Place (President) between Smith and Hoyt, which are close to the once private community garden now known as Carroll Park, were gated.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the streets were renamed, but from my search, I would conclude that the switch happened around the time the 1874 map above was printed since the name still appear in newspaper ads at that time. (See the 1875 'for sale' ad below.)

These streets were all laid out on land that belonged to farmer Jacob Bergen, descendant of a Dutch/Norwegian family. (You can read some fascinating Bergen family history here) The area of Bergen's farm was known as Bergen Hill and ran along the Gowanus Canal to Smith Street.

Below are some great information Alexandrea and I stumbled upon when we searched these old street names. I'll post more soon.

And as always, Alexandrea, thanks for sharing your finds with me and with everyone else.

Brooklyn Eagle Archive, November 23, 1854

***Take the time to read the mention of the desirability of the 

proximity to the Gowanus canal in the ad above.

Brooklyn Eagle Archive From 1875

Sales ad for the lot now occupied by #259 Carroll Street

Brooklyn Eagle Archive, March 20, 1875

The J. Bedell mentioned above was the builder of several houses on Carroll Street. 

He had his office on Smith Street.

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A Moment In Time: Cello Player

Musician with cello on President Street.

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Carroll Gardens Christmas Countdown: Holiday Penguins

Penguins guarding an impressive pile of presents on President Street.

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Carroll Gardens Christmas Countdown: On President Street

On President Street,

between Smith and Hoyt.

Brownstones,

lit Christmas tree

and snowman.

*Don't hesitate to send me your festive neighborhood snapshots,

dear Reader, and I will gladly publish them.

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HBO's "Treme" Filming In Carroll Gardens On Sunday

Its not often that a show set in post-Katrina New Orleans films in Carroll Gardens. Yet, this Sunday, parts of HBO's Treme will be filmed on President Street and Smith Street.
New episodes for the second season of HBO's drama started production on November 1st and will most likely air by April.
But why Brooklyn?
According to Variety, actor James Ransone just joined Treme's cast and will have a recurring role through the second season as a New York City restaurant worker.

Maybe his character is a waiter on Smith Street????

ShareThis

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Let's Talk Trash...In Carroll Gardens

Say, dear Reader, is it just me or are our streets getting dirtier all the time? I was standing at the corner of President and Smith Streets yesterday morning. At that time of the day, the trash cans on all four corners of the intersection were overflowing. Some of the garbage was littering the sidewalk and the curb.
As I was taking the photos, a Sanitation truck came by, which I thought was pretty ironic. Of course, it did not stop.

I walked by again later in the afternoon and there was even more trash piled up.
It was pretty disgusting.

So pardon me for asking, but are we just producing more trash or is Sanitation picking up less?

Have you noticed as well? What gives?


For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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This Morning! Red Hook Raiders On Court And Prez

Photo credit: Sara Behunek

Carroll Gardens friend and fellow blogger Sara Behunek sent me the photo above, which she took this morning. She writes:

"Corner of Court and Prez. no one seems to know why...I get an F in journalism today but an A in spotting the hot firemen!"


No, no, Sara. No F's here.
But how about it, Readers! Does anyone know why there were two firetrucks at that corner this morning?



Thanks for sending the photo, Sara!

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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A Moment In Time: How Very "Smart"

She was fascinated by the 'Smart'
parked at the corner of Smith and President Streets.
Holding her mother's hand, she peeked inside
and wondered out loud,
how she would fit in the back seat.

.

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President Street In Spring

A glimpse at President Street in spring time by reader Alexandrea.
These lovely shots were taken between Smith and Hoyt Streets.
I especially like the photo of the cast-iron posts.
Thanks, Alexandrea.

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Picture Of The Day: President Street In The Late Afternoon

In the late afternoon.
President Street,
from the corner of Hoyt
looking towards Smith Street.
Isn't it a lovely block?
So much history contained within the walls of these brownstones...

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A Moment In Time: Pushing Her Little Shopping Cart

She was pushing her shopping cart
slowly down President Street,
towards Smith.

She reminded me that I always wanted to replace mine,
which broke one day,
laden to the top with groceries
halfway to my house.

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