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May, 2011

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Tennis in Prospect Park

Written by Kate Ludwig on May 11th, 2011
Tennis Playing, Prospect Park, c.1875-1880, v1974.11.14; Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Tennis Playing, Prospect Park, c.1875-1880, v1974.11.14; Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Prospect Park, circa 1885. Lewis Nostrand Anderson Jr. is seen playing tennis with his cousin and two unidentified women. In 1881 lawn tennis was first introduced in Prospect Park and it became a popular recreational activity soon after. Thousands of visitors of all ages went to the park during their leisure time to enjoy outdoor activities and spend time with family and friends. The pastime eventually led to the building of the “Tennis House” in 1910, which was located in the Long Meadow section of Prospect Park. Today, the Tennis House is used as an office for Park Landscape management and various maintenance staff.

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Bicycling in Brooklyn

Written by Julie May on May 6th, 2011

As you may know, it’s bike month in the U.S. and Brooklyn cyclists and our streets tend to be big participants.  Once again, I’d like to highlight more of the photographs from our historic collection that depict the bikes of our past.  As you’ll see, not much has changed.  People still take their bikes to picnic in Prospect Park, lounge by the beach, and trek over our  many bridges.

Coney Island, 1889, v1972.1.808; Walter Hull Aldridge; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Coney Island, 1889, v1972.1.808; Walter Hull Aldridge; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Concert Grove Lagooon, Prospect Park, 1897, v1973.2.365; Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Concert Grove Lagooon, Prospect Park, 1897, v1973.2.365; Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Vernon Avenue Bridge, Greenpoint side, Bushwick, 1923, v1974.1.222; Eugene L. Armbruster photograph and scrapbook collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Vernon Avenue Bridge, Greenpoint side, Bushwick, 1923, v1974.1.222; Eugene L. Armbruster photograph and scrapbook collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Untitled, 1889, v1974.36.18; Walter Hull Auldridge; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Untitled, 1889, v1974.36.18; Walter Hull Auldridge; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Happy Bike Month everyone — be sure to check out the many activities going on: http://bikemonthnyc.org/events

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Brooklyn History Photo of the Week: Atlantic Avenue station

Written by Emily Reynolds on May 4th, 2011
Atlantic Avenue elevated train station, ca.1895, v1972.2.59, Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Atlantic Avenue elevated train station, ca.1895, v1972.2.59, Photography Collection; Brooklyn Historical Society.

The Atlantic Avenue station, which opened on November 5, 1888 and closed on May 31, 1940, served the elevated BMT Fifth Avenue Line. It was located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, directly above what is now the Atlantic Avenue-Pacific Street subway complex. The entrance building visible on the left side of the photo is still standing in the center of the intersection, though it is now unused.

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Map of the Month – May 2011

Written by Carolyn on May 2nd, 2011

This month’s featured map dates from 1896 and shows the Bay Ridge Channel, Red Hook Channel, Buttermilk Channel, Gowanus Canal, and Gowanus Creek Channel. Created to accompany the annual report of H.M. Adams of the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the map documents the Corps’ planned improvements to the area. Enjoy!

|a Bay Ridge and Red Hook Channels, Buttermilk Channel, Gownus Canal and Gowanus Creek Channel, New York, showing condition of improvements in charge of Major H.M. Adams, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., June 30, 1896. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

Bay Ridge and Red Hook Channels, Buttermilk Channel, Gowanus Canal and Gowanus Creek Channel, New York, showing condition of improvements in charge of Major H.M. Adams, Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., June 30, 1896. Brooklyn Historical Society Map Collection.

(View this map as a PDF file to show more detail)

Interested in seeing more maps? You can view the BHS map collection anytime during the library’s open hours, Wed.-Fri., from 1-5 p.m. No appointment is necessary to view most maps. Our cataloged maps can be searched through BobCat and our map inventories through Emma.

Map of the Month is part of a project to catalog our map holdings, funded through the Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Collections program. If you would like to help us do more of this kind of work with our exciting map holdings, donate here.

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