GREENPOINT FACT MAP

(INTRODUCTION) The years between 1856 and 1869 were a time of rapid growth in Greenpoint. Topped with the opening of the original Greenpoint Savings bank in 1869 at Franklin and Oak Streets.  More or less a simple time when streets from Ash to Quay were named in alphabetical order as "A" Street, "B" Street", etc.

As the area built up the streets were renamed to Ash, Box, Clay, Dupont, Eagle, Freeman, Green, Huron, India, Java, Kent, Lincoln, Milton, Noble, Oak, maintaining their simple orderly fashion. The current Greenpoint Avenue was ("L" Street) Lincoln Street, sometimes known as Plank Road because of the wooden planks that were constantly laid out upon it so that the residents could attempt to cross it during the high tide of  the East River. Also known as National Street for a time, Lincoln Street became a main drag through the center of town competing with Franklin Street, the real main strip of early Greenpoint.

Numbered streets were also popular all over town. Greenpoint's numbered streets began with First Street at what is now Guernsey Street and ended with Ninth Street at what is now Jewel Street. When Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick consolidated with the City of Brooklyn in 1855, Greenpoint and Bushwick renamed their numbered streets to avoid confusion. A fine example of this is Greenpoint's Henry Street which was renamed to North Henry Street to avoid confusion with "Brooklyn's" Henry Street.

Many streets were named and renamed in honor of the times. Calyer Street once known as Clinton Street; Oak Street formerly Madison; and the many names of Manhattan Avenue. Prior to 1863 the Manhattan Avenue strip from Greenpoint Avenue to The Newtown Creek was better known as Union Avenue. The area on Manhattan Avenue from Driggs to Greenpoint Avenue was known as Orchard Street until 1877.  Finally the stretch leading up to Driggs Avenue was known as Ewan Street before it was renamed Manhattan Avenue in 1897.

By 1899, Greenpoint was called home by over 70,000 residents. The early 1900's transportation from Greenpoint to "New York" was provided by Ferry's such as "The Greenpoint", "The NorthSide", "The SouthSide", "The Martha", "Sylvan Glenn", "The Osprey", "Sylvan Grove", "The Haarlem", and "The Sylvan Dell".  Ferry's departed for their 10 minute journey from Greenpoint Avenue to 10th Street New York, with competing Ferry service landing on 23rd Street. In the summer time, a pleasant journey for residents carrying along a tasty pie from Teddy Slanes of Kent Avenue, or perhaps sneaking aboard  a cold brew from Matt Stantons Saloon.  Surely aboard were working class residents and a quirky eccentric dreamer named Louis Masqueriere.  A resident of Java Street, Louis erected an odd shaped monument in Cypress Hills cemetery.  The inscription was made up of strange hieroglyphics, shorthand and picture writing that Masqueriere hoped in time would develop into a new alphabet or language that all would use one day. Although the strange writings are still a mystery, many of the dreams of early Greenpoint have become a reality.
 

MAP POINTS OF INTEREST:  

• 1 - In 1844 David A Kingsland built his house on a lot at 186 Java Street.  He purchased the land for $50.  By 1850 his property tax bill was $3.43

• 2- Perhaps in a strange place in "the center of town", at the foot of India Street before Oakland (McGuinness Blvd) was cut through was the resting place of many town elders - the graveyard.

• 3- The Continental Opera House, located at Franklin Street near Milton Street was a popular social and entertainment hang out during its one year in operation.

• 4 - One of the first large scale construction projects was undertaken by James Sparrow who built a row of 21, four story brick houses on Greenpoint Avenue between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street.  Prior to the construction, this was the place where the circus pitched their tents when they came to town.

• 5 - The site of many social gatherings, O'neills Saloon on Leonard Street near Greenpoint Avenue. The local watering hole boasted "50 silver dollar pieces cemented into the floor".

• 6 - Pop Farrells stables at Greenpoint Avenue and Oakland was a "cow farm" that provided all the fresh milk in town.

• 7, 8, 10 - In the early 1870's a large portion of Greenpoint was not connected to the city water supply.  Residents filled their water buckets at one of three main pumps.  Two were located west of Franklin Street at Meserole and Calyer.  The third was located at Eckford Street and Norman Avenue.

• 9 - The site of the peaceful and serene Meseroles Grove.  The Meserole family erected a big white house that contained 16 large rooms.  Their property was bordered by Manhattan Avenue, Norman Avenue, Meserole Avenue, and Lorimer Street.  It was on this site where picnics and Sunday services were held.

• 11 - On the site now known as Wintrop Park was the Backus Farm. Here, locals enjoyed the winter snow where "the sledding was fine".

STREET NAME ORIGINS:

GUERNSEY STREET - Opened in 1852, probably named after Doctor Egbert Guernsey, founder of The Williamsburg Daily Times.

CALYER STREET - Named after Jacobus Calyer, head of one of the 5 farm families of early Greenpoint.

KENT STREET - Opened in 1852, named after a noted jurist and first professor of Law at Columbia College and Chancellor of The New York Court of Chancerey, James Kent (1763-1847).

LORIMER STREET - Named after James Lorimer Graham who along with his brother was an active real estate developer in Williamsburg.

MILTON STREET - May have been named after a successful manufacturer of sailing materials, Daniel Milton who lived in the area.  Milton Street was also opened in 1852.

CONSELYEA STREET - This street retained the property owners' name which went through the farms of Andrew Conselyea

NOBLE STREET - Named after the 1842 Trustee of The Village of Williamsburg , James Noble.

DRIGGS AVENUE - Named after Edmund Driggs, last President of the Village of Williamsburgh

Many Streets were also renamed in 1885 to honor the "signers" of the Declaration of Independence. These names included George Wythe, William Hooper, and Ceasar Rodney.