The View From Here: The Remnants of Red Hook Lane
What’s that funny little alley across the way from 110 Livingston? The street is Red Hook Lane, a remnant of one of the oldest Brooklyn pathways dating to pre-colonial times. It also technically no longer exists–the city recently removed the alley from the official city streetmap, so that the land can be developed. What you see now is ghost of Brooklyn past, which won’t last much longer.
Originally Red Hook Lane ran from the parish of Brookland all the way down to Red Hook, hence both its name and direction. It was actually a Native American trail before colonists arrived. This map from 1766 shows the original Fulton Street running through Brookland Parish, with Red Hook Lane branching off diagonally toward the lower left:
During the Revolution, George Washington observed the Battle of Brooklyn taking place near the Gowanus from Red Hook Lane. The road survived the initial grid layout in Downtown Brooklyn, as shown by this 1827 map. However, various later urban planning initiatives have almost entirely eliminated the road, and only a few remnants remain.
Apart from the segment we see between Fulton and Livingston, the irregular angle of Red Hook Lane still can be seen in at least two local buildings which once fronted on it–their angled walls which don’t match the street grid show that they once sat on Red Hook Lane.
Forgotten New York has this photo of one building on Atlantic Ave. between Court and Boerum which has an angled wall once facing Red Hook Lane (an alert commenter points out that this is the Brazen Head bar on Atlantic). We also recently discovered another building, at the back of St. Vincent’s on Boerum Place — whose sharply angled wall clearly once fronted the street (viewed here from State Street looking toward Atlantic Ave.):
See another angle. These irregular shaped buildings may soon be the only trace left of Red Hook Lane–the city recently “de-mapped” the segment between Fulton and Livingston, to allow that block to be redeveloped. This means the road officially no longer exists, and may physically disappear as soon as a development moves forward. Pay it a visit to experience an original Brooklyn pathway, before it’s gone.
- Further reading: Forgotten-NY on Red Hook Lane
- Brooklyn By Name: How the Neighborhoods, Streets, Parks, Bridges and More Got Their Names (Amazon.com)
The demapping is probably for the best. The alleyway doesn’t add anything to the character of the area–it’s basically a narrow parking lot, what with all the cars constantly parked on the curbs of that little street (and what’s up with the weird gated parking garage at the tip of the triangle?).
Still, it’s kinda sad to see a historical pathway go, and once it’s gone I’m gonna miss my shortcut to the Jay Street station.
Comment by Lance — May 11, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
the first time i was in the brazen head — on atlantic across from st. vincents — it suddenly struck me how funky the place was inside because of the east wall that makes that runs diagonally until it gets very narrow in back. then i looked out the window and you can see the st. vincents angle and way down the way to where the alley hits fulton. it’s a very interesting perspective on space and the past.
Comment by rich — May 11, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
This is a really impressive post. Inspiring, truly.
Comment by maxwell — May 11, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Nice bit of history. Always wondered about that alley. I’ll have to walk down it a few times before it disappears.
Comment by Brooks of Sheffield — May 12, 2007 @ 7:46 am
This is really something. Thank you for this history lesson. Very impressive.
I find it sad that the entire world around me is progressing at such a pace that history becomes easily neglected.
Comment by ct — May 12, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
It was one of Jane Jacobs’ most important points that more streets equals more vibrant street life. What are the least vibrant parts of downtown brooklyn? Upper Cadman Plaza and near the BQE. Even though there might not be many businesses on Red Hook Lane, its existence adds to Fulton Street and a pedestrian corridor. It is a gift to developers to de-map it and a disservice to downtown Brooklyn and Brooklynites.
Comment by alexb — May 13, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
[…] The View From Here: The Remnants of Red Hook Lane […]
Pingback by 110 Livingston News & Blog » A Great Mistake Averted: Brooklyn Was Almost Renamed “New York East” — May 15, 2007 @ 11:05 am
In writing a novel about ACadians I have seen the name RED HOOK at the place where they were landed in 1755. Can anyone give me a lead as to was there a harbor that could handle large brigs, in that area at that time?
Comment by Sheila DeCosse — June 23, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
[…] Interestingly, the building is shaped like an “L”, and also has street frontage at 409 Red Hook Lane. You wont’ see the facade above for a while though, it is undergoing a $2+ million […]
Pingback by The View from Here: The Board of Ed Building at 131 Livingston | 110 Livingston News & Blog — April 22, 2008 @ 12:19 pm