Category Archives: Project 2

Project #2

Posted on by
Reply

There are many people who claim to know New York very well, yet most of the times when they say “New York” they are only referring to one borough in specific which most of the times ends up being Manhattan but, New York is not only about Manhattan, there are other boroughs too. One of those other boroughs is Brooklyn. One day while in Brooklyn I decided to take my time and explore around the surrounding area of the New York City College Of Technology, while on that trip I came upon a certain street by the name of Livingston St, that certain street had something that captivated my view and that was the Museum Of Transit. To get to the Museum Of Transit  you must first head south on Jay St towards Johnson St, turn right in Willoughby St, turn left onto Pearl St, turn right on Red Hook Lin, turn left on Boeron and finally turn onto Livingston St.

While walking towards The New York City Museum Of Transit I noticed a lot of things, for example I saw that a lot of people walked in extreme urgency, also when I reached the museum I noticed that the museum itself could be seen from a distance thanks to those hanging posters from the sides. When looking at the Museum Of Transit I began to notice that the museum itself was a Juxtaposition, the reason for this claim is because the museum itself is a modern piece of work (meaning a building) but the items that the museum displays are historical artifacts or old artifacts.The display of the artifacts is also surrounded by modernism and technology making the museum a Juxtaposition.

The buildings around the museum are very similar to each other making the museum blend in with the modern structures, The Museum Of Transit would be very difficult to locate if it wasn’t for the directions provided by the MTA on their website and also because of the big posters hanging outside of the museum.

The reason I chose this location is because I ride the subway everyday of the week and often times when I see the trains I start to wonder who came with the idea of such a method of transportation. I have also been curious about the history of the subway and the history of the MTA in general for example: Why pick letters and numbers for the trains? or why chose the stations that we have and not other stations?.

When I entered the museum it was sort of like entering the train because the museum is located underground, the museum itself is pretty huge and exhibits models of old trains, stations and even buses. My favorite part of the museum is the store, the store offers merchandise that are faithful to the MTA. Personally my favorite item of the museum has to be the centennial chick poster because I remember that piece of art being in the train the first time I rode the subway.

 

Project #2 – Brooklyn Bridge

Posted on by
Reply

My location for Project #2 is the Brooklyn Bridge. This was the place I chose because it is a place in Brooklyn that you should absolutely see and visit if you haven’t already. The Brooklyn bridge sees a lot of activity during all times of the day, and is also one of the biggest structures in all of the five boroughs. To get to the Brooklyn bridge from City Tech you have to head north on jay street toward Tilary street, then you take a left  on Tilary street and walk down that block until you hit the Brooklyn Bridge.

I noticed a lot of different things while I was walking there like a park in which lots of kids where playing basket ball. I also noticed a merging of old in new in the area like new buildings mixed with old town houses and it really drove home the fact that Brooklyn to me is both old and new. The mixing of old and new houses really gives the area around the Brooklyn bridge and even the Brooklyn Bridge itself a good juxtaposition. The bridge and cars are juxtaposed in the fact the bridge being so old and the cars being so new and more technologically advanced, it just makes the contrast between the two things stand out a considerable amount. Another juxtaposition in the area is the bridge itself compared to the surrounding houses, stores, and parks.

There are brand new condos by the Brooklyn bridge and they really stand out next to the Brooklyn bridge. Some of the businesses around the Brooklyn bridge as well are juxtaposed because one of the stores around the Brooklyn bridge was a Radio Shack and that store sells technology that would have never been around in the time the Brooklyn bridge was built, like cell phones, and computers. There are also a lot of instances in which the surroundings of the Brooklyn bridge can’t be juxtaposed like a lot of the buildings are still very old but they’re trying to modernize the area more. When I visited the Brooklyn bridge and the surrounding areas there were a couple of quotes from our readings that really stood out to me. The first was From a reading we did in class called A Literary Visitor Strolls in from the Airport by: Charles McGrath and he says “Maybe we’ll feel better when we get to the Brooklyn bridge.” and its true I did feel a lot better walking around and then finally getting to the Brooklyn bridge and looking at just how cool it really is up close. Overall I really enjoyed doing this project as it made me see Brooklyn in a way I would have never seen in the first place.

Project #2 Brooklyn Bridge Park

Posted on by
Reply

Bridge_Park

carousel

My location for Project #2 is the Brooklyn Bridge Park. I chose this as my subject because it is somewhere that you should visit while in Brooklyn. It has a lot of activity and also provides a great deal of culture in Brooklyn. To get to this vibrant location, I took a left onto Jay St. upon exiting Namm Hall. After getting to the end of the block that our college is located on, I ran into Tillary St. While waiting for the crosswalk light to change, I noticed a park caddy corner from where I was standing. This park seemed to always be in use. Whether it was one person doing pull-ups on the monkey bars or a group of 15 kids playing a game of basketball all at once.This makes sense considering all the academic locations nearby. Intermediate and college alike. As I continued further, I passed many more college campus locations. Some for City Tech. There was a church on my right that always seems to be filled with light, literally and figuratively. This seems hard to find nowadays. Maybe it’s because I am not around at the right times, but this church seemed to be very lively with loud choir music; clapping; and honestly, pure joy. I am not the most religious person, but this is something that could sway me to be a born-again christian.

As I trudge along a street that now seems to be dying down a little considering that is where the bridge lets out and there isn’t much room for industrialization of any kind; I think to myself how twisted and tangled the roads are because of all the outlets, entries, and one-ways. Thinking historically, I would say that this very same area at one point had probably just one road that was two-ways and one entrance/exit to the bridge. This is speculation of course. When i finally get past this mess of intersections and lack of cross-walks I am happy to have survived. This makes the rest of my trip that much more fulfilling. I had just gone under the Brooklyn Bridge, but there seems to be another overpass just before the York St. subway station. It looks ordinary looking directly at it but as you pass through, on either side it says “Yes.” Very artistically written and it seems to be a juxtaposition of emotions, because one side is very colorful and full of life, while the other is  plain and black and white. Still they relay the same text, maybe just different messages. This reminds me of a quote from “Fort Greene Dreams”, by Nelson George that reads, “The New York Times was among the many publications that profiled the area, making Fort Greene synonymous with a “Brooklyn Boheme” vibe.” When i see art like this in the most unlikely places, it makes me remember how artistic Brooklyn is. Even though many can take it for granted, it is still noticed by even the most prestigious of magazines.

I take this thought with me as i continue down Jay St. Once I pass through York, I notice a huge contrast between the street itself and the store fronts. This is a perfect example of a juxtaposition. Everything lining the street seems to be brand new. From the grocery store to  the high-rise apartments. The street itself though, is very old. Laid with brick and very unsteady, even to walk on, it still has the old railroad tracks embedded. I am especially aware of this fact because I do deliveries in my car through that area and I can almost feel the shocks in my car giving out due to the turbulence. Eventually, I reach the water and cannot continue further. I decide to go left knowing that to the right is project housing and the Brooklyn Navy Yard which I am already familiar with. When I make that left onto John St., there are big warehouses and what looks to be empty spaces even though that is hard to believe considering the popularity of the area. I happen to know that a lot of the seemingly unoccupied buildings have some office space or even large apartments because I deliver pizza to them. This is quite the juxtaposition. As I walk past a large glass enclosure with a brand new carousel inside, I can see the park on the horizon. It is very beautiful. Green and bright with a playground for children and usually many activities and fundraisers going on. In my eyes, this is the ultimate juxtaposition because of all the brand new landmarks being over-shadowed by arguably the most historical monument in Brooklyn.

In the essay “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead, he says, “Go back to your old hauntings in your old neighborhoods and what do you find: they remain and have disappeared.” Looking up at the bridge from the stand-point of the park, I wonder if a man who had grown up in the area and returned many years later would recognize the space the park takes up. He may say to himself that nothing looks the same and it is a brand new landscape from the one he remembers from his childhood. He may even look across the water and think that the New York City skyline looks very different, but all he has to do to see a familiar site is to look up. The Brooklyn Bridge hasn’t changed for well over 100 years. Because of its historical value, it will most likely stay the same for as long as it is stable and usable. Even if they do have to repair or re-do the bridge, I believe that they will keep the same look and style because, to me, it is the face of Brooklyn.

Project 2 Metrotech Center

Posted on by
Reply

Metrotech Center

When I was planning my route to NYCCT, I found a small walkway on the way from the Dekalb Ave. train station. Since I would not need to wait for any traffic lights, I decided to use this on my route. When I first arrived I thought nothing of it. Now that I have routinely used it to get to my classes, I have seen many things that are interesting there. I was passing through Metrotech Center on a regular basis. It was new to me, and I entered a new area of Brooklyn that I have never seen before. Metrotech Center was founded in 1992 to be a non-profit business district. It was created to be a commercial as well as an academic hub for patrons and students in the local area. It is a small community with nice open space and plenty of things to do and see. It is interesting and has become part of my New York.

Where some people see an uninteresting paved road, I see a place that has benefited me for a while. It is a place where I have no fear of traffic lights hindering my commute, and a place I can find anything I need. The convenience of it all has made it something worth remembering. It is located next to Jay St-MetroTech Station, where the A, C, and F train stop. It has a number of restaurants for a patron to dine indoors or outdoors. The Subways sandwich shop has been especially helpful at lightening the burdens of my daily grinds throughout my days. It has been useful to me in my time in downtown Brooklyn. The location of Metrotech Center is a place where one can find other interesting places. Metrotech Center is located right next to NYUpoly which is one of the universities in New York. Recreational areas such as Columbus Park and some historical sites can be seen within a short walk from Metrotech Center. It is a place that is convenient to someone as directionally challenged as myself.

The art works that reside in Metrotech Center are unique in their own way. The art styles vary between each work of art and have their own presence. One of the more noticeable pieces is the statue of an alligator emerging from the sewers to drag a person with a bag of money for a head. It is placed in a wide open area for many people to see and is something that a person sees every day. It is a new take on things, as you think about what the artist was thinking. What does an alligator emerging from the sewers mean? Is it something to represent a predator right under our noses? Is the individual with a bag of money for a head representing a select group or person? Is the person an interpretation of greed? I have left this topic un-researched so that I may speculate for myself. Another work of art being displayed there is a statue of the dog. It is a sort of hidden gem as some mistake it as a real dog during their first visit. Once you have seen the same dog standing by the same light pole in the same stance, you tend to wonder what that is still doing there. If you do not notice such by your second visit, then you will likely notice it again as you pass by it multiple times as your eyes wander to take in the sights and sounds surrounding you. It is a detailed statue or sculpture of a dog. The details go even further as you see that each brush struck forming the paint above it resembles the groomed fur of a dog. These are magnificent works that draw questions as well as give the area a bit more of an atmosphere that can only be found there.004

Occasionally you can see something exciting happening in Metrotech Center. It has a large clearing for events and other public gatherings. Every so often I see people gathering as I walk towards my own destination. One time I saw a game of golf being shown on what I assume to be a large projector on a large surface. People sat on benches to watch the game as I was passing by. I was in a rush at the time, so I paid it no mind. More often than showing a game, there are relief foundations using the space. They try to encourage people to aid in their cause and other reasons to support their foundation. If there is more noise than either of those, than there is likely a concert. I do not care for them as I have more important matters to attend to, but the events all seem like good ways to kill time when I have nothing to do. They all seem fun and enjoyable.

This is a place that has made an impact on my everyday life. Metrotech Center has given me some interesting experiences so far. I would use this on my route to NYCCT every day. It is a convenient place for me to find snack or drink fairly quickly. I find that I can appreciate the artworks within. I enjoy seeing the events that they hold for the public. Metrotech Center is a fascinating area for a person like me. This has become part of my Brooklyn.

Source: http://downtownbrooklyn.com/about/metrotech-bid

Project #2: Overlapping New Yorks

Posted on by
Reply

    New York has overlapping parts to it that you would never notice, which made me want to walk and check out the area around City Tech since I’m going to be here for quite a while. Usually I would spend my spare time at the gym but City Tech’s gym in under construction. So I decided to walk and search for ways to make up for the loss of the gym.          

After the third week of class I was shocked to find out City Tech’s gym was being demolished for rebuilding that would take until 2017. So I took it upon myself to find somewhere close to the campus where students can stay physical during their free hours. McLaughlin Park, which is right across from the Midway Building. To get to McLaughlin Park I take my everyday route which is the 4 train to Borough Hall. After I arrive at Borough Hall I usually walk through Columbus Park going towards Johnson Street where you would the U.S. Post Office. After you pass the Henry Beecher statue I would make a right going toward Adams Street and crossover. Now I would be at City Tech where I would continue down Adams Street until I got to Tillary Street and make a right down to Jay Street. Now McLaughlin Park is in plain sight.

            The first thing you would see is an area in the park where you have pull-up bars to work on you upper-body strength and durability. The pull-up bars look somewhat old but they will do the job, they have sturdy black poles up to about six to seven feet to support the blue painted pole where you test your strengths. Just next to the exercise area you have a basketball court, my favorite part of the park. Basketball is one of my favorite sports, not only do I get to enjoy myself; I can also work on my cardio and practice. In the middle of the court there’s a City of New York Parks & Recreation logo that is painted green. Along that are the white lines to note the half-court, out of bounds, three-point and free-throw lines. The pavement on the court is coordinate with red and blue, this court also has the luxury of glass backboards and rims that still have their nets. There are blue benches and bleachers in case you just wanted to come to the park just to be entertained by neighborhood’s talents. There is also a handball court where people can play handball and an open grass field. There are plenty of sports you can play in an open field like: football, soccer, baseball etc.  Some of my friends that have been at City Tech longer than me say that sometimes McLaughlin Park is dangerous but I say “It’s all hokum… Never listen to what people tell you about old New York…” because this park can do so much for us since our gym is under construction.

            McLaughlin Park, if you stood right at the entrance on Jay Street you could kind of see an overlapping view of the park’s perfect venue for exercises. On the handball courts you would be able to work on many different aspects of your body; while playing handball I would be using my arms and legs primarily and adjusting my hand-eye coordination. Next would be the small area where you use to the pull-up bars to work on you upper-body strength and durability; there is also a bench where you can work on your abdomen muscles by doing sit-ups. Just over the gate you have a basketball court where you can unconsciously exercise your whole body playing pick-up basketball games. The last thing I saw was a soccer ball bouncing around in the open grass field where it seemed to be a group of colleagues having fun. Discovering this park just outside my school proves that walking would take you “through parts of the city that most people never notice…” Before I actually walked in the park I didn’t know that McLaughlin Park had not just one but two basketball courts or even the grass field right next to it.

            Now that I have found McLaughlin Park I would like to know more about it, like whom is it named after? That could lead to monument to help me understand the meaning of the park and what it means to for it to have been built. The history and making of the park may be interesting and beneficial to my knowledge for future projects. When the park was established is something else I would be interested in knowing also,

            After discovering McLaughlin Park I feel like the loss of the school gym isn’t so bad. Also walking isn’t so bad either, prior to the walk I was reluctant to travel anywhere by foot. Now that I know about McLaughlin Park I will visit it more frequently. This was a great experience now that I could play basketball and get exercise routine done.

 

Bibliography:

–          McGrath, Charles. “A Literary Visitor Strolls in from the Airport.” New York Times, December 6, 2006. Web

–          Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12. Web.

Prison Ship Martyr Monument

Posted on by
Reply

I am new to the area of Brooklyn so coming to City Tech was a little bit of scary thing for me. After my trip to the Brooklyn Historical Society, I became very interested in what else Brooklyn had to offer. Therefore, as I started my personal walking tour in FortGreene I stumbled upon a Giant tower like figure. I soon learned that this was the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. This monument stands for a New Jersey Militia during the American Revolution that soon became Prisoners on board a British vessel.prison_ship_martyrs_fort_greene_park_brooklyn

Getting to to the prison ship monuement was not that hard even though I am not familar with the area of Brooklyn. From City Tech I go to Johnson street. On your way you should see the polytechnic institute of technology. It is a very prestigous building with high honor. When you keep going a little further you are going to make a right onto Flatbush Avenue. You will see a small metropolitan market as you make an upcoming left onto Myrtle avenue. Long Island University is will then come up on the left. I gave it a good look as i was most impressed with the school. Finally when you get to Fort Greene.

The remains of these prisoners were decided to be built in a 25 by 11 foot brick vault because of how important the preservation of this was. In 1905, a crypt was created where you can go up a flight of stairs that go around the monument. This was made so that it could be honored properly by all people who came to visit. The man who sculpted it was Adolph Alexander Weinman in 1908. An elevator and stairs for the interior were installed in 1937; both were removed in 1948 after the monument was renovated by Parks. In 1970 the elevator pit was filled in.

            During the American Revolution, The British imprisoned all Americans that were mostly soldiers because of independence. The conditions upon the ship were said to be horrendous and many soldiers died because of it. When the war ended, the deaths were said to be in the tens of thousands. That is why this memorial is significant. It is because of the brutality that these soldiers had to go through just to fight for our freedom. In 1783, a local newspaper tried to deny these actions and said “they were allowed to leave whenever they pleased”. America said this was propaganda, which is news, or anything that is heard a lie. The number of deaths which was 10,000 plus was a big deal considering a large army back then was about 14,000. The prisoners wrote down memoirs too explaining every detail of what was going on.

             The memorial lies in Brooklyn and cannot be missed considering its great size. It is sited in FortGreenePark and it holds a crypt, which is a kind of grave. It is located inside the monument, which has stairs between the middle of it that you can climb. It is over 140 feet high and can blend in with some of the surrounding buildings. Inside the crypt contains many wooden coffins of some of the prisoners. Not all if the bodies are in there as some of them weren’t found or could not be preserved.

The monument also has an inscription on it which states “IN THE NAME OF THE SPIRITS OF THE DEPARTED FREE / SACRED TO THE
MEMORY OF THAT PORTION OF AMERICAN SEAMEN, SOLDIERS / ON BOARD THE
PRISON SHIPS OF THE BRITISH DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY / WAR AT THE
WALL ABOUT. THIS IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE VAULT / WHICH CONTAINS
THEIR RELICS. ERECTED BY THE TAMMANY SOCIETY/OF THE COLUMBIAN
ORDER OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. THE GROUND FOR / WHICH WAS BESTOWED
BY JOHN JACKSON, NASSAU ISLAND, SEASON OF/BLOSSOMS, YEAR OF
DISCOVERY, THE 316TH. OF THE INSTITUTION THE 19TH AND OF AMERICAN
INDEPENDENCE THE 32ND, APRIL THE 6TH, 1808”

It states that the importance of this prison tower cannot be tampered with and it is part of the city. Brooklyn has a rich history and the Prison ship martyr monument in Fort Greene Park is a big part of that.

Sources:  http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/FortGreenePark/monuments/1222 -My quote

http://www.themorningnews.org/post/prison-ship-martyrs-monument

 

 

A first time walk experience in Brooklyn

Posted on by
Reply

 

3924813078_fb79b2294d

Just a few steps from our campus City tech across Adams St there is a beautiful park that lets you experience both sides of Brooklyn. While standing on Johnson Street I could not help but notice a beautiful building facing Columbus Park. It was a court house with old architecture, something worth appreciating these days because the big fancy condominiums with huge windows are becoming very common in Brooklyn, Especially along the coast. Here you have this area with a mix of historic buildings and modern condominiums. The same goes for the residents, there are all kinds of people from broke college students to families buying clothing for their children. The area seems to be flooded with luxury buildings, vintage buildings, and Brooklyn natives shopping. Walking down Cadman Plaza I started to really notice how modern this area is and how the big pillars from the Brooklyn Borough president building add historic value to the neighborhood. The thing that really stands out about this area is how history and present mix and it shows that it’s a thriving neighborhood with a growing economy and diverse community.

With all the vintage buildings, countless small businesses and street vendors this area started to feel like a mini Manhattan. Even though every borough has its own distinction about it, every borough has a New York City influence. While standing on the corner of Court Street and Fulton, I decided to walk east towards the Fulton mall because that area was busy and there were a lot of people and I wanted to get an idea of what it’s like here. As I walked further down Fulton I came across a very busy intersection at the entrance of the Fulton street mall I saw many Latino and black families doing shopping for their children, there were a lot of clothing and shoe stores in old vintage Brooklyn style apartment buildings with fine details. It seems like the businesses adapted to the needs of the residents in this part of Brooklyn. Many of the businesses here target average families living in Brooklyn and do business with people from all over New York as well. It’s obvious that this area has grown a lot from what it used to be. The changes are in plain sight, based on the important court buildings and old Brooklyn style apartment buildings; this area was meant to be a busy area. It’s developed so much over the years you can see the newly built modern stores right next to iconic buildings that have been standing there for decades. Its slowly becoming modernized but the beautiful historic parts of Brooklyn are there to stay as a reminder of how our society is changing and always adapting to the present its true for everyone who has lived in New York that “we become New Yorkers the day we realize New York will go on without us” its shown by the rapid growth in this area nearby city tech, the same people living here going on with their daily tasks are the same ones who spent time building their lives and establishing themselves in this economy as New Yorkers and no matter how different the neighborhood may look decades from now it will be known for its community of New Yorkers who have lived through the changes and have seen the city grow and adapt.

Walking through the Fulton street has taught me a lot about the community surrounding city tech and as I reached the end of the shopping center I turned to DeKalb, I couldn’t help but notice a massive building with Greek style pillars and stunning detailed architecture, it was converted to a chase bank but the main focal points of the building stood out as a piece of history, they don’t make buildings like this anymore. The more I walked down DeKalb the quieter I noticed the street became, it was still a busy street but compare to Fulton, and it was very calm. There were still some modern stores and new business but the further I walked away from Fulton the more it felt like what Brooklyn used to be known for, rows of 3 floor apartment buildings, small businesses and countless corner delis. It was by the Brooklyn hospital where the change is most noticeable, just a block past the hospital I reached Fort Green park, it had big green landscapes and smooth hills, when I turned around there were streets with rows of iconic 3 floor subway apartments, it looked like they could go on forever. This is the part of Brooklyn that is forced to adapt to newer modern condominiums and a more diverse community with all kinds of people. So a walk through the shopping center in a busy part of the neighborhood will show you the innovations and plans the community has for the growth of the borough, but a few blocks further towards the heart of Brooklyn will show the roots of the community and where it all began, when a person looks at the luxury buildings built recently and next to it, an old vintage tower with incredible details the difference is obvious, its proof that it’s a growing economy that will continue to take over the historic roots and lay its own roots for future generations to see.

fort_greene_park_3_large

I said before that this area looks like a mini Manhattan, After stepping into the Fort Green park I began to see how much this place has in common with Manhattan Before it was one of the greatest cities in the world, Manhattan used to be a lot smaller, it wasn’t very much different from what Brooklyn is today. From walking here I believe this area is heading towards the same path as Manhattan. The city is growing larger and pretty soon areas around the city will take the identity as “the city” as well. There are already larger skyscrapers and busy streets with thriving business, and there’s even a park nearby to escape the busy streets similar to central park. Walking through here has shown me a transition from one old traditional neighborhood to a modernized city full of all kinds of people. Colson in City Limits stated that “you start building your New York the first time you lay eyes on it” I think the generations of families living here have successfully built a community that is influenced by Manhattan through all the hard work and dedication by living in Brooklyn and contributing to the changing times they unintentionally built their own New York.

Work cited:

[1] Whitehead, Colson. The Colossus of New York.2007. Print.

[2] Whitehead, Colson. The Colossus of New York.2007. Print.

Project #2

Posted on by
Reply

Plymouth ChurchPlymouth_Interior_NYConservancy_2PlymouthChurch1907IntPlymouth_Church_Brooklyn_New_York

The location that I have chosen is the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights on Hicks Street. I chose this location mainly because of my own background of going to church. I’m interested in discovering some of the Christian influence involved in the history of Brooklyn Heights. I am almost completely unfamiliar with Brooklyn in general, so I wanted to take the chance and use the Plymouth Church to start “building my own private New York”, or my own private Brooklyn in my case.

I first discovered the Plymouth Church during the walk around Brooklyn Heights our class took on the 30th of September. I took a walk to this location again by myself on October 8th after attending my classes on Tuesdays. I started walking to the Plymouth Church by walking along Jay Street. I walked along Jay Street for a short while and then I crossed the street and started walking along Tillary Street. I kept on walking until I reached the Korean War Veterans Plaza. I crossed the street again and started walking along Cadman Plaza W until I crossed the street yet again and started walking on Clark Street. I kept on walking until I reached Hicks Street and then I continued along until I finally reached the church.

The Plymouth Church is one of the oldest churches in Brooklyn. It was founded in Brooklyn Heights in 1847 by 21 men and women who were New Englanders and wanted a Congregational church. The first pastor who was appointed to pastor the church was none other than Henry Ward Beecher. Two years after the founding of the church, a fire burned and damaged the original church on Cranberry Street. The church building that exists today was built on Orange Street behind where the original church building used to be. The first church building was rebuilt into a building that contained offices, parlors and Sunday School rooms that belonged to the church.

There is a lot of important history surrounding the Plymouth Church. Most of it involves Henry Ward Beecher and the church’s role in anti-slavery. Beecher was a powerful speaker and he put a lot of emphasis on anti-slavery. While being under Beecher’s influence, the Plymouth Church held ties with the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of people who helped slaves escape to the North from their slave owners. Beecher created several public events that he used to promote opposition of slavery. For example, he would stage mock “auctions” at the church so that the congregation members of the church could purchase the freedom of some of the slaves. During one of Beecher’s services, he broke the chains binding John Brown. Beecher also took the liberty of inviting several people who promoted anti-slavery to speak at the church including William Lloyd Garrison, Sojourner Truth, Wendell Phillips, Charles Sumner, and Frederick Douglass. As pastor of the church, Beecher also supported congregational singing during church services. Along with his brother, Charles Beecher, and the church’s organist, John Zundel, Henry Beecher compiled a book of hymns called The Plymouth Collection. It was published in 1855 and it was the world’s first modern hymnal that had words and music printed on the same page. In February of 1860, Abraham Lincoln was invited to speak at the church. Unfortunately, the speech Lincoln was going to give at the church had to be moved to The Great Hall of The Cooper Union in Manhattan. Lincoln did, however, attend a church service at the Plymouth Church. It is the only church in New York City that Lincoln ever attended. Many famous writers and activists have also had opportunities to speak at the Plymouth Church like Mark Twain, Clara Barton, Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Horace Greeley, and William Thackery.

In 1934, Plymouth Church combined with a neighboring church called the Church of the Pilgrims. The Church of the Pilgrims church was the first Congregational church in Brooklyn. The two churchs merged and became the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims. However, in September of 2011, the name of the church was changed back to the Plymouth Church. The Plymouth Church became designated National Historic Landmark in 1961 by the National Register of Historic Places because of the church’s significant role in American History.

After researching and looking at the building itself, I couldn’t help but notice all of its involvement in anti-slavery. However, despite of all of it, as Whitehead said in “City Limits”, it is not apart of my Plymouth Church. White said, “Never listen to what people tell you about old New York, because if you didn’t witness it, it is not apart of your New York and might as well be Jersey.” I use this quote from Whitehead in this situation. My Plymouth Church isn’t a church that puts emphasis on promoting anti-slavery as historical documents may say, but it is a modern church that puts emphasis on reaching out to its community and expanding throughout Brooklyn Heights.  One juxtaposition I noticed with this church was the appearance. The design of the outside of the church changed little by little, but the design of the inside remained generally the same all these years with the exception of electricity. As the next step, I want to learn more about how this church conducts services. One day, I want to observe one of their church services and see how it resembles the past Plymouth Church. Do they conduct services differently from the past? Or do they keep tradition and conduct services in the same orderly manner as they have in the past?

I think it is safe to say that Plymouth Church is apart of “my” Brooklyn. Like what Whitehead said, it became “apart of my private New York” the first time I laid eyes on it.

Works Cited

Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12.

“Plymouth Church :: About Our Church.” Plymouth Church :: About Our Church. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

 

Fulton Street, Overlapping New York

Posted on by
Reply

image

My high school teacher always said the life in city universities is like the high school; you go to school and go back home. Now, this became part of my life; I never explore the neighborhood near the City College of Technology, because I think Downtown Brooklyn just is a college town, since I saw many school on my way to CityTech. However, everything had changed after I crossed the line, and found the Fulton Mall, the center of the Downtown Brooklyn. Fulton Street not just a street full of department stores, its heavy value proves the changing of the New York and also shows how New York overlapping.

How to arrive the Fulton Street? Starting at the entrance of General building from our school, turn left and walk straight down to the Fulton Street, approximately four blocks away; when you passed the Willoughby Plaza, make a left turn to the Fulton Mall. That is where I begin my adventure, the central area of the street.

When I first got there, the first thing I capture in my eyes is people. Even that was the weekday; people were still walking through the street, and shopping in retail stores unstoppably. I like frame a photographs from the view of my eyes, as I walking on the street, I take new things and interest things in my photographs

My eyes follow the walking people and I start to focus on the department stores on the Fulton Street. There were some famous brand chain stores I knew very well, such as Modell, Starbucks and Gaps, etc. however, there was also many unknown local retail stores that I never heard of, most of them are the clothes store, and they were selling very unique and stylish clothes, very different with the brand store. I suddenly understand why people concentrate at here; unlike all brand stores in Soho, New York, Fulton Mall gives people more options, more creative products and ideas, always impress the customers.

I kept walking and stopped on the corner of the street, when I waiting the red light turn white, I look up, and I found some interesting things about downtown Brooklyn’s building. The buildings along the Fulton Street are shorter than the buildings around the Fulton Street. I guess because the buildings on the Fulton Street were older than the buildings around the street, since they are not replaceable, people kept moving in and joined the economy of Brooklyn Fulton Street, the street keep its look for the businesses, instead changing for the people to live in.

I chose this place for the project because I like the atmosphere on Fulton Street, it is very lively, and make me want to shop.  When I explore the Downtown Brooklyn, I lost my self at there. I almost give up and try to find station on Jay Street and go home, then, I found the Fulton Street. I still remember how impressive it is when I saw that shoppers rushing on the street carried shopping bags on their both hands. I always thinks Brooklyn is quiet neighborhood, boring and historical; however, Fulton street is totally different; it is fashionable, and lively. This is the new Brooklyn I never knew; just like Mr. Self said, “it’s all I can do to keep myself from being isolated all the time” (McGrath). New York is the greatest city with many new, fresh, and interesting things around, it always freshened up people. Therefore, we should not isolate ourselves in certain places; and to enjoy this “munificent gift”, get to know about it.

From Whitehead’s “City Limited”, it said, “You didn’t know that each time you passed the threshold you were saying goodbye” (Whitehead).The changing along the Fulton Mall is similar to that Chinese restaurant; someday, this store opens, someday, that store closed. People never know what happen tomorrow especially the fashion business. After a month, when you come back and shop in Fulton Street, you will find out your “old friend” was gone and a “new friend” came. Like the author Whitehead said you never know when to say goodbye to your New York. From the past to present, we can see that Fulton Street keep changing and we still cannot predict what it would be in the future.

“Our old building still stand because we saw them, moved in and out of their long shadows…They are part of city we carry around. It is hard to imagine that something will take their place” (Whitehead). It is disappointed when you coming for something and after you get there, it is gone. And you can only put the old memories put inside your heart. Thus, you have to treasure every time you meet it. For the people, Fulton Street might just a street for shoppers to shop, for customers to eat, and a nice place for people to relax and enjoy the simple pleasure. However, from the past to present, along on the Fulton Street, especially the Fulton mall area, the street changes as the time move on. We always come back because Fulton Street is part of city that we carry, that old place the full of many happy memories. The value of Fulton Street is much heavy than its actual weight.

After visiting along the Fulton Street, I want to know more about the history of this amazing street, when it developed? Why it developed at the center of Downtown Brooklyn.

Downtown Brooklyn is a cluster of extraordinary neighborhood, you never know if you not explore it. Like Fulton Street, one of the busiest shopping districts in Brooklyn, it just a simple neighborhood, but it show the New York overlapping, from the past to present, from National to local department stores. By compare and contract every detail on that street,  I was more understand the author of “City Limited”,  your own New York is create by yourself, you never knew a New York by hearing other people said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

McGrath, Charles, “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.” The New York Times  6 December, 2006. Web. 23 September, 2013.

Whitehead, Colson, “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: random House, 2004.1-12.

 

Over Lapping New York – Dumbo Beach

Posted on by
Reply

20131015_081639 Many of our texts this semester depict how New York can be viewed as an ever changing global city, with relics from different eras and different communities co-existing and edging each other out. We had to observe overlapping New Yorks, we had to look for places where we saw different New Yorks overlapping in close proximity. Coming out of the subway, I usually don’t look around to see what’s interesting. I go to where I need to go and end of story. Many just walk where they need to go and don’t stop and observe what’s surrounding them, what history is around them. Many walk around the Brooklyn Bridge and they don’t even know the story behind it. A place that seemed interesting to observe was Dumbo Beach, I didn’t know the name of that specific place until I went for a walk and arrived there. The place was interesting to me because I found it odd to find a beach kind of place in a busy kind of neighborhood.

Once I stopped walking at York Street, and started observing what was surrounding me. So many things there were in close proximity, so many buildings, some were under construction, others were brand new buildings, Brand new restaurants as well as old ones, but they all were right next to each other, something about that gave it a great view to observe. In every corner of a Street you would never know what lied ahead, in one street you might see a huge bridge and many car on it, in another you might see this recreational place to relax, in another you would see buildings and cars being busy as they are in Manhattan. So many overlapping views of New York. Down on Jay Street there seemed to be a kind of beach, From where I saw it you could see all the busy buildings and people down the aisle. At the very end you can see this Blue water moving calmly while everything around it moved at the speed of light.  I decided to walk towards there. While getting there I passed several great and interesting places and it motivated me to get more curious about Brooklyn.

Juxtapositions can include old and new things, residential and commercial, historic and replaceable, natural and man-made, constructed and under-constructed, well maintained and in disrepair, celebrated and forgotten, on ethnic group and another ad etc. From what I saw it seems like the place was Man made, it didn’t seem to have that natural kind of feeling. There are buildings and these electrical things around it, all these places are Juxtaposition towards the Beach. When I got to the Beach there was a few benches to sit on and a umbrella to cover you from getting sun burn, there were a few kind of plants that I hadn’t seen nor heard of. Solidago Sempervirens, Rosa Virginiana, Pinus Virginiana, Ammophila Breviligulata, Opuntia Humifusa all these were there and they gave you a description of each one. While sitting and taking in the view I felt as if I was in my own New York and started thinking of what the author of the story city limits wrote. “The New York City you live in is not my New York City” (Colson Whitehead) I felt clam relaxed sitting in a bench enjoying the view, but in that instant moment there were many other individual in their own New York. Some were doing hard labor jobs lifting Heavy wood, metal and other things, other were jogging around the Block, others were going into work with Business outfits, and others that were sitting outside a restaurant eating and watching others work. This authors quote explains so much in one simple quote and makes us observe and think:” what’s my New York City look like?”. The directions towards Dumbo Beach are very simple. You start out at City Tech, The main building and you walk towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Its one direction but you have to pass several streets. Chapel St, Concord St, Nassau St, Sands St. Then you cross the street towards Prospect St. Walking towards the beach I saw on Front St. a beautiful Art painting in a wall, it was a Mexican Restaurant you continue walking until to reach the Beach.

“The New York City you live in is not my New York City” , “Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.”(Colson Whitehead) As I was explaining one of these, these quotes had hidden messages and its up to the reader to find it. They easily got my attention because they have a special meaning. “The New York City you live in is not my New York City” what I found in this one was, the Memories we have of New York City, no one really knows how we see them except us. This quote relates to what I’m talking about  because the walk I took, the emotion I felt and the thoughts that went through my mind aren’t going to be the same as another individual. “Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.”this one explains of how much of a value New York City is to us and how of a minor value we are to New York City. This one is relatable because I notice we are influenced by New York City. New York City is our role model, we want to be involved in it, we want to be someone in New York City, and we rely on it. New York doesn’t need us to functions. And when we aren’t there anymore, New York City will continue on without us, and leave us behind.