Arlington Avenue
Barbey to Elton

A new page to lighten some of the load on the individual street pages in Zone 2, some images also appear on those street pages. Arlington Avenue was originally known as Division Avenue, it was named after the famous cemetery when the 26th Ward renamed a number of streets in 1887.

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Arlington Avenue East from Schenck Avenue Brooklyn, NY
Dated:1911 MakerWm. Fick Status: Own(BG)
The former Trinity Episcopal (now St. Joseph's) is on the left, constructed 1886. The congregation dates to 1860. For more information on the church and pictures of this intersection, visit the Schenck Avenue page in Zone 1.
135 Arlington Avenue, 1943
Elise (Avella) Feiner recalls this portion of Arlington Avenue was referred to as "Doctor's Row" because of all the doctors who lived and practiced along this stretch. Her Uncle Frank resided and had an office here at 135 Arlington. The view here is on the back steps with a family friend posing in this 1943 shot. My 2008 update shot was difficult to capture (it's the red house) as the entire front is obscured by trees.
135 Arlington Avenue, 1940s
Elise IDs her cousin Frank in the backyard of 135 Arlington teaching his son to ride a bike in 1946. She also IDs the Catapano house in the background. On the right, a shot from 1943 showing the front porch. I've included an interior shot under the "Stories" button with Elise's description of the detailed interior.
This view from Elise was taken in 1953 from 135 Arlington looking south across the street. Ironically the subjects, Elise and her Aunt Edith are out of focus and the house in the background on the corner of Arlington and Barbey can be seen. I supplied a 2008 update.
Arlington and Barbey, circa 1906
This great shot is looking north up Barbey across Arlington. From the Brian Merlis Archives.On the right, a 2005 view looking east down Arlington across Barbey. For more images of the houses on the corners, visit the Barbey St. page.
1967 Anniversary Parade
This photo is from 1967, showing the north side of Arlington and Barbey as residents line up to watch a Brooklyn anniversary parade. Neil captures the same angle in his 2006 shot.
Fine Residential Neighborhood, Arlington Avenue
Maker:Brooklyn Eagle Postcard Series Dated: Unk Status: Own(RG)
Great trivia from Tim O'Reilly. The house on the northeast corner of Jerome and Arlington, 171 Arlington (fancy house on the left), was owned by Mrs. Margaret Welles Swift. Widowed by 1912, she goes on a European vacation, coming back on the Titanic. She survived, and you can read about it here.
Arlington Ave., 1964
These family photos were taken in October 1964. The first shows the north side of Arlington between Warwick and Jerome. That's your webmaster on the left, with older brother Bruce and younger brother Dennis. The second view looking east down Arlington towards a parade (perhaps Columbus Day?) shows the south side of Arlington east of Warwick.
Arlington Avenue ,East New York, Brooklyn
Maker: Souvenir Post Card Co. Dated: 1917 Status: Own (RG)

The postcard view and the 2005 picture is looking east, across Warwick, with the library on the left. If you look on the right hand side, a few houses down, one is marked with an "X". The sender of the card in 1917 was marking his house.
East Branch, Brooklyn Public Library, East New York Brooklyn
Maker: Souvenir Post Card Co. Dated: 1907 Status: Own (RG)
The library dominated Arlington Avenue on the north side of Arlington between Warwick and Ashford. We have a full page dedicated to the library with a lot more pictures. Click here for the Library page
Arlington Library, 1973
Of course, it was a great hangout as well. Linda Amato contributed these shots from 1973; on the right, left to right, Pat Rubino, Mary Martin, Nick Fusco.
I needed to label an aerial view of the south side across from Arlington to get the full story. Did you know that recording artist, Robbie Dupree, who had the 80's hit "Steal Away", resided at 204 Arlington up to 1958?. He even used a 1948 pic of himself sitting on the library steps on the cover of his "Vintage, Vol. 1" album cover. You can find out what's going on with Robbie at his website here. Robbie lived next door to 200 Arlington, a rooming house owned by the Caruso brothers. It was affectionately known as "The Crazy House" when we were growing up there thanks to all the unique denizens that moved in and out of there. Moving to the left, good friend Pete Colantuoni lived at 208 Arlington and in the early sixties Mr. Miller lived at 214.
200 Arlington Avenue, The "Crazy House"
The rooming house mentioned above in 1941, courtesy of Tim O'Reilly. Tom Hammond supllied the update photo in 2007, though someone sent me a sharper one that I cannot find. All sorts of rumors circulated about the residents over the years, and I supply a few memories.
Arlington Avenue, 1968
These shots were taken in front of Pete's house at 208 Arlington. An accident right in front of his house in 1968 shows the police cars of the time across the street and the Anniversary Parade was the impetus for the photo on the right. In the flowered pants was Wendy Caudle, who lived over on Ashford at the time.
Mr. Miller, 214 Arlington
Mr. Miller was one of those guys who was terrific with kids. If you came to his house to sell the Record for 5 cents, he would give you a quarter. He held apple bobbing contests at Halloween. Tom O'Meara, the blond boy in the front in the easter picture, supplied the picture on the left and Pete Colantuoni supplied the picture on the right taken in the Miller's backyard. Both pictures are from the early 60s.
Arlington Avenue, East from Ashford Street
Dated:1910 Maker: Wm. Fick Status: Own (RG)
218 Arlington Avenue
We have Tim O'Reilly to thank for both shots of this majestic house on the southeast corner of Arlington and Ashford. On the left is the 1941 tax photo and on the right is an image Tim took in 1990. Still standing, there are additional views on the Ashford St. page.
> This is the northeast corner of Ashford and Arlington, in a 1941 tax photo and today. Where have all the trees gone?
> 227 Arlington
227 Arlington served as an early parsonage for Reformation Church in the 1970s. I found this early picture in a church history pamphlet. The 2007 update photo shows the house in good shape though the turret has been almost eradicated.
>231 Arlington
From Jamie Rubino, who identifies the folks on her front stoop;."Mike Baptista, Warwick Street, Steve Kozak, Warwick Street, Bill Millauskas, Warwick Street, Mirsonia Rios, Arlington Ave and I don’t know who the other guy is(top left)." If you're out there, identify yourself! Steve Kozak confirms the the unknown person is Tony Hart.
> 245 Arlington, 1941 and 2007
Off the northeast corner of Arlington and Cleveland, I had to shoot the update photo from a different angle due to the trees on the left side of the house.
> 247 Arlington, 1941 and 2007
While researching tax photos I discovered this unusual design of semi-attached houses with matching downstairs and upstairs porches. When I identifed the location as 247 Arlington, I discovered the upstairs porches were gone.