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Upper Highland ParkNote: The Reservoir has its own page, use the dropdown menus under Highland ParkClick on thumbnails to enlarge |
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Highland BoulevardEarly turn of the century postcards featured the Upper Park, as most of the lower park was not purchased until 1905 and not developed until a few years later. In the early days the Boulevard had a gazebo on the south side of the roadway with a terrific view looking out over East New York. That gazebo acts as a marker to help ID a number of the old postcards including the orientation of the view. The story here is from Alfred Kazin's book, "A Walker in the City"  | ||
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Highland Boulevard, from the Reservoir Maker: Wm. Fick Dated: 1910 Status: Own(BG) Starting from the eastern end of Highland Boulevard, this view is west with the reservoir on the right and the gazebo on the left. Ridgewood Pumping Station from Highland Park Maker: Wm. Fick Date: 1910 Status: Own(BG) This view looking south shows the great view from the gazebo. |
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Highland Park, Brooklyn N.Y. Dated: 1906 Maker:American News Co. Status:Own(BG) Highland Park and Ridgewood Reservoir Maker: Wm. Fick Date: 1910 Status: Own(BG) The view on these two shots is east. I do not know when the gazebo was removed. |
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| Highland Park, Brooklyn N.Y Dated:1907 Maker:Wm. Fick Status: Own(RG) A view west down Highland Boulevard, taken from the reservoir elevation. On the right, the view in 2007. |
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A View of Highland Park, Brooklyn N.Y Dated:1916 Maker:Kraus Status: Own(BG) The view is west down Highland Boulevard. On the right, a photo circa 1920 with a view south, probably taken from the reservoir. P.S. 108 can be seen in the distance on the right. Note the lack of any fence or guardrail. |
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Entrance to Highland Park, N.Y. Dated: 1912 Maker:Unk. Status:Need The 'entrance' is Highland Boulevard from the west. | |
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On the left, Leonora Licata sent this image of her father Mario on Highland Boulevard sometime circa 1939. On the right, a shot I took in 2006 to line up with the photos below . |
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| Highland Boulevard and East New York Dated:Unk Maker:P. Miller Status: Own(BG) Birds eye View of East New York from Highland Park Maker: Wm. Fick Dated : 1911 Status: Own (RG) We now swing over to the western side of Highland Boulevard. The tank you see in the distance of the first postcard was identified by Neil Sullivan as part of the Alabama Rail Depot for the BMT and can be seen in Zone 1. For the rest of the orientaion of these postcards, you can include the one below as a group of three and reference the Local Live image below. The house with the turret still stands on Barbey and Sunnyside and is circled and labeled "A" in the Local live shot. |
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| Highland Boulevard, East New York Dated:Unk Maker:P. Miller Status: Own(RG) I believe the path in the foreground of this shot leads up to the house pictured above. This view, looking east, shows the houses on the northern side. The one on the far left is still standing and is labelled as "B" in the Local Live shot. I actually think most of those houses on the north side are still standing; the few towers and turrets that are visible seem to match those of the 2006 shot. The south side is a different story; all those houses appear to be gone. Even the stone steps that lead up to the tudor style house no longer exist. In the distance on the south side you can see one more house; that's my next subject. |
The Haunted HouseThis is a childhood memory of mine, I am still chasing it. On the south side of Highland Boulevard stood a victorian inspired house, the rear of which overlooked the park. It was damaged by fire in the late 1950s or early 60s and was boarded up. The combination of weeds, victorian touches and damage gave it the perfect haunted house look. My mother used to take us on walks up to the reservoir and we always stopped to look at the house. Sometime in the mid 1970s it was purchased by my aunt's former landlord on Georgia Ave. and was rebuilt mostly to the original specs. It is no longer standing. I'm still searching for pictures of the original, in its damaged state, the replacement, as well as its history. | ||
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| "Haunted house" picture and location On the left I enlarged the last Highland Boulevard postcard to point out the house. After further investigation I have determined Neil Sullivan did find the correct tax photo of the house, shown on the right. The house was built in 1909 for Harold C. Smith, a lawyer. The 1930 census records show Harold was still living there at the age of 75 with several maids and a nurse- his wife must have passed away between the 1920 census and then. In the 1930 census, the value of houses were recorded and this was was estimated to be worth $100,000 at a time when a typical house in the area ranged around $10,000. |
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On the left, a 1951 satellite image shows the location. We do not have the date of the fire which destroyed the house. We know Stanley Sasoswki purchased the property in 1967 and according to my aunt, rebuilt the house. We don't know when that house came down but there are three houses sitting there today. Neil Sullivan supplied the photo on the right. |
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A step closer? Lucy (Patini)Ellis sent in this 1965 photo and she believes she is standing at the gate to the house. | |
Banzer Park"Youngsters residing in East New York of old are not required to go without the thrills to be found riding astride the brilliantly painted animals riding atop a merry-go-round, for one was operated in Banzer's Cypress Hills Park. This amusement spot, opened in 1860, was located at Rocky Hill Road and Cypress Avenue, opposite the reservoir. It had all of the recreational facilities looked for years ago. Parties of picnickers out for a day of wholesome amusement found it in the bowling alleys, shooting galleries, swings, dancing pavilion (which was of considerable size, being 240 feet square), and a dining room large enough to accomodate 450 people. Those who visited Banzer's also were able to enjoy boating for of the 11 3/4 acres contained in the park, 5 1/4 acres were taken up by a lake. And when cold weather set in, the frozen surface of Banzer's lake hummed day and night to the tune of steel blades gliding across the surface." -Frederick Heidenreich, 'Old Days and Old Ways in East New York' | ||
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Banzer Park Pronounced 'Bahn-zer', I was informed by June Marmo, whose mother used to visit the park. In those days people used to 'dress to the nines' on a Sunday and head to the park to hear live concert music,go boating in the lake, and enjoy the outdoors. Dom DiFiglia, whose wife is a Banzer descendant, tipped me off that the Brooklyn Geneology site had a map that identified the location of Joseph Banzer's house. That gives us a pretty good idea of the park location. |
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| Banzer Park These images are undated, described as a view of the "Banzer Estate". Check out the first photo; a tightrope walker is practicing above the pond!The second photo is described as a view south from Cypress Hills Avenue. Dec 9, 1901 Brooklyn Eagle article on ice skating at Banzer's Pond |
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| Banzer's Field 1970s Old P.S. 108 pal Dom Most sent these over from Italy- he used to go up to the area where the park was located ("we thought it was Banza's" he said) and took these pictures back in the 1970s. I confess I don't know the orientation of the shots. |
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Cypress Hills Park, Evergreen L.I. Maker: Unk Dated: 1907 Status: Need While researching Banzer's I discovered it was also called 'Banzer's Cypress Hills Park' or just 'Cypress Hills Park'. This postcard makes reference to a Cypress Hills Park, but gives the location as Evergreen, L.I. . | |
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| On the left, a 1962 family photo climbing the steps to the Upper Park. On the right, Tony Davenport contributes a 1963 photo of his pre-school graduation in Upper Highland. Someone refresh my memory; where was the school? |
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| I've been aware of a mystery reservoir that was located in the Upper Park area since I discovered it on a 1909 Queens map, but it was Anthony Messina who solved the mystery. The Reservoir belonged to the Long Island Water Supply Company, a private concern, and they had constructed a hydrant system along New Lots Road. In 1893 they wanted to sell the system including the reservoir to the City of Brooklyn, and apparently it was not an impressive affair. The city does eventually buy it and it becomes part of Highland Park, the area where the upper park house, playground, and ballfields sit today. |
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| Music Pavilion Highland Park, East New York Dated: unk Maker:Commercial Art Post Card Co. Status:Need This is not a structure our generation will remember. Across the road west of the reservoir (near the parking lot) stood a music pavilion, built in 1901. Click here for the pavilion page. I have not identified when it came down, it was quite some time ago, though the markings are still there as can be seen in the 2005 photo. |
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| This great image is from the Brian Merlis Archives and shows the orientation of the pavilion. That water is part of a pond that once ran under Indian Bridge. Pond in Highland Park, East New York Dated: unk Maker:Unk Status:Own (BG) The pond is still a bit of a mystery. There were references to a Wright's Pond in Highland Park in some literature, but this was not labeled in the postcard. In addition, in the early photos of the bridge below, there is no water. |
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Cobblestone Bridge,Highland Park East New York Maker: Souvenir Post Card Co. Dated: Unk Status: Own (BG) We always knew it as "Indian Bridge" but no, it was built as part of the landscaping of Highland Park in 1902. Even in that early photo there is no water there. Oct 19, 1902 Brooklyn Eagle article on the Bridge |
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| Stone Arch, Highland Park, East New York Maker: Wm. Fick Dated: 1910 Status: Own (BG) Alternate Postcard The 2005 photo on the right we used to know as "the fort"; does anyone know what this structure was supposed to be? |
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| Highland Park, 1909 Maker: Unknown Status: Need |
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| Highland Park, "Boulder Bridge" Dated: Unk Maker: Unknown Status: Own(BG) On the right Mary Ann (LaNeve) sends in this 1954 shot taken by the bridge of her two older sisters, Prudy (taller) and Phyllis, next tallest, with neighbors Maria and Bernadette Smith. |
In the early days of the park, there was a area devoted to flowers; there are numerous postcards but I have yet to pinpoint the location | ||
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| Flower Gardens, Highland Park East New York Maker: Unk Dated: 1909 Status: need Highland Park, East New York Maker: Unknown: dated 1914 Status: Own(BG) Well there was water at one point somewhere. This lake or pond existed in the early years of the park, but I have had difficulty pinpointing the location. |
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| Flower Gardens, Highland Park, East New York Maker: Unk Dated; Unk Status Own (BG) Flower Garden,Highland Park Maker: Wm. Fick Dated: 1907 Status: Need More postcards of the lake and the gardens. |
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Flower Garden, Highland Park Maker: Wm. Fick Dated: 1910 Status: Own(BG) Flower Garden, Highland Park Maker: Wm. Fick Dated: 1913 Status: Own(BG) |
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Early stereoscopes of the flower garden and the bridge. |
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Joe Sadauskas sent in these these shots circa 1947, but he was unsure if it was Highland Park. The first shot definitely looks like a view east, with the parking lot next to the reservoir in the background and the slope up to the reservoir behind that. Although the second shot looks like the stairs that lead up to the Upper Park, I can't be sure. |
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Highland Park, Jamaica Ave. Maker: J. Shinske Dated: 1911 Status:Own(BG) I have had trouble placing this image. The reference to Jamaica Ave. made me think it was the lower park but I believe I see the stone arch bridge and the pavilion in the background of that shot so I believe it is a view in the Upper Park. Highland Park Reservoir, July 26, 1914 Maker: Unk Dated: 1914 Status: Need A relatively new find, I haven't figured out the orientation yet. A reminder the reservoir page can be found here. |
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Upper Highland ballfields, 1967 Wes Miller sends over this 1967 shot of him playing in a YMCA league game back in 1967. | |
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| Highland Park Promenade Dated:1914 Maker: P. Miller Status: Own(BG) An Old Landmark in Highland Park Maker: Unk Dated : 1908 Status: Need I don't have the location of either of these shots pinpointed. Its the only reference I've seen to a 'promenade' and I'm guessing the Upper Park with flower garden and pavilion would be the more likely area. Only that obscured house in the background of the other card gives us any clue to location. |
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| On the Run, Highland Park Dated:1909 Maker: Unk. Status: Need That appears to be the reservoir in the background, so I included this photo in "Upper" HP. Sunday Morning, Highland Park Maker: Unk Dates : 1909 Status: Need |
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Interboro Parkway, 1948 Opened in June of 1935, it took a significant amount of time to come into existence due to the fact that it cut through cemeteries and residential real estate, requiring the relocation of burial sites and razing of homes. In fact the sharp curves of the Interboro are due to the route which was selected to minimize the number of burial plots which had to be relocated. It was renamed the Jackie Robinson Expressway in 1997, on the 50th anniversary of his breaking the color line. Jackie is buried in Cypress Hills. |
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Interboro Parkway It seems odd to take pictures near the Interboro but Jack Magat sends this 'stylish' shot from 1962 and JoAnne Montgomery supplies a picture from roughly the same era both taken near the parkway. |