Articles — Flatbush History

These Boy Scouts may or may be farming, but this photo opp is a good demonstration of how Flatbush farms were laid out back in the day.

Weird StuffJennifer BoudinotJanuary 28, 2020Flatbush?Flatbush people, the 1910s, farms, random photos Comment

The Ghost Signs of Flatbush

“Ghost signs” is the cool-sounding name for advertising for businesses that are no longer around. Here’s a collection of the many ghost signs I’ve spotted in the neighborhood.

A RetrospectiveJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushadvertising, old businesses, Flatbush things Comment

Photo of the Day: Speakeasy Graffiti

How to find black market booze in Flatbush the 1920s.

A Quick PhotoJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Prospect Lefferts Gardensrandom photos, the 1920s, Flatbush things, eugene armbruster photosComment

Then and Now: East 19th Street

A look at East 19th St. between Cortelyou and Beverley in the 1900s vs. today.

Then and NowJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Beverley Square Eastthe 1900s, Flatbush places, victorian flatbush, then and now photos, beverley square east Comments

Samuel Anderson: Flatbush's Famous Black Pioneer

A lifelong Flatbush resident, Samuel Anderson broke free of the bonds of slavery to become a community leader and the second Black man to own land (and therefore, vote) in Brooklyn.

Stuff You Should KnowJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020FlatbushFlatbush people, black history, the 1830sComment

On the History of Horses in Flatbush

Flatbush’s history as a horse town, and signs throughout the neighborhood of when horses were our main source of transportation.

A RetrospectiveJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushhorses, Flatbush things, the vanderveer family Comment

A Cortelyou Rd Street Scene

What did people do on Cortelyou Rd in the 1940s? A glimpse at a Flatbush shoppers visiting a restaurant, bike shop, and laundromat as seen in some photos taken by NYC for tax purposes.

Now GoneJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushthe 1940s, Flatbush people, old businesses, cortelyou rd, Flatbush placesComment

The Dutch Reformed Church: OG Flatbush Landmark

Flatbush’s most important historical landmark was integral to the beginning of the community.

Flatbush LandmarksJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020then and now photos, dutch history, designated landmarks, eugene armbruster photos, Flatbush places Comments

Still Missed: The Flatbush Macy's

The now-gone twin of the Art Deco Sears, the Flatbush Macy’s (on the corner of Flatbush Ave and Tilden) had some innovative features and a lot of fans.

Flatbush as SuburbsJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020FlatbushFlatbush things, old businesses, the 1940s, flatbush ave Comment

Then and Now: Flatbush Ave Billboards

The frames for these billboards still stand on Flatbush Ave across from Erasmus Hall.

A RetrospectiveJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushadvertising, the 1940s, Flatbush things, then and now photos, flatbush ave Comment

Photo of the Day: Flatbush Ave as a Dirt Road

It’s hard to imagine now, but Flatbush Ave was once a dirt road.

A Quick PhotoJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushthe 1880s, Flatbush places, flatbush ave Comment

The Lords of Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatbush...

Love it or hate it, this B movie is the most famous movie about Flatbush ever made, and had some surprisingly long-lasting effects.

Flatbush CultureJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020East Flatbushthe 1970s, Flatbush thingsComment

Then and Now: A Cortelyou Market

Remnants of a large market called Bowman’s can be seen on Cortelyou Rd. Here’s what it looked like back in the 1940s.

Then and NowJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushthe 1940s, old businesses, cortelyou rd, then and now photos, Flatbush placesComment

Stopping by the Joost Van Nuyse House

This picturesque Dutch home is a designated New York City landmark, and just a short walk from the Junction HomeGoods.

Flatbush LandmarksJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020The Flatlandsdesignated landmarks, historic homes, dutch history, Flatbush places, the junctionComment

Photo of the Day: The Junction in 1914

The Junction is unrecognizable in this old aerial photograph.

A Quick PhotoJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020The JunctionFlatbush places, the 1910s, random photos, flatbush ave, the junctionComment

When Vanderveer Park Changed Everything

A look back at the beginning of Victorian Flatbush as we know it, when the Vanderveer family sold their farmland to developers.

Flatbush as SuburbsJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020MidwoodFlatbush places, the 1890s, victorian flatbush, the vanderveer family, advertisingComment

Then and Now: Coney Island Ave at Newkirk

The building shown in this 1947 photo of Coney Island Ave at Newkirk is still standing, but much changed.

Then and NowJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushthen and now photos, the 1940s, Flatbush places, random photos, old businesses Comment

The Parsonage: Historic Home Still Standing

Part of the Dutch Reformed Church Complex, the Parsonage is a designated NYC Landmark that once stood along Flatbush Ave and housed an early Flatbush historian.

Flatbush LandmarksJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbushdesignated landmarks, Flatbush people, Flatbush places, historic homes Comments

Vanderveer's Mill: Lost Landmark

The first windmill ever built on Long Island played an important role in the lives of Black Flatbush residents 60 years later.

Now GoneJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020FlatbushFlatbush things, black history, the 1860s, the vanderveer familyComment

Then and Now: Marlborough Rd

A bit of Prospect Park South in the 1900s and today.

Then and NowJennifer BoudinotJanuary 20, 2020Flatbush places, victorian flatbush, prospect park south, then and now photos, the 1900s Comment