What’s “historical” about the Gowanus - besides me ?
“Sludgie” Superfund mascot: Anna Martin 2009
Aerial: 14 March 2012, Doc Searles, via Public Laboratory
The Gowanus Canal Superfund Site
Gino Muskratelli, Superfund Mascot interview candidate, drawn by Vince Mussachia, 2011
Archeological & Historical Discussion Issues
WHAT HAS THE ARCHEOLOGY COMMITTEE BEEN DOING ? Advises the EPA on Archeologically Sensitive Areas around the Canal Coordinated input from various Community members on places of Historic Archeological Interest Organized the October 2011 Walking Tour of the Neighborhood for the EPA and Hunter Research (History Consultants) Reviewed and Responded to the December 2011 Hunter Research Archeological Report Link: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/pdf/gowanuscanal_arch-sen-study.pdf ( hint: its hidden in the “Appendices” section… )
- Considering Ways to make Information available to Community
Extensive Landfilling on top of Tidal Marsh: 19 Feet on Average
Gowanus Watershed The Canal
Historic Landfilled Tidal Marsh
We Wont Find Much Archeologically..
1766 Ratzer Map, New York Public Library
Gowanus Tidal Estuary provided rich hunting and fishing grounds
1879, Currier & Ives
1922 Citizens Gas Works Crib Bulkhead
Visual & Ecological Values
Gowanus Canal Sponge Park Plan dlandstudio / Gowanus Canal Conservancy
Bergen & Sassian Streams Diverted into Sewer = causing overflows ?
An Overview of Sites HISTORIC SITES
Cole’s Mill Pond
Brouwer’s Mill Battle Site & Historic Dam
Denton’s Mill
Slave Works
Denton’s Pond
Cole’s Mill Historic Mill
4th
Street Basin proposed landfill site ?
Old Stone House Battle Site
Presumed Grave Location
Marylander’s Burial Ground
Battle Site / Potential Second Burial Ground
Veterans Monument
Various Grave Sites: No bodies found because maybe relocated to Greenwood Cemetery ?
Potential Alternative Burial Ground
Original Stone House location
MAIN HISTORIC SENSITIVITY AREAS – TIDAL MILLS
GOWANUS TIDAL MILLS
Map: Bernard Ratzer,1766
Painting: Alonzo Chappel, Battle of Long Island, 1858
Brouwer’s Bridge Site Location of a strategic 1776 Battle of Brooklyn site One of the first Tidal Mills in New York Overlay from 1766 Ratzer map
Daniel Barry, New York Times, 2005
2011 Balloon Canoe Aerial courtesy of Gowanus Canal Conservancy / Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club
27 August 1776 – Delaware Regiment – stranded when Brouwer’s Bridge blown up
Battle of Brooklyn Sites dlandstudio / Gowanus Canal Conservancy SPONGE PARK PLAN
HISTORIC 1776 WAR OF INDEPENDENCE SITES
Brouwer’s Mill Bridge Battle Site & Historic Dam
Denton’s Mill Battle Site Battle Site / Potential Second Burial Ground 1776 OLD STONE HOUSE BATTLE
Old Stone House Battle Site
Presumed Grave Location
Veterans Monument
Marylander’s Burial Ground ( May have been relocated to Greenwood Cemetery – being researched by FROGG archeologists )
Potential Alternative Burial Ground
Original Stone House location
Old Stone House Battle Site
1776 Battle of Brooklyn Johnson Map
Battle of Brooklyn
1858, Alonzo Chappel, The Battle of Long Island, Retreat of the Americans Under General Stirling Across Gowanus Creek
Battle of Denton’s Mill – 27 August 1776 (next To Carroll Street Bridge)
Alonzo Chappel, Battle of Long Island, 1858, viewed from what is now the Carroll Street Bridge
APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE FIRST STREET BASIN
www.whatwasthere.com 2011
Battle of Brooklyn Site Google Street View
1776
Battle of Brooklyn Site Approximate Location
1766 stream
Overlay from 1766 Ratzer map, 2011 Balloon Canoe Aerial courtesy of Gowanus Canal Conservancy / Gowanus Dredgers
What will be our Historical Legacy ?
City and State allowed First Street Landfill to happen on Public Waterway
Must now restore this HISTORIC SITE Superfund and Clean Water Act must work together to do this
Map: Susannah Drake, dlandstudio, 2010 Overlays do not necessarily reflect dland’s original design, and are for community discussion purposes only
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE POTENTIAL WATERFRONT PARK SPECIAL TREAMENT IN WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN WHEN CONSIDERING REMEDIATION OPTIONS Painting: Alonzo Chappel, Battle of Long Island, 1858
3rd Ave & 3rd Street photo of Whole Foods site contaminated soil excavation pits showing brief reappearance of historic Denton Mills Pond: 2007 Bob Gusskind
NATURAL HISTORY
1922 FOURTH AVE
HISTORIC FLOOD MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Historic Streams
Diverted into Sewer During 1850’s and causing overflows ?
dlandstudio / Gowanus Canal Conservancy 1766 NATURAL WATER SHED
2011 PIPED SYSTEM
BOND STREET COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW (RH 35)
Denton’s Pond Lucas Kronawitter
4TH STREET BASIN
Old Stone House / Byrne Park
5TH STREET BASIN: CAN IT’S CONTAMINATED FILL BE CLEANED OUT AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY BE RESTORED AS A FLOODWAY CONNECTION TO J.J. BYRNE PARK ?
WHAT NEXT ? - CAG Archeology Committee to be signatory to Memorandum of Agreement: Remediation to be more than “recordation” – wants physical component as well: A HISTORIC WATERFRONT PARK - GOWANUS HISTORY DAY ; and a Canal waterfront to support it - Industrial Architecture of the Gowanus FROGG Tours - Integrating the Sponge Park Plan Critical Sites into Remedial Design - Outreach about important Sites - Cleanup Standards need to meet these Future Uses
WHAT DO YOU THINK ?
THE END ? What’s about MY historic resources ?
Gino Muskratelli, by Vince Mussachia, Six Packed Panels, Red Hook Star Revue, 2011
This presentation available at: www.proteusgowanus.org in Hall of the Gowanus archive