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THE WILLIAMSBURG/GREENPOINT
HISTORICAL TOUR

SATURDAY & SUNDAY OCTOBER 16TH & 17TH, 1999

TOUR 1-3 P.M.

$10 FEE

Tour guide John Dereszewski was born and raised in the Williamsburg/Greenpoint community. He was an active member of Community Board #1 which represents this section of Brooklyn and he still lives here. His knowledge of the community and its history is extensive. He has done an in depth study of the area's history and he writes and lectures on "A Historical Exploration." Most importantly he has had first hand experience of the many changes that have taken place over recent years.

The tour will start from the WAH Center at Broadway and Bedford Avenue, one of New York's finest landmark buildings, built in the Civil War. It will continue down Historical Broadway, once the site of a trolley transfer station, and down to the East River. There the first settlement and the ferry system will be discussed.

Next you will be heading north on Kent Avenue passing under the Williamsburg Bridge, bullt in 1903, and John will discuss the social, economic and political changes in the area. Next you will walk long the river on Kent Avenue and hear about the many industrial buildings built at the turn of the century which made Williamsburg prosperous. One which still remains functioning is Domino Sugar, of the former Havermeyer sugar empire.

Next comes Grand Street, of special interest for it's Memorial Park, formerly the main port for the ferry. Other prominent landmarks will be pointed out and discussed. The tour continues east to Bedford Avenue and then heads north up Bedford to the "north side," passing the Metropolitan Pool, currently hosting an exhibit of the WAH Center's Williamsburg Salon Des Artists. The recent renovation of the pool was partly due to John Dereszewski's efforts. Then further up Bedford with a discussion of the great changes that have occurred in the past ten years with the many new international restaurants , boutiques, and art galleries, etc. Then further up Bedford Avenue to Maccarren Park which separates the Greenpoint and Williamsburg communities, with a discussion of its historical background.

Next heading west to Driggs Ave. and south again toward the WAH Center, pointing out further sites such as the unique onion domed Russian Orthodox Cathedral and other historical buildings such the Dime Savings Bank, Washington Plaza, and The American Trust Company Building (now a Greek Orthodox Church). There will be a discussion of how the BQE expressway built by Robert Moses divided the communities and the social changes that this caused.

Finally down Broadway back to the WAH Center, passing the world famous Peter Luger Steak House and the renowned Williamsburg Savings Bank with its grand dome. It will be pointed out how the Hasidics came to Williamsburg after the Holocaust and now form a large & thriving community south of Broadway.