John Gladsky is the definition of a colorful old salt. He is a marine salvor and the principal of Gladsky Marine and has an old-time Long Island accent. His oral history expresses nostalgia for the Todd Shipyard and criticism of public policy that...
When interviewed at a vigorous 82 years of age, Hank Dam laughs hard remembering the WWII slogan of Todd Shipyard “the difficult we do every day, the impossible takes a little longer.” Hank is clearly proud of the ingenuity and hard work of his...
By The Red Hook WaterStories team
A collection of historic maps and images of Red Hook, Brooklyn
Hear Tom Teague's reflections on being a Tugboat Captain. These interviews of Captain Tom Teague and Mate Mike Dunn were done on the tugboat JANICE ANN REINAUER in Erie Basin Bargeport by Carolina Salguero c. 2000. Tom Teague: Push,...
By The Red Hook WaterStories team
The Alcyone Boat Club was formed around 1867, the first rowing club in the area. It was located at the foot of Court and Smith Streets. "Another aquatic sport has lately become very popular in this city, though but little attempt has been made...
By The Red Hook WaterStories team
This 1869 map of Red Hook, reveals some of what was there at the there at the time, but also shows the Brooklyn Basin which was approved by the government but never built. Designed at the same time as Erie Basin that part of the plan was never...
By The Red Hook WaterStories team
Farm Line Maps of the City of Brooklyn compiled and drawn by Henry Fulton, Civil Engineer of Brooklyn, Long Island from official records and surveys. Published by J.B. Beers and Co. in 1874. This map includes the planned-but-never-built...
By The Red Hook WaterStories team
Hurricane Sandy hit Brooklyn around 8pm on October 29, 2012. which caused devastating flooding in Red Hook. The following 32 interviews are part of a project " Sandy: Tell Your Story" recorded by Emergency Management Methodology Partners...
Railroad dock to be demolished. This dock served floated rail cars from the New York Dock Company, visible in the background. A description of the Governors Island rail system is at ...
By The Red Hook WaterStories team
Francesco Pietanza, an immigrant from Italy, became a longshoreman in Red Hook in 1948. His daughter Mary Ann remembers both his hard work and his passion for gardening.
