Sketches of the shanties near Erie Basin, by artist Robert Cummings Wiseman, 1930s. Images are in the collection of the Museum of City of New York and can be seen by clicking on the links below:  

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The shanties went by several names; the Norwegians, who were its principal residents called it Orkenen Sur (Bitter Dessert), it was also referred to as Tin City and Hooverville. Some of the shanties were constructed with tin from pressed tin ceilings, and some included decorative stone elements from torn down buildings.

More about Orkenen Sur and Norwegian in Red Hook Brooklyn can be found at the Red Hook WaterStories exhibit   A Glimpse at the History of Norwegians in Red Hook