Historians Still Debate Gowanus Wall
On Tuesday, we reported on the Gowanus building at toid and toid owned by Con Ed, that is said to contain a portion of the wall once surrounding the Washington Park baseball field used by the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Ebbets Field. From the Daily News today comes a definitive answer from Brooklyn…
On Tuesday, we reported on the Gowanus building at toid and toid owned by Con Ed, that is said to contain a portion of the wall once surrounding the Washington Park baseball field used by the Brooklyn Dodgers before their move to Ebbets Field. From the Daily News today comes a definitive answer from Brooklyn author and historian Brian Merlis, “I can say with absolute certainty that this wall was not part of Washington Park prior to the Brooklyn team’s departure [in 1912],” The paper goes on to say that historians believe the wall was part of either a carriage house or club house that was built after the 1912 move by the Dodgers. Even though the Dodgers may not have played within this wall, it is still part of the old Washington Park ball field, and still one of the oldest surviving pieces of baseball history in New York. Con Ed Spokeswoman D. Joy Faber has announced that the wall will be preserved. Further historical information, including a wealth of photographs, can be found here.
Famed Wall in Gowanus Not Part of Original Dodgers Stadium [Daily News]
Bulldozer Time for Gowanus Building [Brownstoner]
Con Ed Readying Demolition of 3rd St. Warehouse [Brownstoner]
Photo: Wall in 2004 by covehurst.net
The wall was built in 1914, and was part of the ballpark run by the Brooklyn Tip Tops of the Federal League. That’s a real major league. There is ample evidence of its provenance and history.
The site in general and the Byrne Park site are historic homes of major league baseball:
http://www.covehurst.net/ddyte/brooklyn/washington_park.html
The wall dates to 1914 and is very well documented if you care to read:
http://www.covehurst.net/ddyte/brooklyn/washwall.html
That’s the entire stretch along Third Avenue, and a little along First and Third Streets.
Thank you Prof, there was you,other people the other days the threads ran, the Daily News, and a couple of other people who emailed me off site with photos and documentation, and I thank you all. It appears that there are many more people interested in this “nothing” site than one would imagine, eh?
Hey, Montrose, how about a little credit? I said most of the stuff that’s in this post and provided the link on the previous thread.
Toid & Toid. Reminds me of the inescapable New Yawk song: “Its views will in-spy-ya-you.” Four syllables in “inspire.”
Nomi;
The wall-that-is-considered-“historical”-even-though-it-was-NOT-part-of-Dodger-stadium is that part shown in the picture which has the arches. It extends about 1/2 of this stretch (which is a continuous 2 block stretch from 1st to 3rd St, as there is no 2nd Street here).
The wall is incorporated into the present-day squat one-story warehous-type building. This building has been in use by Con Ed for some time, and it is the building they will demolish.
There is no “field” here. The site is completely used by Con Ed for facilities, truck parking, offices, etc. Basically, since the wall has been shown to NOT be part of Dodger stadium, there is NO remnant of Dodget stadium left here.
OK. I’m not totally getting this, even though I’ve read everything and looked at the linked pictures. What part of this huge wall is “the wall”?
Since the wall is not even “the wall,” would not the spot remain the spot of the former field, even without the wall there?
The white wall that we see, it’s a building, or an enclosure? In other words, does it actually enclose the former field, or is some or all of the field already covered by a structure?
thanks bg.
denton- your pictures are awesome. My favorite is the one taken looking up at the Empire State Building, next to the backhoe (??).
As I said:
Sorry – the Dodgers played here pre-(concrete) wall. The Wall is from the ill fated Federal League that lasted 2 seasons (Brooklyn team owned by Ward Brothers of famous Bakery)
Posted by: fsrg at October 8, 2009 11:25 AM