Early 20th century Brooklyn offered lots of ways to get around: elevated trains, trolley cars, and automobiles, as this postcard, stamped 1918, shows.
Is this another view of the same intersection circa 1925? It’s from the Brooklyn Historical Society’s wonderful blog.
Tags: Brooklyn in 1918, Brooklyn Street, Elevated trains New York City, Flatbush and Nevins Street, Flatbush Avenue, Flatbush Avenue Elevated, Trolleys in Brooklyn, vintage New York postcards
Ephemeral New York 
December 5, 2011 at 3:48 pm |
Nice postcard. The 1925 photo is certainly the same intersection as seen from the opposite direction, probably from the station platform. You can even see the old Myrtle Avenue El in the distance.
But what are those big red structures in the background of the postcard? There exists to this day a somewhat truncated-looking tower near the corner of Nevins and Flatbush, but it’s not red. And I guess that the building with the flags is where the Fox Theater used to be (before being itself replaced by a phenomenally ugly modern building).
December 5, 2011 at 4:15 pm |
I had trouble figuring this out, even after looking at many old photos. I really don’t know what the big red structure is. The clock tower may be a clue: Is it a school? A factory? The intersection looks so different today.
December 5, 2011 at 4:43 pm |
Wow! Just did a Google search for “Streetscapes Nevins Street” and this was the first thing to come up: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E2DF113AF933A15751C0A9639C8B63
The Brownstoner site on the same search also came up with a photo, showing this amazing clock tower and the Fox Theater just off to the left.
December 5, 2011 at 4:47 pm |
Cool, thanks Joe. And here’s the Brownstoner link with photos:
http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2010/09/building-of-the-138/
December 5, 2011 at 8:03 pm |
This is spooky. Today (December 5) is th 135th anniversary of the Brooklyn Theater Fire which claimed over 275 lives. The theater was a ten minute walk from this intersection. After the disaster, the property was purchased by the Brooklyn Eagle. And the name of the fire chief who testified at the investigation into the blaze? Thomas Nevins. His family claims that Nevins Street is named for him. I don’t know about that. I think it was named for Russell Nevins, a big shot banker and real estate mogul.
December 5, 2011 at 8:22 pm |
Wow, that’s weird! I’m curious about the Nevins name angle too. An interesting idea for a future post.