How we gonna know if youse belong?
"East Flatbush is a New York City neighborhood in the Borough of Brooklyn, geographically situated in the western end of Long Island, in New York. Historically, East Flatbush constitutes the approximate eastern third of the former Flatbush township, which became Brooklyn's 29th Ward after its 1894 annexation. The geographic center of Kings County is located in East Flatbush."
- from Brooklyn's East Flatbush by Brian Merlis
Hang on to that last sentence in the quote above.
Before embarking on this blogging venture I tried to nail down the geographic boundaries that make up East Flatbush. I always thought East Flatbush was a clearly defined, commonly agreed upon, geographic area.
Wrong!
For this Blog I’ve set some arbitrary boundaries; albeit we’ll take some liberties from time to time and journey outside this center of the universe as well as allow ‘outsiders’ in.
So, conjure up this mental map of our universe:
On the west, East Flatbush blends in to Flatbush, certainly by the time it reaches Flatbush Avenue. Most historians site Nostrand Avenue as the western boundary. On the South, the old Long Island Railroad embankment provides a convenient boundary, beyond which is Canarsie. Some will argue that Holy Cross Cemetery along Snyder Avenue should be the boundary but that would leave out everyone who lived on Avenue D in the East 40’s. Again, scholars concede Foster Avenue as the southern boundary and Flatlands.
If you think those two boundaries are difficult to determine, wait 'til you get to the boundaries on the east and north. Does the eastern boundary end at Ralph Avenue or Remsen Avenue or does it go into the East 90’s where it sort of bumps into East New York and Brownsville?
The northwest boundary is fairly easy to define, thanks to Kings County Hospital on Clarkson Avenue, north of which we used to call Pigtown (now more quaintly referred to as Wingate – in honor of the local high school) but the northeast boundary is more difficult to determine. Again, where does East New York begin? How about at the New Lots IRT el?
Now, that’s our world.
OK; on occasion we’ll stretch the boundaries. In subsequent blogs we’ll talk about hallowed ground that belongs to all of Brooklyn – not to a particular neighborhood: Kings Highway (near the 'station'), the 'Junction', Flatbush Avenue, Coney Island/Brighton Beach, Downtown, Ebbets Field, the Main Library, the Zoo.
The take away? It really doesn’t matter. Each reader conjures up his or her own mental boundaries and if there’s someone reading this who grew up south of Flatlands Avenue, it’s okay with this blogger.
OK. That's the geographical. Now, to further determine your membership: the chronological:
If you remember what class you were in the day John Kennedy was assassinated, you are in our target audience. Give yourself 50 points.
Add 5 points if you remember riding a trolley car on Church Avenue; add five points if you know the east bound destination (last stop of the trolley);
Add ten points if you remember trolley tracks on Utica Avenue south of Snyder Avenue.
Add five points if you know what SP means.
Give yourself five points each if you remember the name of the bank on East 51st and Church and the one on Nostrand and Church, the name of the drugstore on Church and Utica,
And ten points for remembering plaid and green stamps.
Passing grade:65.
NOTE: There is often some continuity from one blog to the next so start at the earliest one. Some may interest you more than others. Hang in there. There’s bound to be one or more that jog your memory.
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