Volume 3, Issue 1 June/July 2009 Boerum Hill Bulletin The Boerum Hill Association is a volunteer organization of residents of Boerum Hill. We seek to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of our neighborhood through advocacy, education and community building. Visit us on the web at www.boerumhillbrooklyn.org SIXTEEN SYCAMORES PARK Sixteen Sycamores Park is a modate children and families beautiful park located on the as well as individuals, and to MEMBERS corner of Schermerhorn Street reopen the comfort station. We OF THE rd B O A R D : & 3 Avenue in Boerum Hill. It are also organizing volunteers features two separate play for clean-up days, increasing Howard Kolins, President areas with climbing equipment awareness of the park and its James Forrester, Secretary and slides; three handball assets, and planning events Rose Weber, Treasurer * courts; two water fountains; such as family film nights to swings; sprinklers and what happen in the park. Our first Doug Barnes was once a thriving comfort work day will be Saturday, July Ben Barrett station. It is by far the largest 181818 ththth from 9 am to 1 pmpm. We cize and sponsor all our great Noam Berk park in the neighborhood, but are also planning our first events. Larry Burda many residents aren’t aware Family Film Night for early that it exists. September, sponsored by An- Join us! We can be reached Daughtry Carstarphen nie’s Blue Ribbon General through the BHA, or you can “Friends of Sixteen Sycamores Genevieve Christy Store, and are working with contact Daughtry Carstarphen Park” is a group of residents more local merchants to publi- at [email protected]. Christian Haag committed to changing that, Susan Kaplan and to bringing much-needed Trudy Katzer capital investment to the park. We have been working with Leslie Lewis CB2, David Yassky’s office, Jean Manon and the NYC Parks Depart- Hannah Mason ment to secure over $1 million Stephen Radacinski to upgrade the equipment, provide play zones that accom- Dwight Smith Chuck Wells Hal Bobrow, In Memoriam BY L. Lewis Sarah Wikenczy I am pleased to write this in ing his thoughts and com- neighbor and vocal participant (*non-board member) memory of Hal Bobrow, whose ments with the Police and the in this community. He will be loyalty to the 84 th Precinct will public. missed. Board meetings are always be remembered, and held the first Tuesday Now when I drive past his Leslie Lewis, President much missed. house on State Street, I have of each month from 84 th Precinct Community In the 25 years that I attended to resist stopping to drop off September through Council June at 7:00pm in the the 84 th Precinct Community the meeting announcement Mugavero Center. Council meetings, I would flyers which he dependably Hal’s sister, June Firestone, glance at Hal, always in his distributed in the neighbor- requests that anyone wishing seat in the first row, and take hood all those years. to honor his memory make a comfort that all was well in our donation to: Calvary Hospital I, along with many others, will community. Memorial Fund, P.O. Box always remember that Hal was 5173, Toms River, NJ 08754 He often participated by shar- well thought of as a good P a g e 2 Boerum Hill Bulletin Fulton Street History by Erik Fortmeyer Take a walk up Hoyt Street “HO” incised. Walk down the There were mod- towards the subway stop on Duffield Street side and you ern features: Fulton Street and you cannot will see “1890 OFFERMAN incandescent miss seeing the faded re- BUILDING 1892”. Henry Of- electric lights, mains of the old Martin’s ferman, a millionaire sugar seven lavish ele- Department Store at the industry magnate, intended vators, and a head of the street. The his building to be a large pneumatic cash splotchy off-white building is department store. The archi- system. You could covered with decorative tect was Peter J. Lauritzen purchase any- arches. Instinctively, one who favored the Roman- thing from fancy knows that the building has esque Revival style insprired clothing to furni- plenty of history in its stone by medieval architecture. ture to furs to walls. Originally the building was fancy opera constructed for Samuel glasses. And it does. About half way Wechsler to be a department up the front of the building The store had store specializing in dry on the sides, you will see a various tenants goods. Samuel was the lion emblem with the letters 1909, when it brother of Joseph Wechsler, was converted to a partner with Abraham Abra- offices with ten- ham, in a department store ant stores. Even- that eventually evolved into tually, in 1922, Abraham & Straus. The Of- one tenant grew ferman Building was con- large enough to structed in stages, its steel purchase the and iron core covered with whole building. limestone, terra cotta, and The store was fully remodeled and opened in 1924 as Mar- buff-colored brick. It rose up tin’s Department Store to great success. The owner advo- eight stories. The first story cated the demolition of the Fulton “El” and, when it was re- was capped by arches with moved in 1941, it opened up the golden era of the Fulton plate glass, level with the Street shopping corridor. tracks of the old Fulton “El” train that would pass by. The For many years, Martin’s was the place for Brooklyn brides. entrance designed to im- The flight of middle class Brooklyn families to the suburbs press patrons and to stand slowly sapped Martin’s patrons until the store closed in out from the many other de- 1979. It was landmarked by the City in 2005. partment stores nearby. BoCoCa Arts Festival July 17th --- July 26th The Festival will present a Website: www.bococaartsfestival.com collection of outstanding Contact: [email protected] The BoCoCa Arts Festival emerging works in the fields taps into the unique and of Art, Music, Theater, and varied aspects of the Boerum Performance Art. Staged in Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gar- unconventional venues, the dens and Gowanus commu- performances will reflect the nities to support artistic ex- truthful and exciting expres- pression and our local busi- sion of human aspiration nesses, while providing enter- evident throughout our com- tainment and inspiration to munities. Check the website the community. and join the festival! Volume 3, Issue 1 P a g e 3 THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Neighbors, so the Atlantic Yards continues to be a and noise are some of the other chal- focus for us. Similarly, the reopening and lenges we face. I’m honored to accept the President’s possible expansion of the House of Deten- chair and look forward to working to pre- Please become an active member and tion is also at the top of our list. serve and promote Boerum Hill. We’re support our activities. concerned about the many issues affect Our members strive to make a better our quality of life in our neighborhood. home for ourselves and our neighbors so join us in building the Douglass/ Greene Gratefully, As an organization we’ve been in favor of Park and 16 Sycamores. Crime, traffic responsible and thoughtful development Howard Kolins Our First Historic Pub Walk On June 23 rd , a diverse crowd of 16 at- He painted a picture of days and nights cordial bartenders. tendees took the first Historic Pub Walk in Boerum Hill past. As the evening Board member Chuck Wells will be host- sponsored by the BHA. Our local histo- journey progressed from The Brazen ing the next Pub Walks on July 14 ththth and rian, Erik Fortmeyer, came armed with a Head to the Brooklyn Inn to Hanks Bar, August 11 ththth ... Look for information on our bunch of wonderful photos and an old the history was complemented by the web site. bottle from an Atlantic Avenue brewery. cheerful banter of neighbors and Plant Sale and Greening Day Each Spring, the Hoyt Street Associa- DuBick, Dwight Smith, Howard Kolins, contact Hoyt Street Association president, tion’s Annual Plant Sale brings neighbors Keith Hershberger, Beth Winson and Margaret Cusack: [email protected] or together so that Boerum Hill can be Jack Fortmeyer, who came together for 718.237.0145 awash in flowers and verdant greenery. this great neighborhood tradition. The torrential rain this year did not deter They led an army of over 60 "green the many brave volunteers from raising team" volunteers who distributed order almost $6000 profit. The money not only forms, shopped for plants at the Brook- supports the Hoyt Street Garden, but lyn Terminal Market, put together or- also funds the Hoyt Street Association ders and sold plants -- even during the Community Funding Project (HSACFP), relentless pouring rain! which gives grants to local individuals GREENING DAY and organizations who want to give back The Plant Sale is one of the best events to the area and better the neighborhood. in Boerum Hill and it's also a great In tandem with the plant sale, the Boerum place for neighbors to get to know each Hill Association held Greening Day when For many years, local gardener, Martin other. Next Spring, we hope you will free compost and mulch was available in Sticht, (far right), was the main organizer send in your order form and that you the Mugavero parking lot. of the Plant Sale, but this year he de- will volunteer for the "green team.” The BHA, appreciates our wonderful cided to retire and "pass the green ba- greenery, and wishes to thank, landscape ton" on to others.