Archive for August 19th, 2013
probable escape
Golly gosh gee!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Greenpointers rejoice on August 19th, for the date brings an important anniversary to the ancient community. For most of its history, the old Dutch village relied on vehicular connections to nearby Williamsburg- or on ferries and other water borne craft- when happenstance demanded they leave its borders. Not so after August 19th, 1933.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Today is the anniversary, the 80th in fact, of the day that the G train was opened- specifically the stretch of the line which connected to Queens and headed up Manhattan Avenue toward Williamsburg and beyond (the beyond was staggered out over the course of the following year). Back then it was called the “GG IND Crosstown Line” and it remains an anachronism as the only subway line that doesn’t service Manhattan (along with a couple of shuttles and the Staten Island Railroad, but they don’t really count).
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Given the chaotic and contentious situation wrought by damages from Hurricane Sandy and the concurrent schedule of repairs which have shut the line down on the weekends, it might be hard for Greenpointers to greet the line with happy salutation. Nevertheless, an appreciation of the old girl must nevertheless be offered at this- your Newtown Pentacle.
The Newtown Pentacle 