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September 3, 2008

Announcing "Ask the Brooklyn Borough Historian"

schweiger_08_08.jpg We're pleased to announce that Ron Schweiger, the official Brooklyn Borough Historian, will be taking questions from readers on all matters of Brooklyn's past, and a few on its future, too. He's particularly knowledgeable about Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach and Victorian Flatbush — from their famous inhabitants to the developers who first plotted out the areas — and about the history of our street names and neighborhoods.

Ron was appointed by Borough President Marty Markowitz in 2002. Raised in Gravesend, Schweiger moved to Victorian Flatbush after graduating from Brooklyn College and getting married. He taught science for 31 years at P.S. 219 in East Flatbush and, after retiring from the Board of Education, began teaching science to grades three, four and five at Yeshivah of Flatbush. He's been instrumental in helping landmark several Brooklyn locations, from Fiske Terrace to the Avenue H subway station on the Q line.

Please leave questions for him in the comments below or email them to us.




Posted by lisa at 10:45 AM | Comments (14)
Categories: Announcement

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We've always turned to Ron in Victorian Flatbush for information on our neighborhood. He was a long time resident and instrumental in keeping our neighborhood association going during the city's hard times. I have gotten several old photos and post cards of my home from him. He used to do walking tours of Flatbush in the Spring and Autumn. I guess he'll be too busy for that now. Great addition,

Posted by: Chaka at September 3, 2008 10:55 AM

Met Ron a few months ago. What a great addition to brownstoner. There will be questions, Ron. Lots of questions!

Posted by: bxgrl at September 3, 2008 10:57 AM

Welcome Ron. This is a fabulous idea!

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 3, 2008 11:27 AM

I met Ron a few months ago at Brooklyn History Day at the Library at Grand Army Plaza. A font of information, and a real mentch.

A great idea, and interesting addition to Brownstoner.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 3, 2008 11:46 AM

What can you tell us about the old Brooklyn parkway system? I've heard that Ocean Parkway used to extend to Prospect Park, and that 4th Avenue used to be a beautiful parkway before the subway was built, and there may have been others as well.

I've never been able to find any photos of what Park Circle or 4th Avenue looked like in those days. Do you know of any?

Posted by: zinka at September 3, 2008 12:14 PM

Dear Mr. Schweiger:

Thank you for making yourself available for questions. Mine are not historic in nature, but point more toward the future of a particular stretch of land. I hope you have some insight to share, but if not, I'll look forward to learning from your exchanges on this forum just the same.

I live in Bed-Stuy, so am particularly invested in the future of both Atlantic Ave. and Fulton St. between Bedford Ave. and Stuyvesant Ave. -- both the streets themselves, as well as commercial and residential development.

There is proposed rezoning, which is needed, but do you know of any specific revitalization plans for this area?

I don't know about anyone else, but I find driving on Atlantic Ave. to be potentially fatal (I mean really, you have to make a left-turn through giant potholes inbetween the LIRR rafters in order to get onto a little stretch of road so as to make a left turn onto Troy Ave. -- and a number of other streets). There are no visable signs, no warnings, and no time for people to make mistakes and remedy them before there is an accident -- especially in the dark or bad weather. People also park on the far right and far left hand sides of the Ave. creating enormous traffic, and all of this is just "normal."

Also, Fulton St. is just plain ... nasty (for lack of a nicer word). There are hairballs racing down the sidewalks like tumbleweeds, and the litter is ankle deep around Nostrand Ave. Again, traffic is very bad.

I've also seen plans for Restoration Plaza. Are these plans just talk, or will they really happen? Any chance a Baby Gap and and Old Navy can be enticed to take residence? Now I digress .... although I do think it would be a neat spot for these stores.

Okay, I'm done for now. Thank you for your time.

Posted by: MacD at September 3, 2008 1:41 PM

MacD: For future reference, those hairballs are called tumbleweaves. (Yes, former hair weave pieces that end up as tumbleweeds.)

Posted by: 11233 at September 3, 2008 2:03 PM

11233, NO YOU DI'INT just go there, did you? That's absolutely hilarious.

Posted by: Biff Champion at September 3, 2008 2:11 PM

I love it!

Hairlarious. (I know, I know.)

Posted by: MacD at September 3, 2008 2:15 PM

I have to give credit to BedStuyBlog for that one. (Shout out to Petra!)

Posted by: 11233 at September 3, 2008 2:22 PM

11233, Wouldn't that make them tumbleweaves?

Posted by: Chaka at September 3, 2008 3:57 PM

that's what he said.

Posted by: east river at September 3, 2008 4:04 PM

Ron, how can i find out the origin of "HAVENS PLACE', a block long street in east new york, btw atlantic and herkimer?

Chris Havens

Posted by: chrishavens at September 3, 2008 4:18 PM

I misread it.

Posted by: Chaka at September 3, 2008 4:33 PM

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