Half Moon Hotel- Seagate
Was working in Seagate , a gated community near Coney Island. Got talking with the security guard, who seemed to know quite a bit about local history. He said the community was founded in the 1890’s by gangsters, became sort of their summer resort and party destination with their girlfriends. Then the lawyers made their…
Was working in Seagate , a gated community near Coney Island. Got talking with the security guard, who seemed to know quite a bit about local history. He said the community was founded in the 1890’s by gangsters, became sort of their summer resort and party destination with their girlfriends. Then the lawyers made their way in, followed by some Wall St guys. This photo is 4200 Atlantic Avenue, and the building backs the water. As little as 10 yrs ago it was a junkie den with 20+ apartments but at one time was called the ” Half Moon Hotel” the mobsters would bring their girls out here for drinking, dancing and the other things that go with it. Anyone know anything else about the history of this place?
I’m impressed that a gated community supported a junkie den.
You can read more about the actual Half Moon here: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEEDB1E3FF934A35756C0A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
This hotel is part of Brooklyn lore. In 1941, it was the place where killer Abe “Kid Twist” Reles inexplicably plunged out of a hotel window, while being in the custody of six NYC police department detectives. Reles was considered a stool pigeon for giving testimony about murders for hire that he was involved in. This included work he did for the mafia.
The now-demolished Half Moon Hotel was on the boardwalk in Coney Island near W. 29th and Surf Avenue. The house pictured was a private home. The security guard, being close to the water, might enjoy catching live ones every so often.
Groovy. Who lives there now?