The Gowanus Canal Superfund Site Archeological & Historical Discussion Issues

“Sludgie” Superfund mascot: Anna Martin 2009

What’s “historical” about the Gowanus - besides me ?

Gino Muskratelli, Superfund Mascot interview candidate, drawn by Vince Mussachia, 2011 Aerial: 14 March 2012, Doc Searles, via Public Laboratory

WHAT HAS THE ARCHEOLOGY COMMITTEE BEEN DOING ?

Advises the EPA on Archeologically Sensitive Areas around the Canal

Coordinated input from various Community members on places of Historic Archeological Interest

Organized the October 2011 Walking Tour of the Neighborhood for the EPA and Hunter Research (History Consultants)

Reviewed and Responded to the December 2011 Hunter Research Archeological Report

Link: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/gowanus/pdf/gowanuscanal_arch-sen-study.pdf

( hint: its hidden in the “Appendices” section… )

- Considering Ways to make Information available to Community

Gowanus Watershed

The Canal

Historic Landfilled Tidal Marsh

Extensive Landfilling on top of Tidal Marsh: 19 Feet on Average

We Wont Find Much Archeologically..

Gowanus Tidal Estuary provided rich hunting and fishing grounds

1766 Ratzer Map, New York Public Library

1879, Currier & Ives

1922 Citizens Gas Works Crib Bulkhead

Visual & Ecological

Values

Old Stone House

Original Stone House location

Denton’s Mill

Brouwer’s Mill

Cole’s Mill

Marylander’s Burial Ground Various Grave Sites: No bodies found because maybe relocated to Greenwood Cemetery ?

Veterans Monument

Presumed Grave Location

Potential Alternative Burial Ground

Battle Site /Potential Second Burial Ground

Battle Site

Battle Site & Historic Dam

Bergen & Sassian Streams Diverted into Sewer = causing overflows ?

Cole’s Mill Pond Slave Works

Historic Mill

Gowanus Canal Sponge Park Plan dlandstudio / Gowanus Canal Conservancy

HISTORIC SITES

Denton’s Pond

An Overview of Sites

4th Street Basin proposed landfill site ?

MAIN HISTORIC SENSITIVITY AREAS – TIDAL MILLS

GOWANUS TIDAL MILLS Map: Bernard Ratzer,1766 Painting: Alonzo Chappel, Battle of Long Island, 1858

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Brouwer’s Bridge Site

Location of a strategic 1776 Battle of Brooklyn site

One of the first Tidal Mills in New York

Overlay from 1766 Ratzer map

2011 Balloon Canoe Aerial courtesy of Gowanus Canal Conservancy / Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club

27 August 1776 – Delaware Regiment – stranded when Brouwer’s Bridge blown up

Original Stone House location

Denton’s Mill Battle Site

Brouwer’s Mill Bridge

Marylander’s Burial Ground

Veterans Monument

Presumed Grave Location

Potential Alternative Burial Ground

Battle Site /Potential Second Burial Ground

Old Stone House Battle Site

Battle Site & Historic Dam

Battle of Brooklyn Sites dlandstudio / Gowanus Canal Conservancy SPONGE PARK PLAN

HISTORIC 1776 WAR OF INDEPENDENCE SITES

( May have been relocated to Greenwood Cemetery – being researched by FROGG archeologists )

1776 OLD STONE HOUSE BATTLE

Old Stone House Battle Site

1776 Battle of Brooklyn Johnson Map

Battle of Brooklyn

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Alonzo Chappel, Battle of Long Island, 1858, viewed from what is now the Carroll Street Bridge APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF

THE FIRST STREET BASIN

Battle of Denton’s Mill – 27 August 1776 (next To Carroll Street Bridge)

2011 Battle of Brooklyn Site Google Street View

www.whatwasthere.com

1776 Battle of Brooklyn Site Approximate Location

1766 stream

Overlay from 1766 Ratzer map, 2011 Balloon Canoe Aerial courtesy of Gowanus Canal Conservancy / Gowanus Dredgers

City and State allowed First Street Landfill to happen on Public Waterway

Must now restore this HISTORIC SITE Superfund and Clean Water Act must work together to do this

What will be our Historical Legacy ?

Map: Susannah Drake, dlandstudio, 2010 Overlays do not necessarily reflect dland’s original design, and are for community discussion purposes only

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

POTENTIAL WATERFRONT PARK

SPECIAL TREAMENT IN WATERFRONT EDGE DESIGN WHEN CONSIDERING REMEDIATION OPTIONS

Painting: Alonzo Chappel, Battle of Long Island, 1858

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1922 FOURTH AVE

4TH STREET BASIN Old Stone

House / Byrne Park

Historic Streams Diverted into Sewer During 1850’s and causing overflows ?

HISTORIC FLOOD MANAGEMENT ISSUES dlandstudio / Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Denton’s Pond

5TH STREET BASIN: CAN IT’S CONTAMINATED FILL BE CLEANED OUT AND THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY BE RESTORED AS A FLOODWAY CONNECTION TO J.J. BYRNE PARK ?

BOND STREET COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW (RH 35)

Lucas Kronawitter

1766 NATURAL WATER SHED

2011 PIPED SYSTEM

WHAT NEXT ?

-  CAG Archeology Committee to be signatory to Memorandum of Agreement: Remediation to be more than “recordation” – wants physical component as well: A HISTORIC WATERFRONT PARK

-  GOWANUS HISTORY DAY ; and a Canal waterfront to support it

-  Industrial Architecture of the Gowanus FROGG Tours

-  Integrating the Sponge Park Plan Critical Sites into Remedial Design

-  Outreach about important Sites

-  Cleanup Standards need to meet these Future Uses

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

THE END ?

What’s about MY historic resources ?

This presentation available at: www.proteusgowanus.org in Hall of the Gowanus archive

Gino Muskratelli, by Vince Mussachia, Six Packed Panels, Red Hook Star Revue, 2011