Lehigh Maritime arrived in Red Hook as friends of PortSide, first by tying up their tug CORNELL alongside our ship MARY A. WHALEN when we were in the containerport on Pier 9B. After we moved out of the port to Pier 11 in 2015, Lehigh joined us...
Norman Brouwer's Maritime History of Red Hook
A History of Red Hook Norman Brouwer, noted maritime historian - the man who basically wrote THE guides to historic ships and some of our national preservation standards for them - graciously wrote this maritime history of Red Hook for...
The Signal Success of Martha Coston, 1826-1904
“So little opportunity have women had hitherto for demonstrating their capability for business, that it can only be indicated by the success of some particular woman in some unusual and exceptional pursuit; and I know of no better illustration...
Insurance maps of the Warehouses, &c. in Brooklyn, 1861
William Perris was a first in producing fire insurance maps for Brooklyn. The Great fires in 1835 and 1845 that destroyed large sections of the New York City made it clear to insurers the utility of knowing what buildings were made of and what...
Cowhey Marine Hardware, c. 1862 - 2006
Cowhey Marine Hardware operated in Red Hook for about 150 years. The rump remains of the business was at 440 Van Brunt Street, the northwest corner of Van Brunt and Beard Street, and closed in 2005. Cowhey donated their final inventory to...
RMC Canvas and Rope
The staff of RMC Canvas and Rope, posing by their hand-made rope fender. This Red Hook company ended its long run serving the maritime industry in 2005.
Lidgerwood Manufacturing Company, founded 1873
In the Spring and Summer of 2019 most of the historic Lidgerwood building was torn down to make way a UPS e-commerce warehouse. Community action was not able to save the complete facade but as of a July 9, 2019 meeting, UPS has proposed...
Oral History: John Gladsky, marine salvage, the demise of the Todd Shipyard. 2005
John Gladsky is the definition of a colorful old salt. He is a marine salvor and the principal of Gladsky Marine and has an old-time Long Island accent. His oral history expresses nostalgia for the Todd Shipyard and criticism of public policy that...
Bush Street & Columbia Street, 1938
A view of Bush Street, east from Columbia Street. On the corner is the Erie Brass Foudry, which which specialized in the making of brass castings for use by local shipyards. It was owned and operated by William Mulligan from the late...
Street address: Bush Street & Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY
Auditore Jas. and Sons
Auditore Jas. and Sons, based at 14 Hamilton Avenue in the 1920s, were in the stevedoring business, loading and unloading ships. They also provided coal and berthing for steamers.