B/Q is a view on Newtown Creek, English Kills and Dutch Kills the industry, cemeteries, and small neighborhoods that comprise the Brooklyn Queen’s border. To understand more about B/Q check out the Introduction and text.
Garbage Barge, Oil Tanks, Greenpoint Incinerator & Newtown CreekThe old Greenpoint Incinerator, in the background was closed as a polluter, and even more trash was transferred to barges which were used to take trash out to Fresh Kills.Dutch Kills, Shredded Cars, Waste Transfer Station & Greenpoint Incinerator, Long Island City, QueensThe car shredder and Greenpoint Sewage plant in the 1980s, didn't have all the stringent environmental rules that have been put into effect along the Creek.
The sewage plant is completely redone, the incinerator is gone. Nue Schnitzer still runs a metals recycling operation, but under strict environmental rules, even using netting to cover the barges.Dutch Kills, Nue Schnitzer Metals, 2009Through strigent environmental rules, the car shredding continues, the Incinerator has been demolished, trash is taken by barge to Fresh Kills.Maspeth Creek & Newtown Creek Junction, Sunken Boat &Phelps Dodge PlantThis is where Maspeth Creek joins Newton Creek. It's high, slack tide so it appears as one, but at low tide the two creeks are clearly visible.
This would be where Furman's Island was, and this is the sunset view west that he loved. Seeing the sooty writing on the wall, Mr. Furman sold his island to industrial concers, and left for higher ground, still in Queens.Newtown Creek, Greenpoint Tanks, WTC and Downtown Manhattan along Newtown Creek.The summer of 2001 were a time of change for many. Both the Tanks and the Towers fell during a time of prosperity in the city.Calvaary Cemetery, Kocsiosko Bridhge, Greenpoint Tanks, BQEIn June, the setting sun illuminates the Tanks and BQE, both of which are gone. The Koscisako Bridge has been replaced by a cable-stayed structure, but the Tanks, the Greenpoint Holders, symbols of indiustrial north Brooklyn and south Queens, are gone.G & G Diner, Queens, night, rainAcross from Dutch Kills and under the Long Island Expressway, it was torn down and is simply a fenced-in lot today.Homes, 54th Ave., Laurel Hill, Queens - GoneHomes, Locust Street, Queens, snow and dramatic aky.The home on the right is now gone, the one on the left lasted .the longest and was This is the Laurel Hill sub-neighborhood where homes are dwarfed by industry, cemeteries and infrastructure.Home-made sign warning dumpers to stya out of Blissville, a small Queens neighborhood along Newtown CreekIn the eighties, whatever residents there were, would try their best to protect their homes.Razor Wire in English Kills at Low TideRazor wire at low tide in English Kills, off Newtown CreekDutch Kills at Borden Ave. Retractable Bridge, Long Island City, QueensTrash, pollution and waste in Dutch Kills next to the Dutch Kills swing bridgeZion Cemetery, Maspeth, QueensZion Cemetery, Queens210,000 people have been buried here since 1893 and the Maspeth neighborhood grew around it. Behind me is the massive New Calvalry Cemetery across the street on 58th Street.Snowman, 37th St., Blissville, QueensAcross the strret from Calvary Cemetery, a snowman made of toxic waste and rubbish across from Calvary Cemetery.Sunken Car, English KillsIt was a common paractice - disposing of cars in the Kills. And they got in there under all sorts of circumstances, The area was perfect for racing, particularly along Review Street beween the cemetery and factories that line the Creek. People have launched their cars into the Creek while racing, then there is the glee of pure vandalism and stealing cars. Then there's the guy who, got off work, was partying in the lot next to English Kills, and, when he went to drive out, his car was not in reverse and he landed in the Kills.
This is the eighties and all the vehicles have been scrapped by 2002.Duck on Garbage, English KillsTaken in 1998, there were, of course, the occasional waterfowl, but not exactly a nature preserve, for good reason.Barrel & Assorted Waste, East Branch Terminus, Newtown CreekWaste Container, East Branch Terminus, Newtown CreekThe Terminus dead-ended at the Western Beef facility and a number of produce plants and markets.Bag, East Branch, Newtown CreekIt's becoming more difficult to find that sort of sentiment along the Creek these days.English Kills at Its Terminus, Raft of Human Waste & GarbageMontauk Swing Bridge Over Dutch Kills, Greenpoint Incinerator, Long Island City, QueensHunter Ave. Bridge & LIE Bridge Over Dutch KillsKosciosko Bridge & Phelps Dodge Plant, Newtown CreekThe bridge carries a huge load of traffic and is often clogged. Even in the eighties, although the seventies were even worse when rendering of animas still took place under the bridge, the smell from rendering plants, copper smelting and chemicals enevelped the bridge, and if you were stuck in traffic, it's windows up.Underneath the Kosciosko BridgePhelps Dodge Plant - Built 1911, Closed, 1985, Demolished, 2001A copper refinery in New York City? In my lifetime, yes.Calvary Cemetery, BQE & Kosciosko BridgeOn October 29, 1845 Old St. Patrick's Cathedral trustees had purchased 71 acres of land from John McMenoy and John McNolte in Maspeth and this land was used to develop Calvary Cemetery. Home & New York Crane Yard, 43rd St., Laurel Hill, QueensZion Cemetery, Maspeth QueensThe shot was taken in a one hour exposure on film. The incinerator, like the one in Greenpoint, was closed in the eighties but never demolished.
It's the area that was favored, they say, by the tribes who inhabited the area because of its elevation and distance from the Creek. At 210,00 burials it's a small Queens cemetery by acreage, but they do pack them in, beginning in 1893.Long Island Railroad Float Bridge, Hunters Point, Long Island City - Built 1911, Closed 1984 & Rehabbed in the 1990s.New Calvary Cemetery in Moonlight, Maspeth, QueensCalvary Cemetery has its new and old sections, when combined, has over three million burials. Both contain so many working-class families, it explains the make-up of the city during the 1800s up until today.
That doesn't mean the important individuals are not buried here, but are really outnumbered greatly with locals from Queens and Brooklyn dominating.English KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsHouse, 54th Drive, Laurel Hill, QueensVery much tucked into businesses, the home itself has an industrial look.Home & Crane Yard, 43rd St., Laurel Hill, QueensThere is one home on either end of the crane yard and one is still there today.House, 54th Drive, Laurel Hill, QueensVery much tucked into businesses, the home itself has an industrial look.Jackson Street, East WilliamsburgA resident checks last light towards the Greenpoint Hospital, Tanks and the Brooklyn Union Gas Little League Field.Greenpoint Holders, Brooklyn Union Gas Little League Field, East WilliamsburgThe Broklyn Union Gas Little League Park, is situated in the Beadel Street enclave of north Greenpoint, consisting of two blocks of row houses.Downtown Manhattan & TanksThe skyline of Manhattan and Greenpoint had significant changes occur diring the summer of 2001.Tanks & Abandoned Gas Tanks, Review Street, BlissvilleA dilapidated toxic tank farm is not an appropriate place to dump gas tanks, although it was the right theme.Goose & Pig, Construction Yard, 53rd Ave., Laurel Hill, QueensOutsider art, outside in Laurel Hill, Queens.Television Set in English KillsThat's about it, ain't it?Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Cree, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creke, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creek, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creke, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.Maspeth CreekA huge tunnel carries what's left of Maspeth Creke, emerging close to its junction with Newtown Creek.English Kills, Various MetalsEnglish Kills. Shopping Cart, Pallet & I-BeamEnglish Kills, Upside Down Sunken CarMaspeth Creek, Sunken Car at SunsetEnglish Kills, Encrusted Shopping CartYou get an idea of the size of these plumes, the plumage was significant.Newtown Creek, East Branch, TireEnglish Kills, SinkEverything imagineable made its way to the creek, including sinks. You can clearly see the contaminants being sucked out be the tide.English KillsEnglish Kills, Tire Rim & I-beamEnglish Kills, Shopping Cart, Pallet and MetalsEnglish Kills, Shopping Cart, Pallet and MetalsVacuum Cleaners, Maspeth Avenue, Queens SideEnglish KillsDead Dog on Tracks Under Kosciosko Bridge in QueensEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsGreenpoint, The Corner of Huron & ProvostProvost Street runs along the western edge of the sewage plant, and is industrial with a small mix of homes until McGuiness Boulevard. The sewers would back up in a heavy rain, so that the local flow is visible on the street, some sort of red chemical?Greenpoint, Provost StreetThese are separate industrial polluters on the west side ofb Provost Street. The entire east side is taken uo by the Greenpoint Sewage Plant.G & G Diner, 27th Street, Long Island CityAcross from Dutch Kills and under the Long Island Expressway gone and not forgotten.Home, Maujer Street, East WilliamsburgThe home of a retired fireman, he was 94 years old when i took this picture and was still living in his home.Tanks & Abandoned gas tanks, Review Street, BlissvilleA dilapidated toxic tank farm is not an appropriate place to dump gas tanks, although it was the right theme.Greenpoint Holders, English KillsShot from the English Kills Bobtail Bridge near the terminus of this Kill, and the furthest that the Creek penetrates into Brooklyn and Queens.LIE Bridge Over Dutch Kills, Greenpoint Incinerator, Looking SouthKosciosko Bridge & Phelps Dodge Plant, Newtown CreekThe bridge carries a huge load of traffic and is often clogged. Even in the eighties, although the seventies were even worse when rendering of animas still took place under the bridge, the smell from rendering plants, copper smelting and chemicals enevelped the bridge, and if you were stuck in traffic it was windowes up.English Kills, East Branch Bottoms, Low TideEnglish Kills, East Branch Bottoms, Low TideEnglish Kills, East Branch Bottoms, Low TideEnglish Kills, East Branch Bottoms, Low TideEnglish Kills, East Branch Bottoms, Low TideOnce the bottoms become exposed, through the process of, the two centuries of chemicals, stratified in the mud zone below the entire area, is sucked to the surface.
English Kills, Various MetalsEnglish Kills, Television & Razor WireEnglish Kills, Sunken Car & A Bag of ChipsEnglish KillsSports Car at Low Tide, Maspeth CreekCars that were driven into the Creeks and Kills was a common site here. People also accidentally ended up in the waters through drag-racing, carelessness and just being too highMetals, Tire Rims, Shopping Cart & Bicycle in English KillsEnglish KillsPenny Bridge, Newtown Creek, Greenpoint Underground Gas Spill Release SitePenny Bridge, Newtown Creek, Greenpoint Underground Gas Spill Release SiteEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish KillsEnglish Kills East Branch Terminus at Western Beef, Maspeth, QueensThe Grand Street Movable Bridge and Tanks are in the background.
The Terminus meant that surface trash and water would become trapped in waterways that were dead-ends, and cut off from any source of moving and fresh water.Maspeth Creek & Newtown Creek Junction, Kosciosko Bridge, Phelps Dodge PlantLooking west.First Calvary Cemetery, BQE & Tanks, Laurel Hill & Blissville, QueensOn October 29, 1845 Old St. Patrick's Cathedral trustees had purchased 71 acres of land from John McMenoy and John McNolte in Maspeth and this land was used to develop Calvary Cemetery. Calvary Cemetery & CranesG & G Diner, 27th Street, Long Island CityAcross from Dutch Kills and under the Long Island Expressway, it was torn down and is simply a fenced-in lot today.Homes, Maujer Street, East WilliamsburgPeople lived here and worked near-by. One guy i got to know, who lived there was a master printer. That means he made good money, but still preferred this neighborhood.Homes, Locust St., Laurel Hill, QueensHomeless Shack at Maspeth CreekIt would take a certain type of homeless person to be able to dwell next to Maspeth Creek where it joins Newtown Creek. When the shot was taken it was a major stink zone and collector of toxins. In fact human activity beyond working was pretty much nonexistent out here, except for youthful vandals and photographers.Timber & Iron WallParallel to the Creek, below the Grenpoint Avenue Bridge, an ancient wall remains.English Kills, Sewer OutletBarrel & Assorted Waste, East Branch Terminus, Newtown CreekEnglish KillsEnglish KillsGreenpoint Incinerator, 1986The incinerator in operation. It was closed for its pollution by 1987 and was later demolished. A good source of mercury vapors and smoke for my neighborhood.Zion Cemetery, Maspeth Queens210,000 burialsLong Island Railroad Float Bridge, Hunters Point, Long Island City - Built 1911, Closed 1984, Demolished 2004Greenpoint Holders, English KillsThe Tanks From English Kills Bobtail Swing Bridge over English KillsFireworks, July 4, 2004, Calvary Cemetry3.1 million burials at the New & Old Calavary Cemtery in Queens.Home, Maujer Street, East WilliamsburgThe home of a retired fireman, he was 94 years old when i took this picture and was still living in his home.Calvary Cemetery, Crosses & ESBGreenpoint Holders, English KillsShot from the English Kills Bobtail Bridge near the terminus of this Kill, and the furthest that the Creek penetrates into Brooklyn and Queens.
