Flatbush History

History

Flatbush, Brooklyn is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it is one of the six original towns in Brooklyn, founded in as a part of Kings County and its name comes from the Dutch word Vladbos, which translates to “heavily wooded area.” Flatbush was originally a Dutch Nieuw Netherland Colony, and was also known as a Midwout (with Flatbush and Midwout being used interchangeably, however, the area directly south of Flatbush is known as Midwood.) Early Dutch style structures remain as reminders of the time when Flatbush was a completely different world than as we see it today.

Flatbush was incorporated into the city of Brooklyn in 1894. Four years later it was consolidated into new areas of Greater New York in 1898. By the early 1900s, it had developed suburbs and multistory apartment buildings were soon erected.^[1]

Flatbush is filed with landmarks. In Flatbush that Erasmus Hall High School still stands as a fully functioning public school. Enclosed in the Erasmus courtyard is the original 18th century wooden frame Academy, the oldest secondary school in New York. Erasmus Hall High School was built in four stages between the years 1905 and 1940 by architect C.B.J. Snyder, who was well known for his work designing public schools in the 20th century. Another famous school in Flatbush is P.S. 90, which, in 2007, was declared a historical landmark. The 129-year-old building is said to be a representation and reminder of the independent agricultural town days, mostly due to its age and importance to the community. A school of Erasmus’ size and structure design claims a lot of cultural respect of the town and its simplicity only enhances it. Other historic landmarks include the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church and the Flatbush Town Hall. Ebbets Field was once there, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers but was torn down in 1960. Flatbush, Brooklyn is located on the Island of Long Island. It was one of the 6 original towns in Brooklyn. It is part of King’s County and it’s name comes from the Dutch word Vladbos, which means a heavily wooded area. Flatbush was originally a Dutch Nieuw Netherland Colony, and was also known as Midwout. (The names Midowout and Flatbush were used interchangeably. Presently, the area directly under Flatbush is known as Midwood.) Many early Dutch structures remain as reminders of the time when Flatbush was so incredibly different from the Flatbush we know today.

Flatbush was incorporated into Brooklyn City in 1894, and, only four years later, was consolidated into the city of Greater New York in 1898. By the early 1900’s it has developed into suburbs, and multistory apartments soon developed. Flatbush is riddled with landmarks. It is in Flatbush that Erasmus Hall High School still stands erect and still functioning. Enclosed in the Erasmus courtyard is the original 18th century wooden frame Academy, the oldest secondary school in New York State. Erasmus hall high school was built in four stages between the years 1905 and 1940 by architect C.B.J. Snyder, who was well known for his work designing public schools in the 20th century. Another famous school in Flatbush is P.S. 90, which, in 2007, was declared a historical landmark. The 129 year-old building is said to be a representation and reminder of the independent agricultural town days. Other historic landmarks include the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church, the Flatbush Town Hall, and Ebbets Field, which was once the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. (For more see “Landmarks” under “Culture”.)^[2]

References

1. ↑ http://www.longislandexchange.com/brooklynqueens/flatbush.html
2. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, Profile of Select Housing Characteristics: 2000, http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=86000US11203&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP4&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on