Discovering Brooklyn: Prospect Heights – Part 2

Welcome back to our monthly series covering all of Brooklyn from Greenpoint to Sea Gate. This month we are continuing our tour of Prospect Heights while venturing into a Brooklyn beauty – Prospect Park.

Before we begin our tour, OurBKSocial again thanks the awesome Prospect Heights businesses that provided fantastic prizes for the winners of Discovering Brooklyn’s First Anniversary Contest: BCakeNY – 702 Washington Ave. b/t St. Marks Ave. & Prospect Pl., Elberta Restaurant & Bar – 335 Flatbush Ave. b/t Carlton & 7th Aves., Brooklyn Flavors – 820 Washington Ave. b/t St. Johns & Lincoln Pls., and Tatem Acupuncture & Wellness – 285 Flatbush Ave. b/t Prospect Pl. & St. Marks Ave.

We also congratulate three loyal readers and extraordinary contest winners:

1. Tanika Fisher – $100 BCakeNY Gift Card
2. Anecia Foreman – Dinner for 2 with African wine at Elberta Restaurant
3. Belinda Neal – Prospect Heights Gift Box from Brooklyn Flavors
4. The last prize, a $150 voucher towards any service at Tatem Acupuncture & Wellness, will be awarded this month. Share this article on Facebook, like it on Instagram or comment below for a chance to win a wonderfully wholistic value in Prospect Heights.

Now back to touring Prospect Heights. Last month, we ended our journey at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. So from the library, walk over to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch (aka Defenders Arch) at the entrance to Prospect Park. It is huge! At 80 feet tall and 80 feet wide, you can’t miss it. The memorial was built in 1892, and honors the victorious Grand Army of the Republic in the Civil War.

By March of 1863, President Lincoln desperately needed bodies to fight for the Union. He ordered the institution of the draft with the first drawing of names to take place in July. Some say, the law passed by Congress transformed the Civil War into a rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight. John B. Manbeck in his book, “Chronicles of Historic Brooklyn,” says only citizens could be drafted, and at that time citizens had to own property.

Interestingly though, the Democratic political machine had facilitated citizenship for many struggling immigrants in New York. The new law, angered many of these new citizens. You see, the Enrollment Act allowed wealthy white male draftees to conveniently hire a military replacement for a $300 fee. And Blacks were exempt from the draft because they were not considered citizens (remember this took place pre 14th Amendment)

Poor and working-class white men, many of whom were Irish, resented that the rich had a “way out” of the draft. They also feared what emancipation of enslaved African Americans might mean for them – stiffer competition for jobs and a tougher fight for limited resources.These male impotence drugs are instrumental in curing the erectile dysfunction which men viagra generika continue reading my store are constantly fighting with.

Beginning on Monday, July 13, 1863, chaos and bloodshed, known as the Civil War Draft Riots, ravaged the streets of Manhattan. Rioters, at first, damaged government buildings and military sites. But then, angry mobs turned their vicious attacks on the unsuspecting African American community. During these horrific days of extreme violence, Blacks were lynched, murdered, harassed, had their property destroyed, and hundreds were driven out of the City of New York; fortunately, many chose the City of Brooklyn as their safe haven.

Ironically, over 180,000 African Americans and over 150,00 Irish Americans fought for the Union in the Civil War. One can only imagine what the outcome might have been without the enlistment of these brave men. Another interesting point, Sergeant Joseph Clovese, at 108 years old, was the last African American Grand Army Veteran. He died at the Dearborn Veterans Hospital on Friday, July 13, 1951; the 88th anniversary of the first day of the Civil War Draft Riots.

Now mark your calendar! October 17-18, 2015, the 13th Annual Open House New York Weekend unlocks the doors of New York City’s most important buildings and historical sites. Check their website to see what tours are available this year and if the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch is included.

Walk up Flatbush Avenue to Carlton Avenue. Stop at 634 Carlton between Park and Prospect Places. This lovely one family house was once a carriage house. A carriage house was originally built to park horse-drawn carriages. The second floor, of this house built in the late 1800s, was used as a hayloft – a storage area for the horses’ grub.

Take time now to admire the residential architecture of Prospect Heights. Walk up Carlton to St. Marks Avenue over to Vanderbilt Avenue to Bergen Street then over to Underhill Avenue. Take Underhill down to Atlantic Avenue. We are headed to the Barclays Center Sports Arena & Concert Venue – 620 Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush; home of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders.

Barclays officially opened to the public on Friday, September 21, 2012. The following Friday, JAY Z ran this town with eight consecutive sold out performances at the arena. Since then, Barclays continues to host world renown performers, exciting and relevant shows, conventions, and special events. For your connivence, purchase discounted Barclays Center tickets right here on the site.

From Barclays walk down Flatbush Avenue to Plaza Street West, we will enter Prospect Park there. If you are hungry, stop along the way. Flatbush Avenue offers several wonderful restaurant choices.

Before entering, take a breath; Prospect Park is a very beautiful Brooklyn landmark. It provides neighbors, visitors, and friends, with 585 acres of lush meadows, deep forests, and lovely bodies of water. In 1865, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed this masterpiece. We leave you here to experience the park with other nature lovers. Take your time and remember to visit the Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park Audubon Center, the Lefferts Historic House, the Carousel, and the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. Relax, enjoy and meet you next month in Gowanus.