Industry

(Red Hook, Brooklyn): A shipping yard depot with pre-Civil War Era warehouses. The Dutch established the village of (Roode Hoek) in 1636, one of the earliest areas of Brooklyn to be settled. Named for its red clay soil and the shape of its peninsular corner projecting into the East River. Geographically, the projecting land mass made the area exceptionally vulnerable during the Revolutionary War. Fort Defiance was the center point during the Battle of Brooklyn, the first major battle after the Declaration of Independence was signed in July. After the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, New York was in an essential position of commerce. Sailors coming and going would dock in Red Hook between voyages. In the 20th century, shipping became largely containerized and the “sailortown” boom was starting to bust. Automated container lifts (pictured above) started replaced skilled labor and labor disputes / protests followed. Fast forward to the early 2000s and the ports also were used for cruise ship terminals during the ‘Bloomberg era’. Red Hook remains a community on the margin and draws both corporate companies (IKEA, Amazon, Tesla) looking for large spaces, and the opposing artists, musicians, actors and people in search of affordable rents and larger spaces. In the 80s and 90s many folk from the Lower East Side’s art community began turning up in Red Hook. The area is not served well by public transportation but is surrounded by water and a strong sense of community identity.