O for Old Stone House

The O in GOWANUS is for the Old Stone House in my series of drawings for the next Gowanus Nite Market.  I found this on Google Maps, just looking for something that began with an "O," and took pictures later.  According to it's website, it's a "reconstructed 1699 Dutch farmhouse that was central to the Battle of Brooklyn.  The Old Stone House is a museum and community resource that explores the American Revolution, colonial life and Brooklyn."

The Battle of Brooklyn took place in August 1776 and was the first and largest battle in the Revolutionary War.  Basically, tons of British were based in the house and fired upon the Americans, led by Colonel William Smallwood. The Americans regained the house twice, but ultimately were defeated by the British with severe casualties.  General Washington admired his soldiers' bravery and fierce fighting that day.

The Old Stone House is in Park Slope in the middle of the Washington Park & JJ Byrne Playground at 4th Ave. and 3rd St. in Brooklyn, so it's technically on the edge of Gowanus, but it's so historic and cool that I wanted to share this bit of history with everyone.  If you want to visit and learn more about the Battle of Brooklyn, it's open Saturdays and Sundays from 11AM-4PM.

G for Gowanus!

I'm back to drawing for the Gowanus Nite Market again!  The next market is next Saturday January 12!  This week I'm trying a new theme:  GOWANUS has 7 letters, and I'll post a new letter each day that has a picture that starts with that letter.  I went around Gowanus taking pictures one night to find lots of things that began with all the letters.  Super cold, but super fun like a scavenger hunt!  The first letter is G for the G train.  The G has its quirks:  it's a few car lengths shorter than the other trains, it's the only train that is only in Brooklyn & Queens and doesn't go to Manhattan, and I've heard some refer to it as the "Ghost Train."  According to Wikipedia, the G's original name was the GG and started service in 1933.  Today, most people hate the G train because it's royally messed up on the weekends due to construction and is super slow at night.  However, most times I've taken the G during the day it's been fine.  Whatever your feelings are about the G train, it's a part of Gowanus and part of your life in Brooklyn.