HISTORY: HUNTERS POINT

History -- Pre-20th Century

The Hunters Point area was once a rocky outcrop that sloped down to the surrounding low-lying marshlands and meadows that were inundated daily by the East River tides. The first land grant in the area was awarded by the Dutch government at New Amsterdam to Everard Bogardus in 1643. The grant covered about 130 acres that came to be known as Dominies Hook. The hook was a spit of land that extended out from the shoreline. In 1645, approximately 150 acres of land north of the Bogardus grant were granted to Andresisen de Schoorsteenveger, and about 100 acres east of Dutch Kills were granted to Richard Brutnall.

During the Colonial period, ownership of the Hunters Point lands changed hands a number of times. The name Dominies Hook was dropped and the area became known as Bennetts Hook, after the Bennett family which gained sole title to the hook in 1780. In 1817, Anna Bennett inherited the land from her father. Her husband, Captain George Hunter, shared in the bequest; thus, the area eventually came to be known as Hunters Point.

Throughout the early 1800’s, the area remained undeveloped; the only substantial structure was Captain Hunter’s house on the shore of the Newtown Creek. The largest farms in the area belonged to the Hunter and Van Alst families. In 1835, a good portion of the Hunters Point lands were purchased by Jeremiah Johnson – a specialist in reclaiming submerged lands – who quickly turned title over to a group of developers, including Dr. Eliphalet Nott, the founder of Union College; Neziah Bliss; Jonathan Crane; and Charles Ely. Crane and Ely were the real estate managers. In 1840, the Vernon Turnpike – now known as Vernon Boulevard – was constructed. The road ran north and south, paralleling the East River shoreline and linking the settlements of Ravenswood, Hallets Point, and, south across the Newtown Creek into Williamsburg.

In about 1852, Crane and Ely graded the original Hunters farm and staked out streets. In 1853, Crane and Ely applied for and were granted by the State of New York the rights to develop the riparian areas of Hunters Point, specifically the area where the Newtown Creek met the East River. Crane and Ely soon filled this tidal area with the sands from an adjacent hill. Subsequent to this filling and bulkheading of the river, shipbuilding and manufacturing businesses began operations along the East River.

The Village of Hunters Point soon emerged along the Vernon Turnpike, centered at what is today the intersection of Vernon Boulevard and Borden Avenue. In 1854, the Flushing Railroad was extended to Hunters Point. The rail lines terminated on the East River, at present-day 54th Avenue and 5th Street. The railroad was built to improve transportation between Flushing and Manhattan. At its East River terminus were ferries that ran between Hunters Point and Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan.

Queens West Development Corporation
A subsidiary of Empire State Development Corporation

Empire State Development Corporation


HISTORY: HUNTERS POINT

History -- Pre-20th Century The Hunters Point area was once a rocky outcrop that sloped down to the surrounding low-lying marshlands and meadows that were inundated daily by the East River tides. The first land grant in the area was awarded by the Dutch government at New Amsterdam to Everard Bogardus in 1643. The grant covered about 130 acres that came to be known as Dominies Hook. The hook was a spit of land that extended out from the shoreline. In 1645, approximately 150 acres of land north of the Bogardus grant were granted to Andresisen de Schoorsteenveger, and about 100 acres east of Dutch Kills were granted to Richard Brutnall. During the Colonial period, ownership of the Hunters Point lands changed hands a number of times. The name Dominies Hook was dropped and the area became known as Bennetts Hook, after the Bennett family which gained sole title to the hook in 1780. In 1817, Anna Bennett inherited the land from her father. Her husband, Captain George Hunter, shared in the bequest; thus, the area eventually came to be known as Hunters Point.



Throughout the early 1800’s, the area remained undeveloped; the only substantial structure was Captain Hunter’s house on the shore of the Newtown Creek. The largest farms in the area belonged to the Hunter and Van Alst families. In 1835, a good portion of the Hunters Point lands were purchased by Jeremiah Johnson – a specialist in reclaiming submerged lands – who quickly turned title over to a group of developers, including Dr. Eliphalet Nott, the founder of Union College; Neziah Bliss; Jonathan Crane; and Charles Ely. Crane and Ely were the real estate managers. In 1840, the Vernon Turnpike – now known as Vernon Boulevard – was constructed. The road ran north and south, paralleling the East River shoreline and linking the settlements of Ravenswood, Hallets Point, and, south across the Newtown Creek into Williamsburg. In about 1852, Crane and Ely graded the original Hunters farm and staked out streets. In 1853, Crane and Ely applied for and were granted by the State of New York the rights to develop the riparian areas of Hunters Point, specifically the area where the Newtown Creek met the East River. Crane and Ely soon filled this tidal area with the sands from an adjacent hill. Subsequent to this filling and bulkheading of the river, shipbuilding and manufacturing businesses began operations along the East River.



The Village of Hunters Point soon emerged along the Vernon Turnpike, centered at what is today the intersection of Vernon Boulevard and Borden Avenue. In 1854, the Flushing Railroad was extended to Hunters Point. The rail lines terminated on the East River, at present-day 54th Avenue and 5th Street. The railroad was built to improve transportation between Flushing and Manhattan. At its East River terminus were ferries that ran between Hunters Point and Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan.




Queens West Development Corporation A subsidiary of Empire State Development Corporation Empire State Development Corporation