Crown Heights architect Michael Cetera kneels on Clove Road, where he says historical artifacts from the 1770s should be unearthed.
A revolutionary war is brewing in Crown Heights.
Neighborhood activists hope an archaeological excavation will unearth Revolutionary War artifacts beneath Clove Road, a tiny, crumbling street.
Locals Hope to Unearth Revolutionary War Artifacts on Clove Rd
A revolutionary war is brewing in Crown Heights.
Neighborhood activists hope an archaeological excavation will unearth Revolutionary War artifacts beneath Clove Road, a tiny, crumbling street.
The dig will be launched this summer – despite a study that was lukewarm on whether the street was an American outpost from the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn.
“This is not your average street,” said Community Board 9 District Manager Pearl Miles. “There’s more than meets the eye.”
But not everybody is happy about the impending dig – mostly nearby residents who say it will be dangerous and disruptive.
“How is it going to help me?” said Dvorah Eidelman, 41, a mother of eight who lives on Malbone St., which intersects with Clove Road. “It’s going to be a mess. My children are young and they’re going to run around. It could be dangerous.”
The 2002 report by the RBA Group, a private engineering and architectural firm hired by the city, found that 800 American soldiers guarded the road – then known as the Bedford Pass – in August 1776 before retreating from advancing British forces.
Even though evidence was thin that important archeological objects would be found, the report concluded the dig should go forward because it “would enhance our understanding of American defenses in Brooklyn” and “provide a glimpse” of how camp life was for the troops.
The city Transportation Department wanted to reconstruct Clove Road – a one-block stretch of cobblestones, cracked pavement and potholes – but halted its plans to wait to see what the 2002 study would find.
The project languished until Councilwoman Letitia James (WFP-Prospect Heights) provided $200,000 to fund it last year.
Neighbors have complained that the street has deteriorated during the wait for a dig that might not yield anything important.
“The street looks like a Third World country,” said Solomon Neubort, 42, a lawyer on Malbone St. “You may be imposing a great burden on residents of the streets without much of a payback.”
Advocates said the road, which was also part of a 19th century route between Brooklyn’s jail and mental hospital, needs recognition – even if archaeologists don’t uncover anything.
“Somewhere near here was a battle or event that is not being properly commemorated,” said Michael Cetera, 64, a Crown Heights architect who has called for turning Clove Road into a park or pedestrian path. “We’re trying to reconstruct history.”
sam
the stae has no money to pay for plice gurds but they found money for this project just dont get it but a lot of things dont make sence
Ok...
Michael Cetera??
sholom ber
idiots, it’s their country and their history.
if the reverse were to happen in jerusalem you would all scream antisemeitism
stupid
Why are they wasting their time and MONEY!!!!!
Mendy Hecht
Why were 800 soldiers guarding a one-block-long road?
Spell Checker
To #1:
I’ll tell you what doesnt make sense is how you managed to botch up the english language and somehow manage to string together some misspelled words.
How aren’t you embarrassed to not know proper English and grammar?!? How old are you? Bocher? Yungerman? Married with kids? LEARN TO SPELL! If that’s too hard, at least use spell check. ALL web browsers have it these days!!
Shevabrachas
I lived there in the 90’s and it was practically impossible to drive let alone walk on it from the wear & tear and neglect of this stretch which has been used by the huge grocery delivery trucks trying to maneuver on to the ramp area for that supermarket all these years. Perhaps they might consider opening Malbone Road’s other end to let everyone have access to the police station and onto the web of roads. Strange that even the trolley’s of Brooklyn’s yesteryears had the need to use this little stretch from Empire Blvd to Montgomery St.
Whatever would be one of the reasons the city is going to let them attempt this whether or not there will be any historical treasures. So be it. The kids will have a good time outside and away from there computer games with, cough-cough, some fresh air to watch the diggers make their holes.
Avraham Yosef Follick
It was a pass through the hills that Crown HEIGHTS were a part of. The British army was to the south and the Americans were to the north guarding the approaches to New York City. The British army outflanked the Americans by going through Jamaica pass in modern day Queens and attacked the American garrison at Clove Road from the rear (from where Montgomery is now). It was not one of the Continental Army’s finer moments.
Letitia James poor decision
From what I hear about Letitia James in these once in a while reports she sounds like a disaster of a politician and makes poor choices. Is this where we should be spending our tax dollars at a time like this?!!!
I think the digging is a positive thing and unlike the woman quoted in the story I don’t think every scientific or historic project must be prefaced by answering the question “how is it going to help little Miss Jones” but the artifacts, if there have been there for more than two centuries. Waiting a little more due to the economical sensitivities of those who cannot fathom this kind of discretionary spending at such a difficult time would be in order.
sholom ber
“Christians Protest Excavation of King Solomon-era Tunnel and Jews Accuse them of Anti-Semitism
JERUSALEM
Christian activists protest…“How is it going to help me?” said Dvorah Eidelman, 41, a mother of eight who lives on Rechov Hayerushalmi, which intersects with Clove Road. “It’s going to be a mess. My children are young and they’re going to run around. It could be dangerous.”
Been To Ukraine
You’ve never been to a 3rd world country! Clove rode is paradise compared to some roads in 3rd world countries like Ukraine
Patriot
The Battle of Brooklyn was a great historic event in the fight against Britian. Gen. Washington was the Commander of the Battle. If they plan to dig the street up to repair it, why not take the added effort to sift through the soil beneath the road and see if their are any artifacts there? If they just tear everything apart, lay rebar and concrete down nothing will be discovered and any historical artifacts will be destroyed forever. You live in America- take pride in America. If you don’t like it here go to another country.