View Larger Map
Taking Richmond Terrace westbound heading toward Mariner's Harbor and points beyond, at West New Brighton, right past Broadway, there's a great northward bend in the road. On a low rise on the south side of the road is an old factory building that is the beginning of an industrial and commercial area. Part of me always wondered what that factory made in the sooty days of its youth. Now I know (and you will too), thanks to my new found map friends.
It was the part of the C.W. Hunt Company. According to the NYPL website, the firm were "manufacturers of railway freight cars, coal handling equipment, and related machinery".
View Larger Map
This building appears to have been the boiler house. I assume it's where engine boilers were cast.
View Larger Map
These buildings were all part of the C.W. Hunt Co.'s factory once in a long ago past of red hot iron sparks and clanging machinery and coal dust.
at the south west corner
ReplyDeleteof Richmond Terrace and Broadway was
a dinner owned by my grandparents
during WW2. I used to visit
relatives in the old Markham Gardens
Project back in the 60's. Thanks for the memories.
Steam boilers weren't cast, but instead were made up of very thick metal plate that would be riveted together. If that's the "boiler house" as you say, the more likely that location held two, maybe three coal boilers which were used to provide power for the plant. Back in the very early days of industry, companies would use belt systems powered by these overhead pulleys. Those belt systems needed to have power from somewhere, and steam was the best choice. I doubt the original boilers are in place in that building, but it would be interesting none the less to find out.
ReplyDeleteI actually figured I was wrong about the nature of the boiler house and the work done there. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteAnd it would be interesting to see what remnants are left inside those buildings marking the past.