Dead Horse Bay


February 12, 2008 -

Dead Horse Bay lies at the southern edge of Brooklyn, across the street from Floyd Bennett Airfield. It is one of the oldest industrial areas in Brooklyn. A millstone from a 17th century Dutch mill still can be found inland, just off the shore. Dead Horse Bay's name comes from the carcasses that would wash up on its shores from a nearby horse rendering plant. Once a marshland, the area was slowly filled with rubbish. This landfill was capped after the refuse of the 1920's and 1930's filled the marsh. In the 1950's, the cap burst, spewing the artifacts of a different era onto the beach. Now glass bottles, shoe leather, plastic toys, old bones and handguns lie revealed along the waters edge.






















5 comments:

  1. This is a really nice set. I've been slowly making my way over in this direction, from Sheepshead Bay in one direction and Marine Park in the other. That part of Brooklyn is just so lonely and ruined, it's amazing.

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  2. These are great pictures... I didn't know about Dead Horse Bay but find it captivating. A littered beach would normally be depressing but there is something special about this rubbish from another day and age.

    The story behind the name Dead Horse Bay is also very interesting (though a bit disturbing). Thanks for sharing. There is always something that interests me on your blog.

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  3. I love your post and mainly the picture of the bay.

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  4. I did a post about Floyd Bennett Field and dead Horse Bay and came upon your blog in a search for information. Your photos are fabulous and your blog is very interesting.

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  5. I can not believe these photos. For years I was trying to remember where it was that I had this specific memory of "which was a beach with so many bottles on it". I grew up in Brooklyn and this is the place I could not remember from so long ago. Thank you so much! Your work is lovely and mind jogging. :o)

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