creekMarkers

Coney Island's 26-acre Kaiser Park, the neighborhood's largest park, was built in the 1930s atop a former mudflat on Coney Island Creek. Last week, a series of informational plaques designed and created by Charles Denson were installed on the creek side of the park. The Coney Island History Project received a grant from Partnerships for Parks to create a self-guided walking tour brochure and markers for the Coney Island CreekWalk at Kaiser Park. The brochures debuted in April, when Mr. Denson gave a slide-talk about Coney Island Creek's history and future followed by a short walking tour of the creekfront at Kaiser Park. The CreekWalk at Kaiser Park is a starting point for experiencing the creek's ecology and history, including the fishing pier, ship graveyard (including the wreck of the Yellow Submarine), wildlife, sand dunes, and other points of interest. Charles Denson's forthcoming book on Coney Island Creek will cap his 45-year documentation of this fascinating waterway.

posted Jul 20th, 2012 in News and tagged with

heritageAward

Coney Island History Project Executive Director Charles Denson, who grew up in and has documented Coney's West End, received the Coney Island Heritage Award from the Amethyst Women's Project and citations from the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate for his work as a historian, photographer and author. Pictured above at the Awards Ceremony at Amethyst Street Fair on June 29 are Alec Brook-Krasny, New York State Assembly Member; Diane Savino, New York State Senator; Charles Denson, Coney Island History Project Executive Director; Aida Leone, Amethyst Women's Project Executive Director; and Rev. Connie Mobley, Pastor of United Community Baptist Church.

"We honor and thank you for your tireless effort and dedication," says the citation from the State Assembly. "As a person who gives exemplary service to their communities, whether through participation in voluntary programs, through unique personal achievement in their professional or other endeavors or simply through a lifetime of good citizenry."

posted Jul 20th, 2012 in News and tagged with

The Coney Island History Project is pleased to announce the upcoming photo exhibit "Abe Feinstein: 50 Years of Coney Island Photography," on view from June 2 through July 1.

Abe Feinstein

Photographing Coney Island became Abe Feinstein’s passion after he moved there with his family in 1962. For the next half century he documented the neighborhood's fast changing streetscape on a daily basis. Part archeologist, part photojournalist, Feinstein presents a body of work that is not overly sentimental or nostalgic. His vision is an unblinking yet optimistic look at how the “People’s Playground” was transformed by politics, disasters, and urban renewal. From the last days of Steeplechase Park to the City’s recent controversial redevelopment, Abe Feinstein documented it all.

Abe worked in Manhattan’s Camera Barn, and had access to equipment ranging from small half frame cameras to the best Leicas. 83-year-old Feinstein is still a prolific shooter who is always experimenting and his photographs of the neighborhood, especially his unique night shots, capture the magic of Coney Island as no one else can.

"Abe Feinstein: 50 Years of Coney Island Photography" will be on view from June 2 through July 1, Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon- 6pm, and by appointment to groups. The Coney Island History Project exhibit center is located at 3059 West 12th Street at the entrance to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, just a few steps off the Boardwalk. For additional information, e-mail events@coneyislandhistory.org.

posted May 11th, 2012 in News and tagged with

Come Meet the First Restored Horse! Saturday, May 5th & Sunday, May 6th 12 noon-4 pm Hosted by the Coney Island History Project

Special Event Features Photo Exhibit and a Contest to Name the First Horse

B & B Carousel

Please vote today and every day till May 21 at Partners in Preservation, http://partnersinpreservation.com/ to help Coney Island's historic carousel win a grant!

On the first weekend of May, the Coney Island History Project will host the "B & B Carousell Open House" in cooperation with the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Come meet and get your photo taken with the first restored horse from Coney Island's beloved Bishoff and Brienstein Carousell! Acquired by the City in 2005, Coney Island's historic B & B Carousell is being restored by Carousels & Carvings in Ohio. Photos and film of the restoration process will be on view at this very special event.

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Charles Denson's photos of the historic 1919 carousel in operation will also be on display along with archival images from the Coney Island History Project.

Visitors to the open house will be able to submit their vote to name this first "reborn" horse! The winner will be announced soon after the event.

The entire carousel will return home in 2013 to a new pavilion next to the Parachute Jump in Steeplechase Plaza, which is currently under construction. Architectural renderings will be on view at the open house.

"Dozens of carousels have left Coney Island forever but the B & B Carousell is the only one to actually leave and come back," said Charles Denson, director of the Coney Island History Project. "The city should be commended for restoring and returning this magnificent icon to its former home so that a new generation can enjoy its kinetic beauty and craftsmanship. The Coney Island History Project is proud to host this event."

The B & B Carousell Open House will be held on May 5 and 6, Saturday and Sunday, from 12 noon till 4:00 pm. Admission is free of charge. The Coney Island History Project's exhibition center is located at 3059 W 12th Street at the entrance to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, just a few steps off the Boardwalk. Our regular exhibition season is from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. The exhibit center is also open year-round for special events, walking tours and by appointment for schools and groups. For additional information visit our website or email events@coneyislandhistory.org.

posted Apr 25th, 2012 in News and tagged with

location
You're invited to preview the Coney Island History Project's exhibition center on Coney Island's opening day of the 2012 season. Located on West 12th Street at the entrance to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, our newly expanded exhibition center--twice the size of last year--will be open from 12 noon to 6 pm on Sunday, April 1. Admission is free of charge. Palm Sunday is the official season opener for Coney Island's rides and attractions. Starting at 11 am with the 34-year-old family tradition of the "Blessing of the Rides," the Vourderis family of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park will host an opening day celebration. Hope to see you at the festivities!

Stop by our exhibit center to view historic artifacts, photographs, maps, ephemera and films of Coney Island's colorful past and preview selections from our 2012 season.

This year's exhibitions will feature never-before-seen vintage films and photos, folk art treasures, and rediscovered wonders from Wonder Wheel Park. Our popular Steeplechase horse from the legendary ride that gave Steeplechase Park its name will be on display again, along with a rare Mangels "Fairy Whip" car and the original Coney Island toll house sign from 1823. Colorful banners depicting honorees of the Coney Island Hall of Fame will also be on display on Jones Walk in Wonder Wheel Park.

You'll find the Coney Island History Project's exhibition center under the Wonder Wheel's iconic entrance sign on Denos D. Vourderis Place (West 12th Street), just a few steps off the Boardwalk. We'll also be open on Easter Sunday and for special events in April and May--visit our Facebook page or follow us on twitter for updates. Our regular exhibition season is from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Hours are 12 to 6 pm on Saturdays, Sunday and holidays. The exhibit center is open year-round by appointment for schools and groups. For additional info, e-mail events@coneyislandhistory.org

posted Mar 22nd, 2012 in News and tagged with

coney island creek
On Tuesday, April 3rd, Charles Denson will give a talk and slide show about Coney Island Creek's history and future to be followed by a short walking tour of the creekfront at Kaiser Park. Held at Kaiser Park House,the event is open to all interested community groups, and stakeholders in the Coney Island area, and anyone who wants to learn about an important and vital estuary, the last remnant of a thousand acre wetland that has disappeared through development.

The focus of the meeting is the creek's relationship to the Coney Island community and the three NYC parks that border the creek: Kaiser Park, Calvert Vaux Park, and Coney Island Creek Park. Everyone is invited to share their views and ideas about the waterway's future.

The talk covers the environmental, recreational, political, and spiritual aspects of the Creek. Denson has documented the creek for over 40 years and is working on a book and film about the waterway.

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"Coney Island as a resort began not on the ocean but on the banks of the Creek nearly two hundred years ago," says Denson."The first hotel, restaurant and amusement park opened on the banks of Coney Island creek, and the history goes back nearly 400 years. The creek has great potential." Charles Denson, Executive Director of the Coney Island History Project, received a grant from the Partnership for Parks to create a self-guided walking tour brochure and a series of informational plaques to be installed on the creek side of Kaiser Park.

Making Waves: Exploring Opportunities Along Kaiser Park Waterfront Tuesday, April 3rd, 3 pm - 5 pm, Kaiser Park House Enter at 29th St and Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11224 Travel directions: B, F, N or Q to Coney Island, Stillwell Avenue. Take the B74 to Mermaid Avenue and West 31st Street. Walk one block north to park. Due to limited seating, this free event requires advance reservations. Please register online via info@coneyislandhistory.org. For additional info phone the Coney Island History Project at 347-702-8553.

The event is organized by Partnership for Parks, Friends of Kaiser Park and the Coney Island History Project.

"Secrets of Coney Island Creek," an exhibit of Charles Denson's photos, is on view in vitrines in the lobby and on the 2nd floor of the Coney Island branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. The library is located on Mermaid Avenue at West 19th Street. Click here for hours and directions.

posted Mar 22nd, 2012 in News and tagged with

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Take a stroll through Coney Island's amusement district--past, present and future--with the Coney Island History Project. Our unique walking tours are based on History Project Director Charles Denson's award-winning book "Coney Island: Lost and Found," the interviews from CIHP's Oral History Archive, and other primary sources.

Tours are led by historian Charles Denson or poet/teaching artist Amanda Deutch, who have over 100 years of family history in Coney Island! The 1-1/2 hour tour includes a private visit to the History Project's exhibit center and a talk on the exhibits and objects on display.

Sunday Walking Tours are scheduled during Coney Island's season, which runs from April through October. Tours are approximately one mile in length and wheelchair accessible. Tickets for Sunday tours are $20 and available by advance reservation. Throughout the year, individuals and groups may schedule a private walking tour and visit to our exhibition center on a weekday or weekend. For info and reservations, email events@coneyislandhistory.org.

posted Mar 22nd, 2012 in News and tagged with
In 2004 Carol Hill Albert and Jerry Albert founded the Coney Island History Project in memory of Dewey Albert.

In 2004 Carol Hill Albert and Jerry Albert founded
the Coney Island History Project in memory of Dewey Albert.
 

Jerry Albert was a passionate believer in Coney Island. You had to be a believer to accomplish what he did. It began when Jerry’s father, Dewey, bought the derelict Feltmans Restaurant property as a favor for Nathan Handwerker, who wanted to move his Nathans Famous restaurant to the 3-acre Feltmans site. When the deal to move Nathans fell through, Dewey turned to his son for help.

Jerry Albert grew up on the beachfront in Sea Gate at Coney Island’s West End, enjoying a childhood of building boats and exploring the waters of Gravesend Bay and Coney Island Creek. His sense of adventure would inspire him to create something unique in Coney Island.

Jerry accepted the challenge and began creating the space-age-themed amusement park called Astroland. His optimistic motto was "A Journey to the 21st Century." Jerry proved to be a visionary and he transformed Coney’s oldest attraction into its newest.

Coney Island was fading in the early 1960s, and was in desperate need of a lift. While many were giving up and closing their businesses, Jerry Albert was an ambitious young man who understood the potential in the amusement zone and wanted only the best. Resurrecting Coney Island became his quest. He traveled across Europe seeking the newest, most exciting rides for the park he envisioned. After returning, he headed west and teamed up with Disney ride builder Arrow Development to create unique rides for the park. The old Feltmans property soon began a radical transformation. In 1964, after a $3-million-dollar investment, Astroland Park opened with an exciting assortment of unique rides: the Water Flume, a The Mercury Capsule Sky Ride, Deep Sea Diving Bells, and a Moon Rocket, all new attractions never before seen on the east coast.

All amusement parks need a tower and Jerry made sure that Coney had one. The futuristic Astrotower with its circular observation car became the park’s centerpiece. The newspapers dubbed it “The Big Bagel in the Sky” and one declared that: “There’s only one place where anyone would dare to put up such a thing, and that’s Coney Island, that land of the frivolous, where gaiety and fun have reigned for years. We’re glad to see the old place hasn’t lost its zest for the bizarre.” Jerry embraced the tower’s “bagel” theme and served a spread of bagels and lox at the tower’s dedication. The space-age theme caught the public imagination as Variety declared in a front-page story “Nowhere is this fierce concern with rocket propulsion, satellite launchings and lunar landings more evident than at the new Astroland...”

Astroland would continue to sponsor popular events, from Coney’s first film festival, in 1963, to the dramatic air shows of the 1980s. Albert had a love of antique cars and classic wooden yachts. Among his lovingly restored antique cars was a pearl green 1960 Cadillac, a regular entrant in the Mermaid Parade, which he kept on display below the Cyclone Roller Coaster.

Jerry’s enthusiasm and investment in Coney Island proved to be pivotal, a turning point for Coney Island that helped keep it afloat for nearly half a century. He oversaw the restoration of the landmark Cyclone Roller Coaster, saving it from destruction. He was an admired civic leader and a faithful booster. As long as Jerry had a say, Coney would survive the turmoil that forced so many others to give up. Under Jerry’s leadership Astroland thrived as he continued journeying across the country on a quest to find the most exciting rides and attractions for Coney Island. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Albert considered selling his beloved Astroland Park but instead retired and turned over park operations to his wife, Carol Hill Albert, who ran it successfully through its last decade.

---Charles Denson

Dewey and Jerry Albert

Dewey and Jerry Albert
posted Mar 16th, 2012 in News and tagged with Jerome Albert, Jerry Albert, Astroland Park,...

Charles Denson
A message from the director:
As the Coney Island History Project enters its ninth successful year of operation I'd like to thank the contributors, members, and volunteers who've helped us achieve success in documenting Coney Island's history and culture. We look forward to another season of working within the community and greeting visitors from all over the world!

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New Location
One year ago we moved the History Project exhibit center from one Coney landmark to another, leaving the Cyclone and settling into our new location at Deno's Wonder Wheel. We are now expanding our exhibit space and doubling it for the 2012 season. We need your support more than ever to continue our policy of "free admission for one and all." The History Project would like to give a special thanks to CIHP co-founder Carol Albert for her continued support and encouragement and the Vourderis family of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park for providing us a space to continue our mission.

In 2011 we had our share of excitement, beginning with months of roller coaster construction in our "front yard," and ending as we remained open during a freak October snowstorm. As hurricane Irene approached in August, everything in our exhibit center had to be moved to higher ground in anticipation of flooding that, luckily, never occurred. Our Dreamland Fire exhibit was a huge success that resulted in the History Project being featured on the Travel Channel's series "Mysteries at the Museum."

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Education
In 2011 our ecology program focused on Coney Island Creek. My creek presentations included slide shows at Kingsborough College for the New York State Marine Education Association. I gave another presentation at the New York Aquarium for the staff and scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society. The Aquarium event drew the largest turnout ever for their monthly staff meeting. The History Project also provided a historical perspective for the Travel Channel's show "Off Limits," where I guided host Don Wildman to the wreck of the Yellow Submarine on Coney Island Creek.

The History Project has been awarded a grant from the Partnership for Parks to create signage and a brochure for a "CreekWalk" tour along Coney Island Creek in Kaiser Park. The first phase was a photo exhibit at the Coney Island Library showing forty years of my documentation of the creek. The show opened last September and runs through February. We will have an event at the new park house in Kaiser Park. I'll lead a winter tour along the creek and give a slideshow. The date will be announced soon.

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Documentary Films
What began as a project of our oral history program ended up as a feature length documentary about reformed gang members helping at-risk youth in Coney Island. "The Last Immortal" premiered at the Coney Island Film Festival and won the award for best documentary. A free screening of the film was held at Liberation High School in November, and several more screenings will be announced for the upcoming season, including more showings of our award-winning 2009 documentary about Jimmy Prince and his customers, "The Prince of Mermaid Avenue."

Oral History
The History Project's new space will include a sound studio for recording the oral histories of anyone who has a Coney Island story to tell. Among the 2011 interviews to be soon posted include Leni Schwendinger, lighting designer of the Parachute Jump, and Joe Lazzaro, 84-year-old member of the original Coney Island Iceberg Club.

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Walking Tours
Last year, the History Project introduced our Coney Island walking tours with Amanda Deutch and me as guides. Between us we have over a century of family history in Coney Island. Our "authentic unexpurgated illustrated tour" tells the real story of Coney Island and is based on my book, "Coney Island: Lost and Found." The History Project Walking Tours drew visitors from New York and all over the world. We had diverse groups of tourists, architects, school groups, amusement enthusiasts, and former Coney Island residents.

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Hall of Fame
This season we plan an expansion of the Coney Island Hall of Fame exhibit at our annex space on Jones Walk at the Bowery. The inductees last year were Gravesend founder Lady Deborah Moody, the Spookarama Cyclops, and the landmarked Shore Theater Building.

Plans for the Future
Coney Island is in transition and the History Project will document the changes and will play an important role by providing insight into Coney's past and future. Upcoming exhibits include the 50th anniversary of Astroland, artifacts from Wonder Wheel Park, point-of-view before-and-after photographs of Coney Island, "Made in Coney Island," and the work of Coney's famous arcade muralist, Larry Millard.

The bad news was the loss of two Coney landmarks: the Coney Island Bank building and Henderson's Music Hall. The good news is the return of two evicted iconic businesses Ruby's Bar and Paul's Daughter. This season we'll continue to be the leader in education and history and community projects.

posted Jan 19th, 2012 in News and tagged with


Tour group looking up at Wonder Wheel
The 2011 season was pretty spectacular, from the opening of our new exhibition center below Deno's Wonder Wheel in April to the Hall of Fame and History Day Celebration in September. Thanks to all who visited us in Coney Island and online this year. The exhibition center will reopen on April 1st, Coney Island's Opening Day of 2012. "We're grateful to the Vourderis family, operators of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, for providing us a space and for their interest in preserving Coney Island's heritage," said historian and History Project director Charles Denson. "We'd like to thank History Project founders Carol and Jerry Albert for their continued support of our efforts to record and preserve Coney Island's History and culture."

Special thanks go out to everyone who joined the History Project's first season of Coney Island Walking Tours. "We had a team of architects on their annual trip, school children from Bensonhurst, visitors from Virginia, Ohio, California and of course Brooklyn," said Amanda Deutch, History Project tour guide and teaching artist and poet. "It was great fun to share Coney Island with people who had never been to Coney Island or were returning for their first time in 20 years." Here's a slide show featuring highlights from some of our tours and school visits.

Sunday Walking Tours are scheduled during Coney Island's season, which runs from April through October. Throughout the year, individuals and groups interested in scheduling a private tour and visit to our exhibition center may email events@coneyislandhistory.org.

posted Nov 4th, 2011 in News and tagged with