AS THE CROES FLIES

by Kevin Walsh

These ‘humpback’ navy and white street signs were standard issue in Manhattan and the Bronx from 1913 until the early 1960s. Politically, Manhattan and the Bronx were the same county until 1914.

This intersection no longer exists, as East 177th was replaced by the Cross-Bronx Expressway in the 1950s.

C.L. Croes was a 19th Century NYC civil engineer.

5 comments

Wayne Whitehorne August 17, 2012 - 9:56 pm

Croes Avenue is next to an even stranger-named street: Fteley Avenue. Any idea who or what Fteley was (and how do you pronounce it)?

Reply
Kevin Walsh August 17, 2012 - 11:35 pm

Another civil engineer, Alphonse Fteley. He was French. I think the locals pronounce it Fa-TELL-ey.

Reply
Mary D August 18, 2012 - 6:58 pm

Used to live in the neighborhood. It’s “f’TELL-ey” — as if it were “Steley” but with an F instead of an S.

Reply
Tal Barzilai August 19, 2012 - 2:10 pm

It’s common to lose a number of streets when a highway gets built over them, so this isn’t something new here.

Reply

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