WHITESTONE on the BROOKLYN

by Kevin Walsh

It’s hard to find “Whitestone” type lampposts anywhere in NYC these days, though in the 1940s and 1950s, they were the lampposts of choice on the then-fledgling NYC expressway system. Officially the “Type 41” single or twin arm posts, they originated on the Whitestone Bridge and its approach roads and spread to wherever elevated expressways were built then, such as the Brooklyn-Queens and Gowanus. They were a stripped-down pole, with the zigguratted, stepped finial first seen on the Triborough posts, but with no other embellishment save a fin support on their masts.

Originally, they carried pendant lamps, either the gumball style or the Westinghouse AK-10 cuplight. In the mercury era in the Swingin’ Sixties they were retrofit to carry GE M400s or OV-25 WEstinghouse Silverliners.

Seen here is a twin version at the Brooklyn end of the Brooklyn Bridge approach; you can still find about a dozen at either side of the Brooklyn, easily their greatest concentration these days, but I fear their days are numbered.

While retro versions of the Triborough posts have begun to appear, perhaps the time is ripe to revive these dependable workhorses.

10/25/12

2 comments

Glen Norman October 29, 2012 - 12:39 am

Hey, Kevin!

Slight OT here, but your Triborough page was closed for comments.

It appears there were some Triborough poles on Park Avenue at least into the mid 1960s. Got this info off of the first season opening credits for “That Girl”. The camera angle is steep, but the mast arm seems to be sporting Westinghouse cups. The arc of the camera move almost cuts off part of the street sign–I think it’s Park & E 48th.

Hope hurricane Sandy doesn’t cause you too much trouble. Good luck!

Reply
John Murtha January 18, 2013 - 11:58 pm

For the last year they have put up Retro Whitestone Poles on Jamaica Ave right in middle of the Business Area and not painted black either.

Reply

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