FURMAN ARCHAISMS

by Kevin Walsh

Furman Street runs along the East River in Brooklyn from Atlantic Avenue north to (Old) Fulton, and since the 1950s, has mostly been accompanied by the stolid overhang of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. On its river side, it was formerly lined with busy docks handling goods brought in from the world over, shuttled along to distant points by a waterside railroad. These days, the former dock area is being converted to parkland and will eventually hold a luxury high rise or two. But occasionally a reminder of the old era comes into view, like this Gamewell fire alarm.

They were unusual because their rear ends were curiously flattened, and they sometimes were flush against a castiron lamppost. A pair of them can be found stuck against walls on Montague and Joralemon Streets at Furman. Of course, they were rendered inactive long ago.

11/29/12

4 comments

Bill November 29, 2012 - 10:51 am

Is the building with the Furman Inn sign carved into its cornice still there? I’ve been on that street only once, it was in 1992, I think, and that building looked abandoned then. It fronted on the north end of Furman, just south of Old Fulton.

Reply
cindy penn July 18, 2014 - 1:03 pm

No they knocked the building down. My mom and dad ran the Furman Inn until 1980. I am selling the cash register that was in it tonight to a lucky individual. I am also giving the guy two photos of the old Furman Inn. I also have a very large sketch that I am keeping of the Furman Inn that my dad commissioned from one of his customers that was an artist.

Reply
cars June 7, 2013 - 9:20 pm

Car shopping is something which almost all adults will face in their lives.

If you want to drive, you’ll have to buy yourself a car. The simple ideas below will help you turn the car buying process into something you not only can handle, but that you are a master of.

Reply
Hot Car June 24, 2015 - 8:29 am

my be its true that they were rendered inactive long ago.

Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.