INDUSTRIAL SHEET METAL, Hunters Point

by Kevin Walsh

A recent building teardown at 43rd Avenue and Hunter Street has revealed this decades-old wall ghost. The ST in the exchange stands for STillwell, STerling or STagg, I’m unsure which. There’s some evidence of a palimpsest, or one ad painted on top of an older one.

The shop is still in business, per Comments.

8/5/14

5 comments

John Harp August 5, 2014 - 8:55 am

Another option to consider: Growing up in Ravenswood, Queens during the 1950’s our phone exchange was STillwell 6 – and we had a “party line” connection!

Reply
Tom August 5, 2014 - 4:43 pm

The ST is more than likely for Stillwell, which was an exchange back in the day in the LIC area.

Reply
Joe Fliel August 5, 2014 - 5:36 pm

Industrial Sheet Metal Products is still in business at 41-25 Hunter St. The phone exchange might be STIllwell (784), which covered Hunters Point.

Reply
Larry August 5, 2014 - 6:22 pm

Maybe STillwell?

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Ken B August 31, 2014 - 11:25 am

Definitely “Stillwell”. I am the third generation in a family business that has been in Long Island City since the 1930’s. We still have the same number, STillwell 4-6666, although we have long used only numbers, 784-6666.

Reply

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