BUTTERNUT STREET, Morrisania

by Kevin Walsh

By SERGEY KADINSKY
Forgotten NY correspondent

The Bronx is an urban explorer’s dream. Its mix of colliding street grids results in oddly-angled buildings and alleys. Its challenging topography means that this borough has more stepped streets than any other. Unlike the other boroughs, Bronx was annexed to New York City in a piecemeal fashion from west to east.

At the edge of Morrisania less than a block to the west of Grand Concourse at East 164th Street is a curving alley abutting All Hallows High School.

 

In the Concourse neighborhood less than a block to the west of Grand Concourse at East 164th Street is a curving alley abutting All Hallows High School.

 

On the official city map, this privately-owned roadway is labeled Butternut Street. The butternut, Juglans cinerea to botanists, is a common tree in eastern United States. Looking at the 1873 and 1924 atlases of the neighborhood, we see that Walton Avenue used to take a more winding path across the hilly landscape.  Butternut Street is the last remnant of Walton Street’s old path.

 

1873

 

1924

To the south of Butternut Street is Joyce Kilmer Park, one of the older parks in the borough.

Historian John McNamara, in History in Asphalt, says that Butternut Street was listed in 1872 running approx. 4 blocks, parallel to the Concourse from East 162nd north to East 166th. (today only the portion between East 164th and 165th remains as a service alley).

7/31/15

 

7 comments

Margaret August 1, 2015 - 9:57 am

Never even heard of it! Love this. Thanks!

Reply
Gary Fonville August 2, 2015 - 6:50 pm

This is a new one for me too.

Reply
Tal Barzilai August 2, 2015 - 11:16 pm

My guess is that we don’t see this alley on maps much because it was probably removed when it became a place for parking, though I don’t know if it was always a caged alley or not.

Reply
Elvin Rodriguez August 3, 2015 - 6:55 am

Rode bike through that neighborhood dozens of times as far back as the late 80’s and never noticed it. I’m ashamed.

Thanks.

Reply
Kiwiwriter August 13, 2015 - 2:37 pm

I guess the school teachers use it for parking their cars.

Reply
Ira March 17, 2019 - 1:43 am

Excellent historical research, thank you

Reply
Ty May 26, 2020 - 4:42 pm

FWIW it’s still listed on the official NYC map. maps.nyc.gov I’m guessing no one could dare de-map a street with such a great name.

Reply

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