SPECIAL WILLIAMSBURG POST, Brooklyn

by Kevin Walsh

In the mid-1970s, the Williamsburg Bridge landing area in Brooklyn, and several streets south of it, were given this distinct lamppost design, as well as several davit-style poles — at the time, quite unique in NYC. The current Department of Transportation manual doesn’t acknowledge them. They have always had a unique blue paint job, while most NYC streetlamps were painted chololate brown (Corvingtons and Bishop Crooks) or gun metal gray or silver (the 1950s-present octagonal-shaft poles).

Originally, the lamps shown mercury green-white light and were given globular reflector discs, while in the 1980s they were fitted with yellow sodium vapor Holophane “buckets” shown here. By 2017, a few had gained new Verdeon LED lamps, so it seems like they’ll soldier on for the time being. 

In addition, smaller post-top lamps were installed on street corners

Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”

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