HAMBURG AVENUE, Bushwick

by Kevin Walsh

A remaining street sign for Hamburg Avenue remains chiseled into a building at Harman Street in Bushwick, close to the Myrtle Avenue el.

Bushwick in northeast Brooklyn used to be heavily German, and was home for breweries such as Schaefer and Rheingold as well as mansions owned by the brewmasters. Some of the mansions and breweries remain, put to different uses, some in better shape than others.

Some of the streets were named for German cities. However, when the USA entered World War I in 1917, the Germans were looked upon less favorably, to the extent that the street names were changed to something less offensive. Bremen Street became Stanwix Street, and in this case, Hamburg Avenue became Wilson Avenue, honoring Woodrow Wilson.

photo: Gary Fonville

1/21/15

14 comments

andy January 21, 2015 - 6:02 pm

“Hamburg” remained the name of a savings bank based in the Bushwick-Ridgewood area. In the early 1980s that bank merged with another one (believe it was College Point Savings).

Schlitz also had a brewery in Bushwick till the early 1970s, I believe. Piels was nearby in East New York.

The anti-German feeling in the US during World War I was why sauerkraut was briefly called “liberty cabbage”, and the dachshund dog breed was renamed “liberty pup.”

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Susan August 16, 2015 - 2:18 pm

When I was a kid growing up in Bushwick trollies used to run on Wilson Avenue. The seats were made of rattan and the fee was just a nickel. Hope somewhere there are photos of these vehicles.

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Brian Hardwick June 28, 2021 - 10:38 am

Silent Film historians Ben Model and Steve Massa have a weekly Youtube show called Silent Comedy Watch Party. The first film on the 6-27-2021 show (ep. 62), a Sidney Drew short called “Boobley’s Baby”, features Brooklyn streetcars. In one car interior, Hamburg Ave is seen ( in reverse) above the back of the car. Film is very sharp and clear for the era. Hope this is helpful.

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gene s October 21, 2017 - 12:57 pm

During WWI German-Americans had to carry photo-fingerprint id titled registration of enemy aliens. It read, if you are found without these papers you will spend the rest of the war in prison. My grandfather got his at the old 83rd precinct on Wilson and DeKalb Aves in 1918.

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Richard November 6, 2017 - 1:27 pm

Looking for information on the “Liberty Singing Society” which in 1901 was located at 257 Hamburg Avenue. A German ancestor of mine was involved in this. Thanks.

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L Haas December 2, 2017 - 3:18 pm

Hoping for a Photo of what was 50 Hamburg Ave in Bushwick. It was the location of my grandfather’s grocery store per his 1896 naturalization papers. Any phone then or now would be greatly appreciated.

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Peter Domino December 14, 2017 - 8:45 am

You can order 1945 photo’s by address thru the NYC Archives Records.
My grandfather & his brothers were Amplo’s operating a bakery at 107 Wilson and store front/grocery at 105.
My great-grandmother was Pisciotta and pretty certain she also had a store on Wilson too…

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Rick Umali December 29, 2017 - 10:38 am

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn brought me here. In the novel, the main character Francie mentions this street’s name change. “War makes people do funny things,” her mother Katie replies.

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Anonymous September 8, 2019 - 6:03 am

I lived on Grove Street between Knickerbocker and Wilson. On the corner of knickerbocker and myrtle, was a catering hall called (not sure of spelling) Schwibbn Hall. As a child, I remember going to a number of party’s their.

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Luanne August 2, 2020 - 10:28 am

My grandfather, Charles Drago, had his first barber shop at 608 Hamburg Avenue in 1918. Looking for a photo of this area in the early 20’s maybe! Thank you!

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Al Tz August 25, 2020 - 7:43 am

Incidentally, Hamburg Place in Newark (Down Neck aka Ironbound) a major neighborhood artery, was also renamed Wilson Avenue during that anti-German Hysteria. Other nearby Newark streets: such as Berlin, Frankfort, and Dresden also got new names.

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JenW March 29, 2022 - 2:21 pm

Learning of the street name change was very helpful, thank you! My great-granduncle was attacked (during a card game dispute) in the basement of 225 Hamburg Ave. Sadly, he did die of the injury. Also, thanks to the person above who pointed out the trolley on that ave. I was trying to decide how he likely went from his home to the game.

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Al Tz August 1, 2022 - 5:56 am

A number of Streets named for German Cities in Newark NJ were also renamed to counter the anti German hysteria. Coincidentally, HAMBURG PLACE in Newark became WILSON AVE

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Doris M August 26, 2023 - 1:23 am

The 1915 New York State Census shows my mother and her parents at 631 Hamburg Ave. I couldn’t figure out where that was until i learned of the name change.

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