At the triangle formed by East New York Avenue and Prospect Place where they meet Rockaway Avenue, you will find a tall building with a bricked-up picture window, as well as an instantly recognizable iron pole that formerly held trolley wires. Here you could catch the #2, #5 and #10 trolley lines and transfer to the #14 on Rockaway Avenue, which would take you all the way to Canarsie Pier on Jamaica Bay. I was sent this, as well as a couple of photos of what this scene looked like in 1940, by Brooklyn Confidential on The Site Formerly Known as Twitter. #2 and #5 ended service in 1947, while #10 hung on until 1951. Trolleys were being eliminated when Jackie broke the color barrier and Bobby hit The Shot Heard Round the World.
In this 1940 tax photo, you can see that same trolley pole as well as wiring on ENY and Rockaway Avenues. The tall building was formerly home to Jamison Laboratories, 1521 East New York, which did not make whiskey but instead, trusses, belts, corsets and abdominal supports as well as surgical supplies. To top it off at the triangle, there’s a railroad car diner. Today, diners are being wiped out; but if you look at 1940 tax photos, there were hundreds scattered around throughout the five boroughs. They provided ham and eggs and coffee to laborers and office jockeys who may have gotten a half hour for lunch at best. If the country runs on Dunkin’ today, it ran on diners yesterday.
Here’s a look at 1521 from another angle. It’s still hanging in, as well as the trolley remnant, reminders of another place and time.
The Indefatigable Montrose Morris (Suzanne Spellen) has the building’s history here.
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3/14/24