In a realm where dead end alleys are few and far between, many years ago during my bicycle rides throughout Brooklyn I noted Dahl Court, a pleasant cul de sac between 18th and 19th Avenues lined on both sides with Tudors. It was likely built sometime in the 1920s or 30s, and a Mr. Dahl was likely the developer. Nearby highlights include Gravesend Park on 18th Avenue, named unusually since this is well north of Gravesend, and Washington Cemetery.
And, when gathering original material for Forgotten NY in 1998 I was sure to snap this pair of metal and enamel signs that the Department of Transportation hadn’t yet gotten around to replacing. This pair was probably installed in the 1950s; most of them were gone by the late 1960s or 1970, though some lingered until the 2020s! None seem to have survived by now. Soon after, they were replaced by regulation green and white signs.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
6/15/25
2 comments
I delivered newspapers (The New York World-Telegram and The Sun) to several customers on Dahl Court in the early 60’s. Although less than 10 blocks from my house on 51st St, I had never heard of it. My manager had to show me on a map. Another big “highlight” is the Sanitation garage on 19th Ave. There was a big empty lot where FDR HS now stands.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle has ads starting in April, 1927 for 20 single-family Tudor homes on Dahl Court, built by the Dahl Development Corp. They were asking $10,500 for them, which sounds pricey. Anyway, by October of that year an auction house was advertising the sale of 14 of the homes. Sounds like they went bust pretty fast. In September-October 1928, classified ads were offering Dahl Court homes for $8,250 to $8.750. By 1931 it looks like they gave up trying to sell them, and at least some were broken up into two family homes with apartments renting for $50 a month. At least they seem to have maintained their look.