Preserving History Along the Gowanus Canal

The Gowanus Canal is a lot of things to a lot of people. It's a remnant of Brooklyn's industrial past, a viable recreation area and a potential site for commercial and residential housing. Some look at the greasy waterway and gasp, others see the future. One thing that many people don't think of when they hear "Gowanus" is George Washington.

But the first President of the United States is along the banks of the Gowanus, in the form of a plaque commemorating the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, when Gen. George Washington was commander of the American Forces, he led his troops through the wetlands that are now Gowanus in the Battle of Brooklyn, which is often called the Battle of Long Island.

Though some in the neighborhood are familiar with the area's history, very few know about the monument, and misinformation about its wherabouts abounds.

"I've definitely never heard of it," said Fernando Adorno, 21, an 11-year resident of Gowanus. "And I cross that canal everyday."

Adorno isn't alone. Delores Felix, 39, is a 12-year resident of the Gowanus Houses.

"No, that's not around here," she said.

In fact, the plaque is so elusive that even those who are aware of the plaque's existence don't know where it is.

At this month's Community Board 6 general meeting, Environmental Protection Chair Gary Reilly told those in attendance about a "George Washington monument" that had been put into storage for safe keeping by the New York City Department of Environmental  Protection (NYCDEP). Reilly said the years-long construction and installation of the new flushing tunnel for the canal required the plaque be stored for safe keeping.

But DEP spokesperson Mercedes Padilla said the plaque is actually still on site at the Gowanus Facilities station on Butler Street, but has been "off limits for years because of security issues."

"DEP is exploring the best possible location [for the plaque] upon completion of this project," Padilla said.

History is important to Brooklynites. At the community board meeting, Reilly had prefaced his report by saying he had nothing "controversial" to announce, but those in attendance were so concerned about making sure the monument stayed in the neighborhood that an amendment was passed.

Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6 said the board is drafting a letter to the DEP asking them to "engage the community in a conversation" about where the plaque will be following completion of the flushing tunnel project.

Life-long resident and Carroll Gardens historian of sorts Salvatore "Buddy" Scotto, 82, has long been invested in the clean up of the canal. Scotto said he agrees with the community board that it's important the plaque stay by the Gowanus.

"We need to resurrect history," he said. "And that plaque is historically significant."