Henry Parker
In the early 1900s, Bushwick Avenue was one of Brooklyn’s most prestigious and handsome boulevards. Known as the “Fifth Avenue of Brooklyn,” it was a wide, tree-lined thoroughfare celebrated for its impressive mansions and prosperous residents. This character was a direct result of the immense wealth generated by the area’s thriving brewing industry.
The stretch of the avenue north of Myrtle Avenue was often called “Brewer’s Row.” Here, the owners of the many local breweries, most of whom were German immigrants or of German descent, built grand homes to display their success. These were not simple houses; they were architectural showpieces. Sprawling mansions constructed of brick and stone stood in a variety of ornate styles, including Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne, and neo-Renaissance. These homes featured towers, turrets, intricate carvings, stained-glass windows, and broad, welcoming porches.
Life on the avenue was quiet and orderly. Manicured lawns and elaborate iron fences separated the grand homes from the wide sidewalks. On any given day, horse-drawn carriages and, increasingly, early automobiles, would travel along the paved road. Residents, dressed in the formal attire of the period, would stroll along the shaded sidewalks. The avenue was maintained to a high standard, reflecting the status of the people who lived there.
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This residential splendor was directly funded by the breweries clustered in the surrounding neighborhood. Bushwick was the beer-making capital of the United States at the time, with dozens of breweries operating within a 14-block area. The smoke from their tall stacks was a constant feature of the local skyline, a visible sign of the industry that made the lavish lifestyle on Bushwick Avenue possible.
South of Myrtle Avenue, the character of Bushwick Avenue shifted. While still a respectable and well-trafficked street, the grand mansions gave way to handsome brick and brownstone rowhouses. These comfortable homes housed merchants, doctors, lawyers, and other middle-class professionals. Churches with tall steeples were prominent landmarks along the entire length of the avenue, serving as centers of community life. Electric trolleys ran along the avenue, connecting the residents to downtown Brooklyn and other parts of the city.
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