History of the Hood

As this blog gets going, we’ll be bringing you a piece of neighborhood history each week that we think is worth knowing. Here’s a tidbit we came across recently while perusing books in the Brooklyn Historical Society: Many people know the Prison Ships Martyr’s monument in Fort Greene Park and its famous designer, Stanford White (he designed the arch in Washington Square Park among many others). Well while you’re craning your neck at this memorial to the revolutionary soldiers who died at the hands of the British, you might want to note the smaller structure in its shadow. According to what we read, the park visitors’ center was the last building designed by White before he was shot in the head by his mistress’ husband. So remember that next time you’re at the site. And check out the two canons inside the building (it makes us remember why there’s a “Fort” in Fort Greene).