Bensonhurst

Originally settled in 1661 by the Dutch, Bensonhurst was part of the fertile town of New Utrecht. A representative of the Dutch West India Company, Cornelius van Werkoven, was instrumental in establishing the first community in this area.

What was originally Charles Benson’s family farm was later subdivided into 20 by 100 foot lots at the turn of the century and sold to newly arrived immigrants. This gridiron format, tucked between Bay Ridge, Borough Park, Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay, is now a solid middle-class neighborhood.

Farmers tilled the land for more than a century before interruption came in the form of invading British troops in 1776. Landing on the shore of Gravesend Bay, the British occupied this area until 1783. To harass British garrisons, Bensonhurst residents erected flagpoles. Called liberty poles on which to raise the flag of independence. The lawn of the New Utrecht Reformed Church was the site off the first liberty pole. Located on 18^th Avenue between 83^rd and 84^th Streets, this Georgian Gothic structure was built in 1828 as the center of the original Dutch settlement.

Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the "discovery" of Bensonhurst materialized as wealthy landowners began building summer homes and marinas among the farms and woods. The Bath Beach-Coney Island railroad was built along the shore and "Bensonhurst-by-the-Sea" was constructed to compete with Coney Island’s amusement parks. Unfortunately, tourism never took hold.

Later, in 1915, the Fourth Avenue subway line brought Jewish and Italian families from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to build homes in the area. The Jewish community is now served by 20 synagogues: the Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst at 7802 Bay Parkway and Beth Hatalmud Yeshiva at 2127 82^nd Street and among the more prominent.

The Italians have probably established the strongest community here, with many living in well-maintained, detached homes or rowhouses. Fig trees are imported from Italy in the winter and planted in many backyards; men gather to play cards and socialize at local clubs and in front yards; and the architecture of Italy graces many homes. The annual Santa Rosalia Street Fair. Named for the patroness of Palermo, attests to the large Sicilian population here.

The Italian flavor of Bensonhurst is generally steeped along 18^th avenue in neighborhood restaurants, small grocery stores and local shops specializing in Italian imports of espresso coffeepots, books, records and many more items. Many consider this area to be New York City’s real "Little Italy". Also along 18^th Avenue are over 300 retail stores, many family-run, and numerous bridal boutiques.

Commercial enterprises are also centered in Bath Beach, at the waterfront. Here a shopping center, an indoor amusement park and eatery and the recently arrived Big Kmart store in the Caesar’s Bay Shopping Plaza draw visitors from allover. Nellie Bly Amusement Park offers a petting zoo, amusement rides, mini golf and batting ranges.

There is a selection of parks for recreational activities. Dreier-Offerman Park while presently under renovation is preserved as a recreational park. Bensonhurst Park, on the shorefront beginning at Bay Parkway and continuing on to become Dyker Beach Park, features a promenade for biking, strolling, fishing, and tennis courts. At Bay 8^th Street in the northern end of the park is a mecca for kitefliers.

Hollywood has taken notice of Bensonhurst also, as it was the set for the TVs Honeymooners; Welcome Back Kotter (who can forget the opening scene driving down 86^th street); and of course being the hometown of none other than Dom Deluise, Jerry Stiller and the recently departed Vincent Gardenia