Ave D

Sweeping farther south, I'm moving into Canarsie. These westbound walks will be among the longest I take because Canarsie streets are angling away from the more vertical Flatbush streets. And, of course, there are fewer transit options.

The first leg of the journey is a quick (not quick enough) trick down Van Sinderen Ave, which seems creepy whichever block of it I've walked down. After one block, I shifted over beneath the "L" train to the start of Ave D.

The first street sign I saw was at E 105 Street. I had a lot of blocks to go! And I'd already walked a bit. I probably should've walked up and down a couple of blocks so I wouldn't have to do them later, but the walk was already going to take a lot out of me.

When I got to E 89 Street, Ave D curves south and merges into Foster Ave. It disappears for a little bit.

I traveled this section of Foster Ave many times by car visiting a friend that lived on E 98 Street. I've passed the Brooklyn Terminal Market, without ever knowing what it was or what was in there. Well, Google Maps divides this area up into a nine-square block area, each with street names and addresses on the buildings.

So I walked through.

I walked up E 87 Street to North Market Street, which I took to E 83 St.

E 83 St. passes under the frieght tracks (which will eventually be used for the IBX light rail) that separate Canarsie from East Flatbush. Seriously, there are few streets that go through.

E 83 Street ends where it collides with Ditmas Ave, Ralph Ave, and Clarendon Rd. I was at this intersection not that long before, coming from a different direction and heading off in a different direction. And yet, I still have to come through here one more time!

Ditmas Ave runs for about another block before turning back into Ave D. (Ditmas Ave disappears until Flatbush Ave, when Ave D becomes Ditmas Ave again.

Getting across Ralph Ave was a little challenging, but it brought me to Fidler-Wyckoff House, which I'd never heard of before. Unfortunately, it wasn't open so I couldn't get closer than pictures through the bars.

Fidler-Wyckoff House Park is home to Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, the oldest structure in New York City and a National Historic Landmark.

It is situated on land that New Netherland director general Wouter van Twiller purchased from the Lenape natives in approximately 1636.It is estimated to have been built before 1641. Pieter Claesen Wyckoff's family moved in around 1652. The house is one of the oldest surviving examples of a Dutch frame house in America, and it was one of the first structures built by settlers on Long Island. The majority of the current structure was added in the 19th century, with the small kitchen section dating back to the 18th century. It is owned by New York City but is operated by The Wyckoff House & Association. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1967 and is a New York City designated landmark.

Next up: Kings Highway. Then after a ten-block stretch, I came upon St. Therese of Lisieux Roman Catholic Church at Troy Ave (E 44 Street).

on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 1926 – almost exactly 100 years ago as I type these words – Father Willaim Fischer celebrated the first Mass at the Chapel of the Little Flower on Avenue D and Troy Avenue, the seed was planted that would soon blossom into the dynamic parish of St. Therese of Lisieux. On September 18, 1927, the cornerstone was laid for what would become the Church of St. Therese of Lisieux.

Somewhere along here I filmed this video just walking along.

Still going... at E 38 Street, I came upon St Paul's United Methodist Church of Vanderveer Park. I didn't back up enough for the photo. I didn't realize that I cut off the top of the tower.

End of the line. Ave D ends at Flatbush and becomes Ditmas Ave again. I did continue along Ditmas and Marlborough Road to get to Newkirk Plaza and the B train home.

And that's it for this trip. Come back soon.

All of the above photos and videos, unless otherwise stated, were taken by Christopher J. Burke and are subject to copyright.

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