John Dereszewski served as the District Manager of Bushwick’s Community Board 4 during the time of the 1977 blackout and has written and lectured extensively about Bushwick’s past and current history.
In 2025, the boundary between Brooklyn and Queens in the Bushwick/Ridgewood area marks its 100th anniversary. This obscure yet significant event deserves recognition by the powers that be in Brooklyn and Queens, as well as the communities of Bushwick and Ridgewood. Let’s take a moment to appreciate this historical marker by reflecting on its transformation from a simple straight line to the intricate boundary we see today.
As we approach the onset of 2025 with mixed feelings of hope and dread – unfortunately more the latter than the former – it makes sense to divert our attention from more weighty matters and recognize the 100th anniversary of an event that would otherwise escape our attention. Specifically, 2025 marks the year when the border between Brooklyn and Queens in the Bushwick/Ridgewood region was transformed from a very neat straight line into the rather jagged boundary we all know today.
Before the change, the borough lines aligned seamlessly with the street grid, starting at the intersection of Flushing and Cypress avenues. The line extended down Cypress to Menahan Street, then turned onto St. Nicholas to Gates Avenue, followed by a left turn onto Wyckoff Avenue before turning right on Eldert Street. Finally, the line continued down Irving Avenue until reaching the cemeteries. This seemingly straightforward boundary was only about fifty years old at that time, replacing a much different configuration.
The original boundary line’s creation is fascinating. Although Bushwick village was established in 1660 and Newtown village was founded shortly after, their boundary remained a source of contention for over a century, finally being settled in 1769. The disputed area encompassed a significant 1,200 acres. If Bushwick had prevailed, most of present-day Ridgewood would have become part of it, potentially falling under Kings County.
Newtown ultimately emerged as the victor. The officially established boundary commenced at a point currently located in the roadbed over Onderdonk Avenue, just north of Flushing Avenue, near the end of Newtown Creek’s middle channel. This location was deemed the most suitable point to divide the towns.
A large boulder, aptly named Arbitration Rock, marked the starting point. Within sight was another landmark called Arbitration Heap. Surveyors initially used these two markers to measure the boundary. After the task was completed, ‘Arbitration Heap’ faded into obscurity.
As long as Brooklyn and Queens remained separate political entities, surveyors utilized Arbitration Rock as a reference point to settle property disputes. However, once both areas became part of Greater New York in 1898, the rock’s importance diminished, leading to its eventual disappearance. Some speculate it was destroyed by mischievous youth. A few decades ago, someone claimed to have rediscovered the Rock, which is now displayed on the grounds of the nearby Onderdonk House.
Until the late 19th century, the old boundary line remained largely uncontroversial as it primarily traversed farmland and vacant lots. The absence of a road along its path meant it existed mainly as a legal entity.
However, the situation changed dramatically in the late 1800s with the onset of a building boom. Starting in Bushwick and rapidly extending across the Queens boundary, the development saw the Brooklyn street grid extended into Queens, disregarding the official county line. This resulted in numerous blocks, and even individual apartments, being situated in two different counties. The problem only intensified as development spread to new blocks straddling the old boundary, demanding a solution.
The awkwardness of the situation is evident when walking down Greene Avenue between Cypress and St. Nicholas avenues. A gold-painted cobblestone was placed in the center of the block to indicate where the old line passed through. Observing this marker, one can imagine the challenges faced by the block’s residents.
The much-needed change finally came with the New York State Legislature’s passage of a law officially modifying the county lines to their current configuration, with the borough lines adjusted accordingly. This change likely took effect on January 1, 1925.
While widely welcomed, the change did impact four notable establishments. The Onderdonk House, originally just on the Bushwick side of the old line, found itself situated two blocks into Queens, highlighting the extent of the line change at its furthest points.
The Parthenon Movie Theatre, which opened at the corner of Wyckoff and Palmetto avenues in 1915, was initially located (barely) in Brooklyn. It shifted into Queens ten years later, as did two bars situated down the block that operated “informally” due to Prohibition. Interestingly, both Bushwick and Ridgewood shared a dislike for Prohibition.
St. Bridget’s Church and rectory became fully part of Brooklyn due to the new line’s placement between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas on Gates Avenue.
The boundary change also impacted the old Wallace baseball field, initially situated beyond the Queens border. The new line cut through Eldert Street, placing the field in both boroughs. This historical park, which hosted Sunday baseball games in the 1880s by the team now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, also served as the first home of the Bushwicks, the legendary semi-pro baseball team. Sadly, Wallace Field closed permanently the following year, fading into obscurity along with the old boundary.
The boundary change extended through the cemetery district, placing Most Holy Trinity Cemetery entirely within Brooklyn. Notably, the only remaining intact fragment of the 1769 boundary lies within Evergreen Cemetery.
Adding to the peculiarity of this history, the newly opened Eldert Street between Wyckoff and Irving avenues remained partially blocked by Wallace Field in the 1970s. In 1977, the owner of Eldert’s unopened roadbed obtained a zoning variance to construct a building on the site. The application was approved, resulting in a building that still obstructs the Brooklyn/Queens border to this day.
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