Bushwick '77: When the Lights Went Out

upfromflames: 2nd Jul 2007 - 19:34 GMT

As for reading more:

the most concise source on this subject is the Blackout History Project, which has all relevant documents in PDF format. Check it out!

blackout.gmu.edu/transition.html

colavitos ghost: 3rd Jul 2007 - 22:21 GMT

do you have any old photos of bushwick that weren't included in the exhibit at the historical society? or do you know of anyplace where they may be on public view (either on line or in "real life")?

upfromflames: 3rd Jul 2007 - 22:37 GMT

Sure. The Brooklyn Historical Society Library. They have hundreds of them, mostly 19th century or earlier--though they include a few by that Brooklyn (Williamsburg/Bushwick) shutterbug Eugene Armbruster.

They are not on public view, but you can access them in their in house data base program. Good luck!

718-222-4111 [[www.brooklynhistory.org]]

Kat: 6th Jul 2007 - 00:34 GMT

These photos are amazing. My mom lived on Broadway (near DeKalb) during the blackout, and all she can remember is glass shattering and burning.

Joe S.: 6th Jul 2007 - 22:29 GMT

I remember shopping there with my parents as a kid in the 1950's. These photos are depressing!

Dee: 9th Jul 2007 - 03:11 GMT

I remember this very vividly. the looters were running down my block with televisions, diapers, stereos u name it. We sat on my stoop just watching. Now I'd be petrified but then well it was our home so u thought nobody would harm u. I hated part of the 60's and all of the next 2 decades that my parents stayed there. Broadway was a nice place to shop and it was ruined. They destroyed their own shopping areas.
St Josephs church used to have an Italian feast that had to sop cause they pulled the money off the Saint. To me it was all really depressing
I could tell u a million stories about Bushwick. The Causo's kids say they loved it, I don't believe it, if they did then God bless them.
I guess they liked walking through the johnny pump on a hot day, the streets flooded with water. Don't tell me their weren't rats in those
burnt out lots. OH and did the Mayor really remember you? looks like the south Bronx got the new housing not us we got shit.

Dee: 9th Jul 2007 - 03:15 GMT

These pictures just make me angry and depressed. My poor mother had to live in this shit. NO PIZZA DELIVERIES NO CHINESE FOOD DELIVERIES NO DELIVERIES OF ANY KIND. WE looked like the poor bastards that had no money and couldn't move. gates on windows no trusting anyone anymore
not a good way to live it wears u down mentally and physically

Susannah: 9th Jul 2007 - 11:46 GMT

I remember it- I was at my father's in Bayridge (joint custody)... Everyone was hanging out...talking...sharing what they had. But some people with shops were guarding them with rifles.
But my mother was working as a visiting nurse in Brownesville or Red Hook(?) - don't really remember. The subways were not working she had to walk home to Park Slope in the dark.She said you could hear the pounding feet of the groups of looters running. The 77 blackout and 911 are two events I will always remember as being turning points in history.

EvilGentleman: 25th Jul 2007 - 17:38 GMT

Wonderful article. A lot of history here that needs to be remembered. I hope you will continue to post articles here, even after the Up From Flames exhibit is no longer running.

upfromflames: 25th Jul 2007 - 18:23 GMT

Thanks!

And you can bet I will continue, EG.

With my new position as sociology and mapping teacher at the Bushwick Academy for Urban Planning, there will be more history to tell, and a future for my students to help make for our community.

Tune in for more here at citynoise!

anon (cache-dtc-ag08.proxy.aol.com): 31st Jul 2007 - 22:01 GMT

I was about 6 when this went down. I recall my brother coming home with some Joxs sneakers boy was i happy. I seen it all from the 15th floor of my project window. (Summner houses one block away.)

Luis Acevedo: 3rd Aug 2007 - 22:31 GMT

During the last couple of days I stumbled upon the website for upinflames. I couldn't believe my eyes. I am 28 and have lived in bushwick my entire life. I grew up on Wilson Ave and Covert Street and Now live on Palmetto Between Knickerbocker and Irving. I have to thank you guys so much for your hard work. This neighborhoods history is one that must be told. My kids never believed me when I told them stories of how My sisters and I grew Up. I remember very clearly hearing the sirens and smelling the smoke. I remember seeing other kids playing on mattresses in the lots that were filled with bricks and debris. I really believe no one cared back then. If you showed these same pictures on CNN now there would be a public outcry and things would have to be done. I was never allowed to leave my parents railroad apt on covert st. I remember understanding why and knowing how to stay alive on the streets even at a very early age. Today I consider my kids to be naive in that respect. My wife grew up in Red Hook and she understands very well what I mean. My kids go to dance class and little league. They really have options hopes and dreams. We had nothing. Somehow we made it. The few of us who did, did so because our parents would not allow us to be lost in those lots and burnt out buildings. I consider myself a student of history and I am thrilled that I can show my kids this website to illustrate where we came from. I am going to make my way to BHS this weeked. I can't thank you guys enough. I have some old pictures my self that I wouldn't mind sharing and I would love to see any pictures of Covert street or wilson ave during those days.

Luis

upfromflames: 3rd Aug 2007 - 22:48 GMT

Luis: Please do share. I am so glad that Up From Flames could mean so much to you.

But in a way, aren't you happy that your kids don't have to know what you went through???

Either way this is a great chance to let them and the rest of us know about that, in both words and images.

Peter: 3rd Aug 2007 - 23:47 GMT

seconded, luis. id love to see your photos and/or hear your stories... i live on willoughby near the park, and love hearing stories about the neighborhood...

Luis Acevedo: 4th Aug 2007 - 00:27 GMT

Please send me your e-mail addresses and I will scan some images as well as send you the ones I have on my pc now. As for stories there are so many untold. Have you guys heard of the Transit Police woman who was killed at the Wilson Ave station in the early 80's or the story behind Maria Hernandez park. The following is copied from the officer down memorial page. Officer Lozada was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect. She and her partner were in plainclothes patrolling the L Line when they witnessed a suspect snatch a piece of jewelry. The officers gave chase but were split up. Officer Lozada's body was found three hours later in a parking lot. She had been shot in the head with her own weapon while attempting to make an arrest. The suspect was later apprehended and sentenced to 32 1/2 years in prison.

Officer Lozada was the first female officer to be killed in the line of duty in New York City. She was assigned to Transit District 33 and had served with the New York City Transit Police Department for four years. She was survived by her mother and brother. The reason this stands out to me was because I was about 3 or 4 and I was getting a haircut when this happened. At the sound of the gunshot my barber sliped and nicked me on my neck. This was the barber shop on Wilson and Decatur. Lares barber shop to be exact. And Maria Hernandez was a neighborhood heroine that used to get involved and called the police on local drug dealers. One morning she was getting ready for work and was shot through her window. I can remember seeing on the news that night her husband kicking the garbage cans down the block in anger when he found out she had died. My sister went on to teach at P.S 123 across the street from the park. My other sister is a Social worker for the DEpt of Education and I work for the DOT. We've seen a lot.

Peter: 4th Aug 2007 - 00:51 GMT

luis: email anything you like to editors@citynoise.org and they can post it here for you, or just look at it if you prefer not to post.

i appreciate your time and contribution here, and only wish everyone in the community with your kind of cred would speak out here.

spread the word?

Luis Acevedo: 4th Aug 2007 - 00:55 GMT

Thanks I already did. I just sent the links to my sisters and my neighbors. Where could I find pictures of wilson and covert street. I noticed you had a fried over at the FDNy photo unit. Could you please inquire about a fire that happened on Wilson ave between covert and eldert street. It must have been some time between 84 and 86 the Box number should be 814. He would know what that means. Thanks again.

Peter: 4th Aug 2007 - 01:03 GMT

upfromflames might be able to help you with that one... hes the resident bushwick expert around here...

if you like, the editors will pass along any info to him youd like to share. see above email addy.

upfromflames: 4th Aug 2007 - 04:21 GMT

Sure. I'll do that for you in the next week. You can reach me at [[upfromflames@gmail.com]].

Randy: 30th Nov 2007 - 11:01 GMT

I remember the July 13, 1977 blackout if it was yesterday, i was 21, me and my brother had brought a brand new car that we shared an oldmoble 98 regency, we loved that car, we was riding around checking out the girls, it was a very hot day living in Harlem, we came up stairs i think close to 9pm, my parents was in the living room chatting i went to my bed room to open the window and i can see Yankee Stadium from the window they was having a game that nite then i notice the lights blinked in the house, then all of a sudden all the lights went out in the house and outside, people started chanting 'BLACK OUT BLACK OUT , we was all in the house talking about the black out, we was looking for candles, me and my brother decided to go back outside to tour the city in its dark madness,we wrote the city and about 20mins into the blackout the looting started, you can hear store windows breaking, people throwing bottles in the streets, the city went wild with the looting, gates what being pull down to the ground and people running out the stores with tv sets , stereos, 8 tracks, clothes etc, it was a shame how they was carrying on, we stayed out until about 11pm then we came back home, it was getting too dangerous out there, thats a nite i would never forget and it was a year i would never forget, so many things happened in 1977, that was a magical year with Star Wars in all, the SON OF SAM running around killing people, i must admit that was the most fun i ever had in my life that year.

Angel... Sunset Park Broolkyn: 21st Dec 2007 - 18:35 GMT

I was real young maybe 13 yrs old,during this black out, when the lights went out me and a some group of friends got together and tagged up the nieghborhood, atleast we weren't looting. I remember a lot of negative things going down that summer, like the Son of Sam, crime was crazy and my ex'girls Uncle was murdered in Red Hook Brooklyn, until today no ones been arrested for the shooting. I guess the only good thing that came outta that summer was the mother f'*#ing NEW YORK YANKEES....

ME: 25th Feb 2008 - 02:30 GMT

All these looters back in 1977 were they neighborhood people or people who came into this country legal or illegal for a better life. Looks like they got it. Its still going on. Some people just want to take the easy way out. Take from others instead of working for it.

Steven: 20th Apr 2008 - 22:40 GMT

This was an amazing night. I lived on Troutman Street at broadway and Myrtle, right in the action. I was 16 and was amazed and scared. I remember walking the block to Broadway the next day, and just wondered why people would do this to their neighborhood. I went to a school that was mostly white, and remembered the kids calling our races in Bushwick the dumbest people in the world. Sad.

andre hayes: 13th May 2008 - 14:31 GMT

this sort of happen 3 years ago but less violence

Jamal Washington Brownsville Bk: 31st Aug 2008 - 01:58 GMT

Wow, i was about 17 yrs old when this took place. I grew up on Chauncey and Broadway. My dad quickly took us out of the nieghborhood. It was some hot days that followed. Reggie Jackson did his thing though, brought the Yankees to the World Series... RIP DAD

Joe Drexler: 8th Sep 2008 - 18:54 GMT

I was born in Bushwick and lived on Himrod St. between Central and Wilson Aves.from 1962 to 1974.I enjoyed reading the blackout article but must say that there was an approximate 17 year downward spiral that culminated in the summer of 1977.The blackout and ensueing destruction that took place happened to be noticed because the event itself was widespread.Certainly there was alot more destruction in a shorter period of time but Bushwick residents were experiencing these problems on a daily basis long before the blackout and long after.My formative years were defined amidst a culture of violence,fear and fire.My mother was rescued from a fire while pregnant with little old me.As a young boy fires stabbings,junkies and muggings were the entertainment and R rated movies seemed phoney and somehow not real enough."I wonder which house will burn tonight" ."I wonder if my apartment will be burglarized today" those was the questions in everyones mind.Bushwick was burning way before 1977 thats just the summer when everyone noticed.P.S.later in life I became a firefighter.Was it a coincidence I'll always wonder.