BY BEN VERDE
Pedestrians walking
through Boerum Hill will now
see a newly installed plaque
that memorializes an 18th century
well that was originally
constructed as part of a Revolutionary
War fort.
The plaque, at the corner of
Bond and Pacifi c Streets, commemorates
the historic infrastructure
that was discovered
underneath the street’s concrete
during a construction
project in 2017, before being
covered up again.
Now, the local assemblymember
is hailing the
addition of the celebratory
signage, while also pushing
city construction honchos to
adorn the site in plexiglass
for all the world to see.
Celebrate Eid at Home
to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
COURIER L 4 IFE, APRIL 16-22, 2021
“Ideally what we would
like is for the city to open it up
and encase it in a very sturdy,
thick plexiglass, like they
do at other historic sites, so
you could see what’s beneath
it,” said Boerum Hill Assemblymember
Jo Anne Simon at
an unveiling ceremony for the
plaque on April 9. “We think
that would be a great way to
not only memorialize this but
to show people something that
is highly unusual, right here
in Boerum Hill.”
Along with the plaque,
photos of the well have been
pasted to the corner building,
to give a visual reference to
the historic site that so few
in the neighborhood know
about.
The well was uncovered by
a crew from the city’s Department
of Design and Construction
who were working to install
a new pedestrian ramp
at the corner in 2017 when
they discovered the ancient
watering hole, which still had
water at the bottom of it.
(Left to right) Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon shows off the spot where
the well was covered up, the 18th Century well, and the new plaque adorning
The well is believed to
have been connected to Fort
Box, one of the Continental
Army’s lines of defense
against the British during
the Revolutionary War,
which was captured by the
British during the 1776 Battle
of Brooklyn and subsequently
destroyed — but the
well remained intact.
The area was host to numerous
other forts throughout
the years and the wars
that followed, including Fort
Fireman, which New York
City Mayor DeWitt Clinton
encouraged volunteer laborers
to construct during the
War of 1812 along what is
now Pacifi c, Bond and Nevins
Streets, and Atlantic Avenue.
“Here we are once again,
defending Brooklyn in our
own little way by keeping the
memory alive,” said Howard
Kolins of the Boerum Hill Association.
the ancient infrastructure.
Well, that’s pretty cool
Plaque honors to Revolutionary-era well in Boerum Hill
• Keep your gathering small and
celebrate Eid al-Fitr with household
members only.
• If gathering in a group, wear a snug
fitting face covering to protect the
elderly and vulnerable.
• Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines,
including which groups are currently
eligible to receive one.
Eid Mubarak!
For more information, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.
If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, book your
appointment by calling 877-829-4692 (877-VAX-4NYC) or
visiting nyc.gov/vaccinefinder.
Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc
Commissioner
/coronavirus
/vaccinefinder