Category: unpretentious art

Jones Beach whimsy

Jones Beach, Long Island, one of Robert Moses’s most famous projects.  Everyone from New York City could enjoy the beach, as long as they had a car to get to the beach.  Moses had the bridges crossing the road to the beach built Image too low to all buses, carrying the less affluent from the city.

More on NYC firehouses: Engine 23.

In Manhattan, several late 19th and early 20th century fire houses are still in use.  They are narrow, three story brick buildings, with interesting detailing.  Above the string course there is usually a bronze plaque listing every official associated with the building of the house, except for the architect.  But I have seen two firehouses where the famous architect LeBrun was listed.  Also, along the walls flanking the overhead  door, and on walls inside the building, are plaques commemorating the members who died in the line of duty.

Also the firehouses have knicknames such as “bat cave” or “lion’s den”, and these names and symbols are painted on the door. But at “lion’s den”ImageImageImage, the city required that a new plain door be installed.  The decorated door is in storage, and will be mounted on the rear inside wall of the station.

The top two images are this month, with the new door rolled up, the third image is last December with the decorated door.