• CASE 1—WHAT IF...?

• CASE 2 —PHOTOGRAPHY ARRIVES

• CASE 3—VISIBLE REMNANTS

• CASE 4 —ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE PAST

• CASE 5—PEELING BACK THE LAYERS

• CASE 6—TIMELESS ACTIVITIES

• CASE 7 —ENCROACHMENT OF URBANIZATION

• CASE 8 —COLONIAL SITES DURING THE CIVIL WAR

• CASE 9—EVOLUTION OF HISTORIC SITES

• CASE 10 —RESTORATIONS

• CASE 11—RE-ENACTMENTS

• CASE 12 —HENRY WHEELER'S EYE PT. I

• CASE 13—HENRY WHEELER'S EYE PT. II

• CASE 14 —HENRY WHEELER'S EYE PT. III

• CASE 15 —HENRY WHEELER'S EYE PT. IV

• CASE 16—DOCUMENTING OF CONDITION

• COLONIAL AMERICANA TODAY

• EXHIBITS PAGE

• CLEMENTS LIBRARY

Colonial Photography—Viewfinder on the Past

Encroachment of Urban Development

Case 7

The area of Garrettsen Creek, near Sheepshead Bay, Long Island is where British troops marched in 1776, picking fruit from the trees, on their way towards Brooklyn Heights and the Battle of Long Island. The area was originally settled in the 17th century by Wolfert Gerrittsen, a Belgian. When these images were taken, circa 1896, by James O. Barnaby of Brooklyn, New York, the surrounding area still had a much closer resemblance to the lush rural Arcadia that the British experienced than the urban grid that it was soon to become.

The encroachment of urban row houses just visible on the horizon was soon to permanently change this historic area. Barnaby's albums include the image of our colonial photographers at work, on location at "The Old Homestead" at Garrettsen's Creek. Barnaby seemed to be well aware of the local history, and understood that fast paced changes taking place were rapidly erasing important ties to the past.

James O. Barnaby. Clove Road Nest. Albumen print. Ca. 1896. From: Long Island and Brooklyn, ca. 1894-96 Photo Albums.

James O. Barnaby. The Old Turnpike. Albumen print. Ca. 1896. From: Long Island and Brooklyn, ca. 1894-96 Photo Albums.