Creeks And Maritime Captains Made History Here

Strolling along in 1916, we take a look at one of Canarsie’s famous creeks, which came in from Jamaica Bay at a point about where the circle of the entrance and exits of the Belt Parkway are now. The area was under water at this time and, as we follow it, we pass the "Frank and Helen McAvoy" tied up at the dock waiting for customers to be taken over to Barren Island and the Rockaways.

Next, we pass the float of John Hitchler, then O’Connors; also, the Sellers, floats of William and Frank and Max Casey’s who all rented out row boats for the fine crabbing and fishing in the waters of Jamaica Bay. At this time, we pass the Carousel owned and operated by the Murphy family.

In this creek were kept many boats, which took parties out for Blue Fish and weak Fish and also some others that took the various baymen out to the oyster grounds in the middle of the Bay or over to Ruffle Bar which was about 5 miles away from the Canarsie dock.

Among some that I can remember were Capt. Louis Klee’s which was operated by son Louie and the Bevis Boys, Denman and Joe. Another boat was owned and operated by John Bogart, Sr. Also "Blue Fish" Charlie Mayer and another by a colored man named Kelly who was well liked at the Shore; also the Vernie S. owned by Capt. Chas. Sofield.

Can you remember a couple of horse and wagons waiting to be loaded? These were owned by John Arthur Bousley, George E. Mathews and Nicholas F. Ryder who were dealers of shellfish and were waiting for the clam diggers to come in from the days toil with their various catches of mostly steam clams-or what we called soft shells to be distributed around the City to many stores and bars which gave out clam broth and steamed clams to their customers.

As we look along the top of the creeks bulkhead, we see the first big Dance Hall of Fred Boegel’s (later operated by Billy Ray for a couple of years.)

Then next to Geo. Rigby’s cabaret where you could go in and hear Artie Meyers at the piano and Joe Buscemi with his banjo and the singing of a cousin of mine, Chas. E. Denton, singing "West of the Great Divide" or Frank Muchmore or Danny Gray who both had lovely voices.

We next come to Scheillins and last the big bar and picnic hall where you could sit and eat your basket of food or get a bowl of delicious clam chowder with your drinks. This was owned by Rose and Harry Victor and many a person from all over Bklyn enjoyed their hospitality.

Next to their place was a machine shop owned by John Vorbeck who repaired and sold motors for the boat owners.

Just past his creek took a bend for about a block in length then straight up to its bulkhead (which is where the big chain store Key Food is.) This Creek ran along where the Shopping Center is located.

This land was all filled in around 1922 and 1923 along with old Steam Boat Creek and there wasn’t any Rockaway Parkway at the shore in those days. It was called Rockaway Avenue and turned down the hill (now what is called Seaview Avenue) and down into what is now St. Jude’s Place.

The fill for the Belt Parkway was pumped in from Jamaica Bay by big dredge boats in 1939 and opened on July 1st, 1940 for all its length. It originally was called Circumferential Parkway, and then later it was changed to the Belt.

And so ends another story about the comings and goings in the Little Old Canarsie that we all knew and loved in days gone by.