NYC Placename

Ellis Island is named after Samuel Ellis, a colonial merchant who owned the island in the late 18th century. Originally called Kioshk (or Gull) Island by the Lenape Native Americans who lived in the area, the island was later renamed after Ellis when he acquired it in 1785.

Ellis Island became a significant part of American history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it served as the main point of entry for millions of immigrants to the United States. From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island was home to a federal immigration station where immigrants were processed and screened before they were allowed to enter the country. Today, Ellis Island is a national museum and historic site that commemorates the experiences of immigrants who passed through its doors.

Samuel Ellis was a colonial merchant and New York City landowner who owned Ellis Island in the late 18th century. Not much is known about Ellis’s personal life, but he is believed to have been born in England around 1739 and to have immigrated to the American colonies in the mid-18th century.

Ellis was a successful merchant who traded in goods such as rum, molasses, and sugar. He also owned several ships that were used to transport these goods to and from the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

In 1785, Ellis purchased Kioshk Island, which had previously been used for farming and grazing, for £30 in gold. He renamed the island after himself, and it remained in his family’s possession for several decades.

After Ellis’s death in 1794, his heirs sold the island to New York State, which later sold it to the federal government. In the late 19th century, Ellis Island was chosen as the site for a new federal immigration station, which opened in 1892 and remained in operation until 1954.

Today, Samuel Ellis is primarily remembered for his association with Ellis Island, which has become an iconic symbol of American immigration and the immigrant experience. His name lives on through the island’s name, which has become synonymous with the struggles and triumphs of generations of immigrants who have made their way to the United States.

The Algonquin Indians were a Native American tribe that inhabited the New York City area, as well as other parts of the northeastern United States and Canada. The Algonquin people were part of the larger Algonquian language family, which included many other tribes and bands.

The Algonquin people were hunters and gatherers who subsisted on a diet of fish, game, and wild plants. They were skilled at making tools, weapons, and clothing from natural materials, and they had a rich culture that included music, dance, and storytelling.

The arrival of European settlers in the 17th century had a significant impact on the Algonquin people and other Native American tribes. The Algonquin people were displaced from their lands, and their populations declined rapidly due to disease and other factors.

Today, there are few if any descendants of the Algonquin people in the New York City area. However, their legacy lives on through the historical record and the efforts of modern-day Native American communities to preserve their heritage and traditions.

In New York City today, there are many landmarks and cultural institutions that pay tribute to the city’s Native American heritage. For example, the National Museum of the American Indian, which is part of the Smithsonian Institution, has a branch in Lower Manhattan that features exhibits and programs focused on Native American history and culture. There are also several parks and public spaces in the city that are named after Native American tribes, including the Algonquin Square in Midtown Manhattan.

There are several places in New York City that are named after the Algonquin Indians, including:

• Algonquin Park: This small park is located in the Kew Gardens neighborhood of Queens. It features playgrounds, sports fields, and a walking path.
• Algonquin Theater: The Algonquin Theater is a historic theater located on West 44th Street in Manhattan. It was built in 1926 and has been home to many famous productions over the years.
• Algonquin Hotel: The Algonquin Hotel is a historic hotel located on West 44th Street in Manhattan. It opened in 1902 and has been a popular destination for writers, artists, and other creative types over the years.
• Algonquin Bridge: The Algonquin Bridge is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that spans the Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens. It was built in the early 20th century and is named after the Algonquin Indians who once inhabited the area.
• Algonquin Club: The Algonquin Club is a private social club located on West 44th Street in Manhattan. It was founded in 1874 and has been a gathering place for business and political leaders over the years.

The Minett Indians, also known as the Munsee or Minsi, were a Native American tribe that inhabited the New York City area, among other regions of the eastern United States. The Minett Indians were part of the larger Lenape or Delaware Nation, which included several other sub-tribes.

The Minett Indians were one of the first Native American tribes encountered by European explorers and settlers in the New York area. They lived in villages along the Hudson River and its tributaries, as well as in other parts of the region.

The Minett Indians were hunters and gatherers, and they subsisted on a diet that included fish, game, and plants. They were skilled at making weapons, tools, and clothing from natural materials, and they also engaged in trade with other tribes.

The arrival of European settlers in the 17th century had a profound impact on the Minett Indians, as it did on many other Native American tribes. The Minett Indians were displaced from their lands, and their populations declined rapidly due to disease and other factors.

Today, there are few if any descendants of the Minett Indians in the New York City area. However, the legacy of their culture and traditions lives on through the historical record and the efforts of modern-day Lenape communities to preserve their heritage.

There are areas in New York City that are named after the Lenape or Delaware Nation, of which the Minett Indians were a part. Here are a few examples:

• The neighborhood of Lenox Hill on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is named after Robert Lenox, a wealthy merchant who owned land in the area. Lenox purchased the land from the Lenape people in the 18th century.
• The neighborhood of Canarsie in Brooklyn is named after the Canarsee or Canarsie band of the Lenape people, who inhabited the area prior to European settlement.
• The Bowery, a street and neighborhood in Manhattan, is named after the Dutch word “bouwerij,” which means farm. The area was originally settled by the Dutch and was home to several Lenape farms.
• In Queens, the Rockaway Peninsula is named after the Reckowacky or Raritan band of the Lenape people, who inhabited the area prior to European settlement.

It is unclear whether Flanders Bay in New York is named after a person. The origin of the name is somewhat uncertain, and there are a few different theories about its etymology.

One theory is that the name “Flanders” may be a corruption of the Dutch word “Vlaanderen,” which means Flanders, a region in Belgium. This theory suggests that the name may have been given by Dutch settlers who were reminded of their homeland by the landscape of the bay.

Another theory is that the name may have been derived from the surname “Flanders.” There were several families with this name living in the area in the 17th and 18th centuries, so it’s possible that the bay was named after one of these families.

It’s also possible that the bay was named after a person with the given name “Flanders,” although there is no known historical figure with this name who has been definitively associated with the area.

In short, the origin of the name “Flanders Bay” is uncertain, and it’s unclear whether the name was specifically chosen to honor a person or family.

Francis Lewis Blvd is a major thoroughfare located in Queens, New York City. It runs from the intersection of 147th Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard in the south to the Cross Island Parkway in the north, a distance of approximately 7.5 miles.

The boulevard is named after Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who lived in Queens and owned a large estate in what is now the neighborhood of Whitestone. The boulevard intersects with several major roads, including the Belt Parkway, Grand Central Parkway, and the Long Island Expressway.

Francis Lewis Blvd passes through several neighborhoods in Queens, including Rosedale, Cambria Heights, and Fresh Meadows. Along the route, you’ll find a mix of residential and commercial properties, with many small businesses, shops, and restaurants located along the boulevard.

The boulevard is an important transportation artery for Queens, serving as a major north-south route through the borough. It’s also an important commercial hub, with many businesses located along its length. Overall, Francis Lewis Blvd is an important part of Queens’ transportation and commercial infrastructure.

Francis Lewis was a prominent figure during the American Revolution and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in Llandaff, Wales in 1713, and after immigrating to New York, he became a successful merchant and trader. In 1745, he married Elizabeth Annesley, and together they had several children.

Lewis became involved in politics during the 1760s and 1770s, serving as a member of the New York Provincial Congress and the Continental Congress. He was a strong advocate for independence from Great Britain and played a key role in the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

During the Revolution, Lewis suffered significant personal losses, including the destruction of his home and property by British troops. Despite these setbacks, he continued to serve the patriot cause, lending his support to the war effort and helping to secure loans and supplies for the Continental Army.

After the war, Lewis retired from politics and returned to his merchant business. He passed away in 1802 at the age of 89 and was buried in the yard of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in the Bronx. Today, Lewis is remembered as a key figure in the founding of the United States and his name is memorialized in numerous ways, including the boulevard in Queens that bears his name.

Pelham is a neighborhood in the Bronx, New York, that is named after Thomas Pelham-Holles, the first Duke of Newcastle.

Thomas Pelham-Holles was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain twice in the mid-18th century. He was a member of the Whig Party and was known for his support of parliamentary reform and religious toleration.

In 1757, Pelham-Holles was granted the title of Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne by King George II. The following year, the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx was purchased by a group of investors who named the area after the newly-minted Duke of Newcastle.

The name “Pelham” has since been used to refer to several other locations in the United States, including Pelham, Massachusetts, and Pelham, New Hampshire. It is also the name of several streets, schools, and parks throughout the country.

homas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain twice in the mid-18th century. He was born on July 21, 1693, in London, England, and died on November 17, 1768, at the age of 75.

Pelham-Holles was a member of the Whig Party and served in various positions in government, including as Secretary of State for the Southern Department and as Lord Chamberlain. He was known for his support of parliamentary reform and religious toleration, and was a key figure in the development of the Whig Party’s political platform.

Pelham-Holles first served as Prime Minister from 1754 to 1756, during the reign of King George II. He was then appointed as Prime Minister again in 1757, a position he held until 1762, during the reign of King George III.

As Prime Minister, Pelham-Holles faced several significant challenges, including the Seven Years’ War, which pitted Great Britain against France and its allies. He also had to contend with opposition from within his own party and from the Tory Party.

Despite these challenges, Pelham-Holles was able to achieve several significant accomplishments during his time in office. He oversaw the expansion of the British Empire and the growth of the British economy, and was a key player in the development of British foreign policy.

Today, Pelham-Holles is remembered as a skilled politician and a key figure in the history of the Whig Party. The name “Pelham” continues to be used as a tribute to his legacy, particularly in the United States, where several locations, including the Bronx neighborhood of Pelham, are named after him.

Pelham, the neighborhood in the Bronx, has a rich history that dates back to the 17th century, when it was originally inhabited by the Siwanoy Native American tribe. The area was later settled by Dutch colonizers and became a farming community.

In the 18th century, Pelham Bay was a popular destination for wealthy New Yorkers seeking to escape the city’s crowded and polluted streets. The area was home to several large estates and country homes, and was known for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Pelham experienced significant growth and development, particularly after the extension of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad into the area. The construction of the Pelham Bay Park and the Pelham Bay Bridge also contributed to the neighborhood’s growth.

Today, Pelham is a primarily residential neighborhood with a diverse population. It is home to several schools, parks, and cultural institutions, including the Pelham Bay Nature Center and the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum.

The name “Pelham” continues to be a prominent one in the United States, and is often associated with the concepts of wealth, privilege, and exclusivity. However, the neighborhood in the Bronx is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of communities over time, and serves as a reminder of the rich history and cultural diversity of the United States.

Erskine Street and Erskine Place are two streets in the Bronx, New York, that are named after John Erskine, a prominent educator and writer.

John Erskine was born in 1879 in New York City and earned a doctorate in literature from Columbia University. He later became a professor of English at Columbia and was instrumental in developing the university’s core curriculum.

Erskine was a prolific writer and authored several books, including “The Moral Obligation to Be Intelligent” and “Adam and Eve and Pinch Me.” He was also an accomplished musician and composer, and wrote several pieces of music throughout his career.

In addition to his work in education and literature, Erskine was also an advocate for social justice and human rights. He spoke out against racism and discrimination, and was a vocal opponent of the Nazi regime in Germany during World War II.

Erskine passed away in 1951, but his legacy lives on through his contributions to education and the arts. Erskine Street and Erskine Place in the Bronx were named in his honor as a testament to his achievements and impact on New York City and the wider world.

John Erskine was a significant figure in the cultural and educational landscape of New York City and the United States. In addition to his work as an educator and writer, he was also an accomplished pianist and composer. He wrote several works of music, including a concerto for piano and orchestra and a set of variations on “Home on the Range.”

Erskine was a strong advocate for the liberal arts and humanities, and believed that a well-rounded education was essential for success in life. He was a proponent of a broad-based curriculum that emphasized critical thinking, cultural awareness, and social responsibility.

Erskine was also a vocal opponent of totalitarianism and fascism, and spoke out against the rise of Nazi Germany in the years leading up to World War II. He was a member of several anti-fascist organizations and used his platform as a writer and public speaker to raise awareness about the dangers of authoritarianism.

Erskine’s legacy lives on through his contributions to education and the arts, as well as his advocacy for social justice and human rights. Erskine Street and Erskine Place in the Bronx serve as a lasting tribute to his achievements and impact on the cultural and intellectual life of New York City and beyond.

The Canarsie Indians were a Native American tribe that lived in the area that is now known as Brooklyn, New York. The name “Canarsie” is believed to have been derived from the Lenape word “kanarseye,” which means “fenced land” or “fortified place.”

The Canarsie Indians were part of the larger Lenape tribe, which inhabited the mid-Atlantic region of North America. The Lenape people were skilled hunters, fishermen, and farmers, and they had a rich culture that included music, dance, and storytelling.

The Canarsie Indians were one of several Lenape groups that lived in the New York City area before the arrival of European colonizers. They were primarily located in the area that is now known as Canarsie, which is a neighborhood in southeastern Brooklyn.

When the Dutch arrived in the New York City area in the early 17th century, they established trade relations with the Lenape people, including the Canarsie. However, tensions between the Lenape and the Dutch grew over time, and the Lenape were eventually pushed out of their land by European settlers.

Before the arrival of European colonizers, the Canarsie Indians were part of a large network of tribes that lived in the mid-Atlantic region of North America. They were skilled hunters and fishermen who lived off the land and waterways of what is now Brooklyn.

When the Dutch arrived in the New York City area in the early 17th century, they established a trade relationship with the Canarsie and other Lenape tribes. However, as European settlement expanded, the relationship between the Lenape and the Dutch grew increasingly strained. The Lenape were forced to cede their land to European settlers, and many were forcibly removed from their homes.

Despite this displacement, some Lenape people, including the Canarsie, were able to maintain their cultural traditions and ways of life. They adapted to the changing circumstances and continued to live in the New York City area, albeit in smaller communities than before.

Today, the legacy of the Canarsie Indians lives on through their descendants, who continue to honor their heritage and traditions. The Canarsie Indian Community Center in Brooklyn is one such organization that works to preserve and celebrate the culture and history of the Canarsie and other Lenape tribes. Additionally, efforts are underway to acknowledge the historical injustices that were done to the Lenape people and to recognize their contributions to the development of the New York City area.

There are few remaining traces of the Canarsie Indians in Brooklyn, but their legacy lives on through the place names that bear their name, including Canarsie, Canarsie Pier, and Canarsie Cemetery.

One story says the Sheridan Expressway was named for the Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works Arthur V. Sheridan, who ironically died in a motor car crash in 1952.^[4] 

Arthur V. Sheridan was a notable public figure in the Bronx during the mid-20th century, serving as the Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works in the 1940s and 1950s. He was born in 1902 and raised in the Bronx, attending local schools and later receiving his engineering degree from Cooper Union.

Sheridan began his career as an engineer for the New York City Department of Public Works and was eventually appointed as the Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works in 1942 by Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing a range of public works projects throughout the borough, including road construction, bridge repairs, and water supply infrastructure improvements.

One of Sheridan’s most notable accomplishments was his work on the construction of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, which was completed in 1939 and connected the Bronx with Queens. He was also instrumental in the construction of the Mosholu Parkway and the development of the Bronx River Parkway Reservation, a public park along the Bronx River.

Sheridan remained the Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works for nearly two decades, serving under several different mayors. He was known for his dedication to improving the infrastructure of the Bronx and was highly respected by his colleagues and the public alike.

After retiring from public service in 1960, Sheridan remained active in his community and served on various civic and charitable organizations. He passed away in 1976 at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy of public service and dedication to the Bronx.

Sheridan Boulevard (originally the Sheridan Expressway) is named after Sheridan. This road is 1.4 miles long and connects the Bruckner and Cross Bronx Expressways in order to provide a route for commercial vehicles, which cannot travel on the Bronx River Parkway. In the late 2010s, the Sheridan Expressway was converted into a boulevard. The street was officially dedicated to Sheridan in 1961, just after his retirement from public service.

There are other Sheridan Boulevards in the NYC area. One in Mineola and another in the Inwood section of the Bronx.

Sheridan

Another version would say Sheridan Boulevard is named after General Philip Sheridan, a prominent military leader during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars of the late 19th century.

Philip Sheridan was born in 1831 in New York and grew up in Ohio. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1853 and served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Sheridan was known for his aggressive tactics and his success in several key battles, including the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battle of Missionary Ridge. He was later appointed as commander of the Army of the Shenandoah and played a key role in defeating Confederate General Jubal Early’s forces in the Shenandoah Valley.

After the war, Sheridan was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and was appointed as commander of the Department of the Missouri. He played a key role in the Indian Wars of the late 19th century, and was responsible for several campaigns against Native American tribes in the western United States.

Sheridan died in 1888, but his legacy as a military leader and his contributions to the development of the United States continue to be recognized today. Sheridan Boulevard, which runs through several neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado, was named in honor of his service to the country.

The Major Deegan Expressway, which is also known as the Major Deegan Freeway, is named after Major William Francis Deegan, a decorated World War II veteran and prominent figure in the New York City transportation industry.

William Francis Deegan was born in the Bronx in 1908 and served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He flew 75 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters for his service.

After the war, Deegan returned to New York City and began a career in transportation. He worked for the New York State Department of Public Works and was later appointed as the first commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation in 1967.

As commissioner, Deegan was instrumental in the development of the state’s transportation infrastructure, including the construction of several major highways and bridges. He was a strong advocate for the construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway, which was completed in 1963, and for the extension of the Bronx River Parkway to Westchester County.

The Major Deegan Expressway was completed in 1956 and was named in honor of Major Deegan for his contributions to transportation in New York City and the state. Today, the expressway is a vital transportation link for commuters and commercial traffic in the Bronx and surrounding areas.

In addition to his work in transportation, Deegan was also a prominent figure in the Bronx community. He was involved in local politics and served as the chairman of the Bronx County Democratic Committee. He was also a member of several civic organizations, including the Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus.

Deegan was known for his dedication to public service and his efforts to improve the quality of life for residents of the Bronx. He worked to improve public housing and to promote economic development in the borough.

Tragically, Deegan passed away in 1955, just a year before the completion of the expressway that would bear his name. He was only 47 years old at the time of his death.

Despite his untimely passing, Deegan’s legacy lives on through the Major Deegan Expressway and his contributions to the transportation industry and the Bronx community. The expressway remains an important artery for traffic in the Bronx and surrounding areas, and serves as a lasting tribute to a man who devoted his life to public service.

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