Gowanus- Not just Another Neighborhood

There’s an interesting exhibit in the basement at the Brooklyn Historical Society these days: “Gowanus- Transformations: Celebrating 150 Years of Manufacturing”. Sponsored by FROG (Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus), it’s not all the manufacturing that’s still in the neighborhood, but an interesting cross-section. The curators are Christine Mackellar and Margaret Maugenest, and the photographs of the manufacturers and their wares are by Enid Braun. There are luscious-looking treats from an Indian bakery that supplies many restaurants; the company that does the pyrotechnics for “Late Night with David Letterman”; and the only pasta extrusion die company in the western hemisphere (see photo by Enid Braun). That means the dies that cut the alphabets for alphabet soup are manufactured in Gowanus. Who knew?

The show runs until August 24th. There’s a free, guided walking tour of the manufacturing sites on Sat., June 21, 2-4 PM. It will start at Claireware (pottery maker), on Union Street near the corner of Nevins.