Con Ed Talks About Brooklyn's "Baseball Wall"

Regarding the old "baseball wall" in Gowanus that we received a photograph of yesterday, showing it in rough shape... there's no need to worry! A spokesman from Con Ed (the company that now owns the wall now) tells us:

The original portion of the wall—the part that dates to when the Dodgers played in Washington Park—is staying up. That is what we have always intended. Our architects have been in touch with baseball and neighborhood historians on this matter. We have met with them at the location to make sure that nothing that is original to the old Washington Park is torn down.

Meaning the photo we were sent is not of the original portion of the wall. Indeed, there has long been confusion surrounding the wall; check out some old photos of it here.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on October 19, 2010 5:33 PM

Comments [rss]

Neil

This is exactly what Con Ed said they were going to do back in January. The story up to that point:

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/01/utility_outfiel.php

David Dyte

I can assure you that none of the wall dates to the Dodger days, but *all* of the remaining part, that survived the 1926 demolition of the stadium's remains, dated to 1914 when the Tip Tops of the Federal League built their version of Washington Park, modeled on Weeghman Park (now Wrigley Field) in Chicago. That was (and the part of it remaining is) a major league wall, but not a Dodger wall.

I have done a LOT of research on this wall:

http://www.covehurst.net/ddyte/brooklyn/washwall.html

And the site in general:

http://www.covehurst.net/ddyte/brooklyn/washington_park.html

gob15

I wouldn't be so sure "there is no need to worry." That is, if this is concerning to you. If you look on google maps street view, you can clearly see the portion of the wall that is of concern. I am curious to know what Con Ed, local historians and "baseball" are considering the original part because to me it looks like its all part of the same wall. Also, if their cut off is where the window cut outs begin, then they are perliously close to destroying that section as well.