NYP: ‘Subway stations retain signs and streets of places that no longer exist’
In Sunnyside, Queens, residents were in an uproar in 1998 when the MTA moved to change the name of the “46th Street-Bliss Street station” on the No. 7 line.
Renamed 46th Street in the 1920s — when the citywide street grid was imposed on the independent towns that made up the borough of Queens — Bliss Street was a confusing blast from the past. The MTA planned to change the name, but residents revolted.
“One of the attractions of moving to Sunnyside was getting on and off the train at Bliss Street,” said Pat Dorfman, who started the petition to save the Bliss Street subway name and collected 1,900 signatures in favor of keeping the link to the past.
In 2003, she successfully petitioned the City Council to also rename part of 46th Street “Bliss Street,” and saved the name of her station.
“They may not have official status as street names any longer, but they do have a historical context,” Seaton said.
Source: Luke Adams (2003)
We actually fought to restore dual names on Rawson, Lowery and as well as Bliss, with Cathy Nolan urging that Lincoln also be retained, not only for historic names but because stores such as Lowery Liquor and Bliss Street Station Restaurant needed the association for economic as well as sentimental reasons.
Don McCallian testified with me at City Hall, and Luke Adams taught me how to get it done after years of getting nowhere. Councilperson Helen Sears also was behind us. Speak to local historians about names such as Neziah Bliss of Greenpoint, an early industrialist who set up the first public ferry service among other achievements (anyone want to help set up a wikipedia entry for him? We have photo. We have his daughter’s wedding dress!). All of the old names are a wonderful part of NYC. Maybe we can restore a native-American name somewhere in place of a number. This is not the work of cranks, but one which enhances business, tourism, appreciation of history and a connection to those who helped make our lives different and better today.
If the MTA wishes to sell a stop name “33rd-Sinopec,” for instance, I don’t think many would be behind the move unless 10,000 permanent jobs were attached. Note in the NYPost article, the renaming has already started!
How about a bill “People’s Property” to make name changing more democratic and fair? Whatever the process is, make it uniform for all. Elected officials would need grass-roots support to rename a Queensboro Bridge.
I very much appreciate Patricia’s comments. As a comparatively new resident of Sunnyside, I am interested in its past and was wondering if any of the other streets between 39th and 48th had names. (I know that there are some dual street signs north of the Boulevard, but they’re for the higher numbered streets in the Gardens.)
I wouldn’t mind every once in a while calling my street (41st St.) by another name.
And yes, the 59th Street Bridge will always be the Queensborough Bridge. It doesn’t need a third name.
I had no idea how much work went into all this. Thanks for working on it, Pat. And also for telling us about it.
I’ll be the first name on any petition to retsore the Queensborough Bridge’s name. We can give Ed Koch the Brooklyn Bridge if he wants it.
thank you, phippician!
brendan, unless i am mistaken, according to this online 1873 map (scroll down for to dutch kills/blissville)
http://www.bklyn-genealogy-info.com/Map/LIC.1873.html
your street is “van buren” — possibly named after the admirable 8th president, like the school in middle village, but who knows? anyone out there?
you could start by googling van burens in america and find out something interesting — perhaps there was dutch settler here by that name! but watch out:) soon you will find yourself skulking around the flushing branch of the library, pestering our many excellent historians and working on getting the name back. i will be glad to sign. our councilman, jimmy van bramer, knows a lot about dutch history in queens. he might know
pat
I love having this screen name
I’m curious, as someone who lives on Locust Street, how this name for an insect became so widespread when we started naming places. I mean there’s hardly anything good that can be said about the locust, except for maybe that they are edible and nutritious. Otherwise, they represent swarms and plagues; hardly part of a positive motif. What other bug comes to mind that one can incorporate into a name of a place? (except maybe Roach Coach, for that taco truck under 46th street station.)