How did the Fruit Streets Get Their Names?

By on January 27, 2016 6:45 am in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn History

The Times’ “New York Today” offers an explanation…or two…without actually taking a stand.

Cranberry, Orange and Pineapple Streets. A vitamin C trifecta.

Why do these streets in Brooklyn bear names both boggy and tropical?

As it turns out, there is no definitive answer to today’s question.

Click away to see what Mrs. Middagh might have had to do with it…and make “New York Today” a part of your morning. In addition to providing a listing of essential news and a bouquet of entertainment/enrichment options, it also offers, most days, a glimpse into the paper’s archives.

Ephemeral New York offers a little more detail into the fruit streets, as does this 2013 BHB post.

 

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  • Karl Junkersfeld

    A few years ago I did a video clearly explaining why it would have been impossible for Lady Middagh to have named the fruit streets. (see attached)
    The streets were named prior to the grid even being built. We know this from looking at the Lott map which was drawn up in 1816 prior to any streets even being constructed.

    http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/67857

  • Andrew Porter

    In the year 2174, with climate change ever more evident and the oceans rising, Brooklyn Heights was cut off from the slowly submerging neighborhoods to the east and south. Many of the old abandoned houses were torn down. They were replaced with pineapple plantations and orange groves, the sunny hillsides planted with cranberries.

  • Eddyde

    LOL, Thanks!