Ever wonder how this Manhattan neighborhood got such a curious name? I will tell you all about Turtle Cove. Modern New Yorkers might think the area got its name from turtles sunning on the rocks. This was along the East River between 45th and 48th Streets. Ephemeral New York supports this idea. Back then, an actual bay was there. It was located in Colonial-era Manhattan. Meadows, hills and a stream surrounded it. The stream emptied at the foot of today’s 47th Street. Some historians think actual turtles lent to the name. They were plentiful in Manhattan. People commonly ate them. However, another reading of history suggests something else.
Turtle Bay received its name in the 17th century from Dutch settlers. The cove was shaped like a knife. The settlers named it “deutal.” “Deutal” is Dutch for “a bent blade.” The neighborhood of Turtle Bay begins in 1639. A 40-acre land grant was given to two Englishmen. The Dutch colonial governor of New Amsterdam gave it. The farm extended from 43rd Street to 48th Street. It ran from Third Avenue to the river. The Englishmen named the plot “Turtle Bay Farm.” Historians think the name was a corruption of the Dutch word “deutal.” They do not think it was a reference to actual turtles.
Back then, the area was full of farms and houses. Villas surrounded picturesque hills and streams. The street grid system changed Turtle Bay Farm. The hilly landscape was graded. Cross-streets were created. The land was subdivided between 1840 and 1850. This allowed for more formal residential development.
The name stuck as the area changed. From its early days through the Revolutionary War, the bay offered ships a safe haven. It protected them from winter gales. It also protected them from the currents of the East River. This made it important to Manhattan’s commerce. Shipbuilders established a thriving business there. Robert Fulton tested his steamboat on the East River in 1808. The wharf teemed with breweries, carpentry shops, mills and industrial businesses.
Development grew after the streets were gridded. It really took off after the Civil War. Building brownstones transformed the scenic landscape. The bay was filled in. The waterfront became a commercial sinkhole. The Turtle Bay Association describes it well. By 1868, the beautiful bay was filled in. Its charms were sullied by slaughterhouses, and packing sheds. Cattle pens, rotting wharfs, and railroad piers added to the mess.
Immigrants flooded the area. Tenements were built. In the 1920s, the brownstones were transformed back into fashionable townhouses. Today, the area is bustling with commercial activity. Skyscrapers line the streets. Turtle Bay still retains many historic townhouses. Despite the lack of turtles in the former bay, the name of Turtle Bay has endured.
The Turtle Bay Association formed in 1957. It addressed concerns about development and land use. Today, it works to have a voice in surrounding land use issues. The association strives to preserve the unique spaces of Turtle Bay. It enhances the quality of life for those who live and work here. The Turtle Bay Association works to develop an active membership. This fosters a sense of neighborhood. It creates a strong voice in city government. The association modifies conditions that may erode the residential character of Turtle Bay. It expands the experience of living here. It acts as a bridge to urban resources. These resources include government, civic institutions, and landmarks. It especially supports the development of parks and public spaces. So, next time you’re enjoying this unique Manhattan neighborhood, remember its surprising origin, and its ever evolving story.