Here stands the Arbitration Rock. This rock witnessed bitter boundary disputes between Brooklyn and Queens. These disputes stretched back to the 17th century.
Let’s delve into the story of this unassuming glacial boulder. Arbitration Rock marks a significant point in New York City’s history. It once defined the dividing line between two Long Island townships. Newtown was in Queens County. Bushwick was in Kings County. Therefore, Arbitration Rock also marked the boundary between these two colonial New York counties. Imagine a Volkswagen Beetle. That is approximately the size of Arbitration Rock.
An acrimonious dispute ignited in 1661. It concerned the boundary lines between Newtown and Bushwick. The conflict escalated. Men from opposing communities even threw stones at each other. This dispute largely reflected tensions between the original Dutch settlers of Bushwick. It also involved the burgeoning English colonists of Newtown.
In 1768, the legislature passed a bill. It established a commission. The commission would designate the boundary between the two townships. In 1769, the borderline was established. It was measured from this large rock. This rock would later be known as Arbitration Rock. Still, the dispute wasn’t fully settled until 1880. The state sent surveyors. They verified the point on the old rock made in 1661.
Throughout the 19th century, Arbitration Rock served as the official marker. It settled property disputes. All property lines were measured from its center. This included the border of Brooklyn. In 1898, both towns were absorbed into a consolidated New York City. The Arbitration Rock diminished in importance. By 1917, earth and debris nearly covered it.
New York City redrew the Brooklyn-Queens boundary in 1925. This addressed problems. The ruler-straight borderline ran through the middle of houses. Some residents had kitchens in Queens and living rooms in Brooklyn. Voting and tax rates became confusing. A grid plan was imposed on the two boroughs. The Arbitration Rock became redundant.
The redrawn boundaries placed the rock well inside Queens. Its original purpose obsolete, the rock faded into obscurity. Street improvements in the 1930s buried the glacial boulder. For more than 10000 years it had lain there. Its location was forgotten. Arbitration Rock became a myth.
Interest in the rock’s historical significance grew in the 1990s. After a seven-year archaeological hunt, a crane unearthed the rock. It was buried under Onderdonk Avenue. This happened in December 2001. The rock was moved to the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House. This house dates back to the 18th century.
Even after 340 years, Arbitration Rock remained central to disputes. It was between Queens and Brooklyn. Queens relocated the rock. A ceremony marked its restored place in history. Brooklyn officials protested. They argued for inclusion in decisions about its placement. It was part of their joint heritage.
The official Queens historian declared it belonged in Queens. It had been in Queens for 77 years. This was since the boundaries were redrawn. A Solomon-like approach was suggested. The rock should be cut in half. The other half would become a monument in Brooklyn.
Arbitration Rock stands here today. It is a reminder of a time when borders were fiercely contested. It symbolizes the evolving landscape of New York City.