“Couch or flimsy dining room table?” That is the question many ask when visiting IKEA. But this corner of Red Hook, where IKEA Pier A now stands, has a history of conflict far deadlier than furniture debates.
Before IKEA, this land saw Dutch colonizers displacing Native Americans. It also witnessed British forces confronting General George Washington’s Revolutionary armies. Battleships even dry-docked here during the Civil War and World War II. This location is IKEA Pier A.
Once, this area was Van Dyke’s Mill Pond. In the 17th century, Dutch settlers farmed and lived around these ponds. The Van Dykes were among those settlers. They owned 50 acres of land.
Leading up to the American Revolution, Red Hook feared Indian assaults. In 1655, Hendrick Van Dyke killed a member of the Munsee Delaware tribe for stealing peaches. The tribe retaliated, sparking the “Peach Wars”.
In 1776, British forces arrived at Fort Defiance, located at the end of Red Hook Lane. General George Washington used this fortress to protect New York. It had a view of the ocean, the East River and the Hudson River.
The British defeated the revolutionaries at Fort Defiance. However, General Washington led his army to retreat. This retreat allowed him to regroup and win a later battle.
One American sniper played a key role in this retreat. He continued to fire at the British, allowing his comrades to escape. He was killed and his body was left to rot. This was meant as a warning to the colonists.
John Burkard, a local historian, lamented the area’s destruction for IKEA. A plaque commemorating the Battle of Brooklyn was lost. He felt this history was critical to the nation’s birth.
The land under IKEA Pier A connects to modern wars too. The store sits on a dry-dock built by the U.S. Navy in the 1850s. It repaired warships. The USS Monitor and the USS Niagara were among the ships repaired here.
After the Civil War, Todd Shipyards bought the dry-dock in 1869. The Red Hook peninsula became a busy commercial hub. Ships from all over the world arrived at the Atlantic Basin. The Erie Basin repaired commercial ships filled with goods.
The U.S. Navy retook the dry-dock during World War II. They used it to strengthen warships and submarines. The Gannet, a minesweeper, was built at Todd Shipyards. A German submarine torpedoed it in 1942.
The dry-dock lost commercial relevance when the harbor moved to New Jersey. It operated until 2005, when IKEA bought the site.
The Municipal Art Society sued to stop IKEA’s construction. They wanted to preserve the historic dock. They presented alternative plans. IKEA rejected them.
Today, some dry-dock remains can be seen behind IKEA. There is a park with ropes, bollards, iron carts and cranes. Few IKEA shoppers visit this park.
Panels explain the dry-dock’s history. “We worked fast and we worked with a purpose,” one reads. “This shipyard helped America win the war.”
Fishermen frequent the area. One fisherman said he had no idea about the dry-dock.
Inside IKEA, a saleswoman confirmed they have nothing on the dock’s history.
From IKEA’s third floor, one can enjoy the same view General George Washington once had. So, as you shop for affordable furniture, remember the rich history beneath your feet at IKEA Pier A.