Named after a pivotal Irish battle the Vinegar Hill Historic District in Brooklyn boasts a captivating history. This tiny neighborhood nestled between DUMBO and the Brooklyn Navy Yard has a working-class past. It was once predominantly Irish. Its cobblestone streets and brick townhouses mingle with industrial remnants and modern condo buildings.
Vinegar Hill’s story begins long before its Irish residents. The area was originally home to the Canarsie Native Americans. They sold land to Joris Rapelje a European settler. His descendants unfortunately sided with the losing side during the American Revolution. They lost the land to speculators the Sands brothers.
John Jackson a merchant and developer later purchased a portion of the land. He built a shipyard and housing for workers. He named the area Vinegar Hill after the Battle of Vinegar Hill a significant event in the 1798 Irish Rebellion. This name cleverly attracted Irish shipwrights from across the East River in Manhattan.
The 1840s brought a wave of Irish immigrants many fleeing the Great Famine. They arrived on what were called coffin ships. These immigrants unfortunately brought ship fever and cholera to Vinegar Hill. The area became known as Irishtown. Newspapers described it as a slum with shacks that crumbled easily.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard which Jackson helped establish played a crucial role in Vinegar Hill’s development. Commodore John Barry a Wexford-born Irishman advocated for its creation. Tammany Hall later controlled hiring in the Yard giving jobs to many loyal Irish supporters. Hugh McLaughlin a powerful Brooklyn boss rose through the ranks starting as a master foreman. His influence brought many opportunities to the Irish community.
Vinegar Hill’s Irish residents weren’t without their challenges. They faced discrimination from Manhattan Nativists. Violent clashes occurred in 1854. Despite the hardship many thrived creating a strong sense of community and identity.
The illegal production of poitín a type of Irish moonshine also thrived. John Devlin John Whiteford Ginger Farrell and Ned Brady were prominent figures. Raids by tax collectors were frequent. The Irish fiercely defended their illegal distilleries even using rooftops to attack authorities. In 1869 a massive raid involving 600 Marines finally put a stop to the poitin operations.
Vinegar Hill’s reputation extended beyond the poitín trade. It became known for its criminal underworld. The White Hand Gang an Irish criminal organization controlled the Brooklyn waterfront. Wild Bill Lovett and Peg Leg Lonergan were notorious leaders. Their reign ended with violent conflicts with the Italian mafia. Willie Sutton a famed bank robber started his criminal career here.
The construction of the Farragut Houses and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway dramatically changed Vinegar Hill. The closure of the Navy Yard in 1966 dealt another blow. St Anne’s Roman Catholic Church a testament to the community’s faith was demolished in 1992.
Today Vinegar Hill retains a unique character a blend of its industrial past and its vibrant present. Despite the changes the echoes of its Irish heritage and its colorful history remain. This small historic district is a testament to the resilience and spirit of the people who called it home.