Weir Creek

Gazing across the tranquil waters of Eastchester Bay, can you picture the now-vanished Weir Creek? Weir Creek once flowed here, a vital part of the Bronx landscape. It was a place of Native American settlements, a strategic point during the Revolutionary War, and finally, a quiet residential neighborhood. Let’s journey back in time and explore the fascinating story of Weir Creek. The creek’s name, as a historical marker in Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park tells us, originated around 1643. Native Americans taught English settlers the art of crafting fishing weirs from plaited reeds. These weirs, or dams, likely dotted Weir Creek. Before European arrival, the Siwanoy people, part of the Lenape nation, called this area home. They had an encampment near Weir Creek where Schley Avenue now meets Clarence Avenue. Archaeological digs in the early 20th century unearthed remnants of this past, including spearheads, pottery shards, and even human remains. Sadly, the Siwanoy were driven north in 1643 after a devastating war with the colonists. Fast forward to 1776 and the Revolutionary War. The British, seeking a swift victory, attempted a landing at Throgs Neck, just south of Weir Creek. Their plan was to outflank George Washington. However, the marshy terrain around Weir Creek, then known as Middle Brook, proved a significant obstacle. The British were delayed for six days. This delay allowed Washington to retreat and arguably saved his life. The area around Weir Creek transformed after the war. Grand country estates sprung up, owned by prominent families like the Morrises and the Havemeyers. The arrival of Irish immigrants in the mid-1800s brought a new wave of residents. By the 20th century, a unique community, Edgewater Park, had formed near the creek. In 1957, progress came at a cost. Weir Creek was covered over to make way for the Throgs Neck Expressway. Its mouth, however, became parkland, eventually renamed Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park at Weir Creek. The park stands as a reminder of the creek’s existence. So, as you stand here, imagine the flow of Weir Creek. Envision the Siwanoy, the British troops, and the families who once called its banks home. Weir Creek, though now hidden, remains an important thread in the rich tapestry of Bronx history.