Thanks to Professor Beth Bingham and the students at Pratt Institute for sharing the information about our neighborhood's Puerto Rican history! And thanks to George Fiala and the Red Hook Star-Revue for the article about Mother Cabrini!

Zone 1

1. Puerto Rican Village was (east side of Columbia Street near where Popina is)
   ​“On the empty lots next to the building they decided to build a community plaza, The Puerto Rican Village park/plaza, built by the hands of the young Boricuas they recruited. The Puerto Rican Village was completed by mid 1960s; it had trees, a fountain resembling a waterfall called Gabriel's Waterfall, benches were organized towards a space that served as a stage thus creating an outdoor theater called the Antonia Denis Memorial Theater. It was enclosed within an outside wall that had a garita, sentry box, resembling the iconic image of Puerto Rico’s 16th century Fort San Felipe del Morro. The community would gather in the park/plaza, there would always be some activity going on like plays, outdoor movie presentations, and of course music and dance.”​
   ​Puerto Rican Presence in Columbia Street: Community Park turned Shantytown ​
   Other reference: Nuyorican Mag Revisits Puerto Rican Village in Brooklyn​
2. Where Antonia Denis' residence once stood, at 183 Columbia Street​
   "Antonia Denis, a social and political activist, arrived in Brooklyn, N.Y. from Baja Vega, Puerto Rico during World War I. She soon became a major figure in several Brooklyn-based organizations, including La Casa de Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican Pioneers Parade, and the Betances Democratic Club. These organizations advocated for political and social equality, celebrated Puerto Rican history and culture, and administered anti-poverty, cultural, and educational programs for Brooklyn's Puerto Rican community."
   ​Antonia Denis collection: Antonia Denis collection: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids​

Zone 2

1. Looking north on Degraw Street: where Luis Hernandez had his residence at 75 Degraw
   ​nynyma_rec0040_3_00318_0055 | NYC Municipal Archives​
2. Mother Cabrini Park​
   "Brooklyn’s bishop at the time, Charles E. McDonnell, sent her to Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish – where Mother Cabrini Park is today. John L. Heyer II, pastoral associate at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Parish (Carroll Gardens), explained that Cabrini worked tirelessly with the Italian immigrants and youth in the area, especially orphans who she tried to help place in homes."
   ​St. Frances Xavier “Mother” Cabrini’s impact in New York - Red Hook Star-Revue​

Zone 3

1. Corner building which was once the home of Red Apple Chinese Food, but long ago was the Puerto Rican Waterfront Corp.
   ​The corner of Columbia and Union streets is near the location where Jose "Tuffy" Sanchez first established the Puerto Rican Waterfront Corp
   ​Family Seeks to Rename Street Corner For Longtime Puerto Rican Activist - Columbia Street Waterfront District - New York - DNAinfo​
2. Street sign honoring Jose "Tuffy" Sanchez​
   "Jose “Tuffy” Sanchez (1933-2005) was a Korean War veteran and a community leader in Red Hook. In the early 1960’s, he became co-owner of the 3&1 Social Club in Brooklyn. He was a pioneer in promoting Latin music, in clubs and concerts in many of NYC's dance hall venues. In the late 1960s, he established the Teen Canteen which provided neighborhood youth with jobs and opportunities. He helped organize street concerts on Baltic Street in 1965, 1970 and 1976. He founded the nonprofit Puerto Rican Waterfront Corporation, funded under President Johnson’s War on Poverty, as well as the Neighborhood Youth Corps., a city -funded summer program. He helped create the Independent Neighborhood Democrats in Red Hook and campaigned against the destruction of the Columbia Waterfront neighborhood for a proposed Port Authority container port. (Lander) LL:2016/92"
   ​Jose “Tuffy” Sanchez Corner | Red Hook WaterStories​