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Brooklyn: Fulton Street - Bridge Street

Fastened to the wall of a building located on Fulton St. near Bridge St., Brooklyn, is this plaque tells a story that had its beginning more than three centuries ago. In those early colonial times were open spaces, dotted with scattered structures. Among these stood an octagon Reformed Church in which, about July 4th, 1661, Carel DeBevoise, who had arrived a scant two years before as an emigrant from Holland, conducted the first school in Brooklyn. From the record we find "Carel DeBevoise, a highly educated French Protestant, with his wife - nee Sophia Van Lodensteyn- and three children had sailed from Amsterdam, Netherlands, on the ship Otter, in February, 1659 and arrived on these shores shortly thereafter. Carel DeBevoise was more than schoolmaster: as the rescript testifies, to act as court messenger, to serve summons, conduct the services of the church, to lead the choir on Sundays, ring the bell for public worship, take charge of the school, and perform other occasional services. We can appreciate his embarrassment, and sympathize with his apprehensions in the performance of so many and such conflicting duties as are specially named; but when the monstrous addition is affixed 'and such other occasional services as the very worthy and ponderous shout and the dignified and exacting schepens should enact for his worriment,' human emotion is too feeble to be commensurate with the demand." Yet insignificant as was the beginning the light has never been quenched. The tablet stresses this thought in the words: The Spark Here kindled Has Become a Great Flame Illuminating the Path of Youth Unto Wisdom and Worth.

Photo from the New York Public Library - Milstein Collection