need help identifying location of an old photo - possibly Brooklyn (Livingston: amusement park, houses)
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I found an old photo in my basement -- it appears to have been taken in the 1930s or 40s based on the clothing of the people in the picture. It appears to be a large two and a half storied building (or restaurant) on the water, at the end of a wooden pier - with all floors having white railings around full wrap-around decking. The building extends out way past the width of the pier. The only notation on the photo is "Schnackenberg, Livingston St, Brooklyn" but I suspect that may have been the photographer since Livingston Street appears inland and this is clearly on the water - so it may not be in Brooklyn at all. I've done an internet search for vintage Brooklyn photos without a match. Any thoughts if the building was in Brooklyn and what it was called?
Is it a possibility the photo was taken outside of Brooklyn & developed at the photography shop in Brooklyn on Livingston? Looking at some old vintage pier restaurants and boathouses in NYC (Brooklyn/Bronx even), most didn't extend out into the water, and didn't appear to have wooden framing.
That's what I'm thinking the Livingston Street refers to - or the photography studio, since the Schnackenberg name seems to be a proprietor of other stores in the NY area during that era. The actual photo was framed in a shop in Somerville, NJ. so I'm thinking it was probably local.
Do some research into the resorts that used to exist on Staten Island's beaches. They were very popular in the early 20th Century. Looks similar to some pictures I've seen.
Is it a possibility the photo was taken outside of Brooklyn & developed at the photography shop in Brooklyn on Livingston? Looking at some old vintage pier restaurants and boathouses in NYC (Brooklyn/Bronx even), most didn't extend out into the water, and didn't appear to have wooden framing.
I also don't see any Manhattan skyline in the background
That could indicate it was facing NJ, BuildingLover, on the Manhattan side?
I was also searching through old photos of Coney Island -- this looks like the kind of building that would have been at the end of their piers. I found an old postcard of Coney Island in the 1930s that appeared to indicate there were 3 piers with buildings at the end of each - but none were clear enough to see any detail. Starting in 1937, several floods appears to have destroyed everything. I am guessing anything at the end of a pier did not have much hope of survival.
As my name indicates, I live in NJ and know very little about NY -- I'm kind of hoping someone, who's family has been living in NY for generations, can show the photo to a grandparent -- I'm betting it was 'quite THE place' in its day! :-) Thanks, all!
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