14 defiance // document
waterproof
elisabeth burhenne elisabeth burhenne
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On October 29, 2012, the ocean turned on Red Hook, a waterfront destination in Brooklyn. The Hurricane swept in upon Red Hook’ s 11,000 residents, destroying their businesses, homes, and property. Red Hook is home to the largest public housing project in Brooklyn, which houses 5,000 people, many of whom were without food or electricity for the week following Sandy.
This is not the first event to rattle Red Hook. In 1776, The Battle of Brooklyn took place, and Fort Defiance was built on Coffey and Conover St. for the first battle of the American Revolution. Another famous violent even occurred in 1917, when Al Capone got his famous“ Scarface” during a drunken brawl outside of a bar in Red Hook.
“ In the end, it is our defiance that redeems us.
- Mark Rowlands
Hurricane Sandy turned out to be more than just another event in Red Hook’ s violent history. Water is essential to Red Hook, it is what makes it unique. Red Hook’ s waterfront is home to the New York Water Taxi, the Waterfront Museum, the Fairway, Steve’ s Key Lime Pie, Red Hook Winery, and also serves as a docking place for cruise ships. Despite the fact that the Hurricane debilitated many of these businesses for months, the feisty little city