Old Bay Ridge & Ovington Village: A History

Bay Ridge was once a quaint and rural pocket of suburban Brooklyn. With the establishment of Ovington Village in the 1850s, the area became a haven for artists and businessmen alike. The area still bears remnants of its artistic and historic past. The beautiful Narrows that so inspired this guild served as a vital point of defense in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Throughout the past two centuries, Bay Ridge has thrived with a diverse immigrant population living alongside Brooklyn elites like Henry C. Murphy, whose opulent estate is now scenic Owl's Head Park. Local author Matthew Scarpa reveals the extraordinary places, people and events in Bay Ridge history.