"Enough To Drive One Mad": Ditmas Park's 1930s Soundtrack

Nora Whelan -

Ever wondered what New York life was like in the earlier part of the 20th Century? The Roaring Twenties, a new collaboration between historian/author/Princeton professor Emily Thompson and designer/USC program creative director Scott Mahoy, can at least give you a better idea of how it sounded.

Thompson and Mahoy plotted NYC noise complaints from the 1920s until 1933 on an interactive map, complete with hand-written documents and news reels when available. Sadly, there are no reels in our area–but there are a few remaining complaints and even documents from 1930 and 1931.

  • On January 27, 1930, Mr. Leroy W. Brooks complained about constant parties late at night in his building at 522 Ocean Avenue (between Church Avenue and Tennis Court), calling neighbor’s laughter “enough to drive one mad.”
  • On May 12, 1930, Mrs. Fifi M. Wood complained about a loud radio near her home at 95 E 18th Street (between Church Avenue and Tennis Court), without specifying its exact location.
  • On June 26, 1930, Mrs. B. Newman complained about excessive noise from a cleaning and dying shop at 711 Church Avenue (between E 7th and E 8th Streets).
  • On March 27, 1931, Mr. Vincent M. Sozzi complained about a loud oil burner in the rear of 205 E 17th Street (between Beverley and Albemarle Roads).

And you thought it was loud now! If you’ve got some time to explore the map, see what other noise complaints were filed in our borough at the time, and check out news footage from Manhattan.

Photo of old PS 121 on Avenue C and E 5th Street via Brooklyn Visual Heritage