Arbitration Rock
Encyclopedia
The Arbitration Rock was set in 1769 as the boundary marker between the two Long Island
townships of Newtown
and Bushwick. Since Newtown was in Queens County and Bushwick in Kings County, this rock the size of a Volkswagen Beetle
also served to mark the dividing line between these two colonial New York
counties.
An acrimonious dispute over the boundary lines between the two townships had started as far back as 1661. “The feeling ran so high than men of one community would stone those of another." To a large extent, the dispute reflected the conflict between the original Dutch
settlers of Bushwick with the burgeoning English colonists of Newtown, New York
.
In 1768, “a bill was passed in the legislature for a commission to draw a line to designate the boundary between the two townships.” In 1769, the borderline between the two towns and counties was established measured from this large rock that would ultimately be referred to as the “Arbitration Rock”. Still the dispute was not settled until 1880, when the state sent surveyors to verify the point on the old rock made in 1661.
Through the 18th century, Arbitration Rock was the official marker for property disputes and all property lines were measured from its center including the border of the New York City
borough of Brooklyn
, that is also Kings County of New York State. In 1898, the two towns were absorbed into a consolidated City of New York. The rock was of diminishing importance after that and by 1917, it was nearly covered with earth and debris.
New York City
subsequently redrew the Brooklyn
-Queens
boundary in 1925 to resolve problems caused by the ruler straight Brooklyn
-Queens
borderline that was running through the middle of houses. Some people had kitchens in Queens
and living rooms in Brooklyn
, in addition to facing confusion about voting and tax rates. A grid plan was imposed on the two boroughs and the rock became redundant.
The redrawn boundaries placed the almost forgotten rock well inside Queens
. With its purpose made obsolete, the rock’s honored and quiet existence faded away. Street improvements made to Onderdonk Avenue in the 1930s where it had lain for more than 10,000 years caused the glacial boulder to become buried below the surface. Its location was forgotten and the Arbitration Rock assumed the existence of a myth.
Interest in the rock as historically important began to grow in the 1990s. After a seven-year archaeological hunt, a huge crane dug deep into the ground and hoisted the massive rock out of the earth from its buried location under Onderdonk Avenue west of Flushing Avenue, bringing it to the surface after some seventy years of burial. This was done in December 2001 and it was moved several hundred feet to the 18th century Vander Ende-Onderdonk House
.
Even after 340 years, the Arbitration Rock continued to hold its central placement in disputes between Queens and Brooklyn. Once Queens had located and moved the rock to its new location with a ceremony marking its restored hallowed place in history, Brooklyn officials quickly protested. They argued that as it was part of their joint heritage, they should have been included in the decision on its placement.
The official Queens historian replied that it belonged In Queens, of course. While it was once on the border, the boulder has been in Queens for 77 years, since the boundaries were redrawn.”
Taking a Solomon
-like approach, he said only half-joking, it should be cut in half and the other half should be a monument in Brooklyn.
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
townships of Newtown
Newtown, New York
Newtown, New York may refer to:* An old name for Elmira, New York, location of the Battle of Newtown, the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition during the American Revolutionary War....
and Bushwick. Since Newtown was in Queens County and Bushwick in Kings County, this rock the size of a Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
also served to mark the dividing line between these two colonial New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
counties.
An acrimonious dispute over the boundary lines between the two townships had started as far back as 1661. “The feeling ran so high than men of one community would stone those of another." To a large extent, the dispute reflected the conflict between the original Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
settlers of Bushwick with the burgeoning English colonists of Newtown, New York
Newtown, New York
Newtown, New York may refer to:* An old name for Elmira, New York, location of the Battle of Newtown, the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition during the American Revolutionary War....
.
In 1768, “a bill was passed in the legislature for a commission to draw a line to designate the boundary between the two townships.” In 1769, the borderline between the two towns and counties was established measured from this large rock that would ultimately be referred to as the “Arbitration Rock”. Still the dispute was not settled until 1880, when the state sent surveyors to verify the point on the old rock made in 1661.
Through the 18th century, Arbitration Rock was the official marker for property disputes and all property lines were measured from its center including the border of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, that is also Kings County of New York State. In 1898, the two towns were absorbed into a consolidated City of New York. The rock was of diminishing importance after that and by 1917, it was nearly covered with earth and debris.
New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
subsequently redrew the Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
boundary in 1925 to resolve problems caused by the ruler straight Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borderline that was running through the middle of houses. Some people had kitchens in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
and living rooms in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, in addition to facing confusion about voting and tax rates. A grid plan was imposed on the two boroughs and the rock became redundant.
The redrawn boundaries placed the almost forgotten rock well inside Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. With its purpose made obsolete, the rock’s honored and quiet existence faded away. Street improvements made to Onderdonk Avenue in the 1930s where it had lain for more than 10,000 years caused the glacial boulder to become buried below the surface. Its location was forgotten and the Arbitration Rock assumed the existence of a myth.
Interest in the rock as historically important began to grow in the 1990s. After a seven-year archaeological hunt, a huge crane dug deep into the ground and hoisted the massive rock out of the earth from its buried location under Onderdonk Avenue west of Flushing Avenue, bringing it to the surface after some seventy years of burial. This was done in December 2001 and it was moved several hundred feet to the 18th century Vander Ende-Onderdonk House
Vander Ende-Onderdonk House Site
Vander Ende--Onderdonk House is a historic house at 1820 Flushing Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens. It is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City....
.
Even after 340 years, the Arbitration Rock continued to hold its central placement in disputes between Queens and Brooklyn. Once Queens had located and moved the rock to its new location with a ceremony marking its restored hallowed place in history, Brooklyn officials quickly protested. They argued that as it was part of their joint heritage, they should have been included in the decision on its placement.
The official Queens historian replied that it belonged In Queens, of course. While it was once on the border, the boulder has been in Queens for 77 years, since the boundaries were redrawn.”
Taking a Solomon
Solomon
Solomon , according to the Book of Kings and the Book of Chronicles, a King of Israel and according to the Talmud one of the 48 prophets, is identified as the son of David, also called Jedidiah in 2 Samuel 12:25, and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before...
-like approach, he said only half-joking, it should be cut in half and the other half should be a monument in Brooklyn.