Whitman Field Trips

We took a Whitman tour, guided by a Whitman specialist; we walked from Fort Greene Park to 99 Ryerson Street. 99 Ryerson Street was one of many addresses in Brooklyn which Whitman called home; he lived at this location in 1855. We walked down Myrtle Ave which was the route Whitman would have taken on his way to work or on his way to the ferry. We walked by houses that stood there at Whitman’s time, houses he must have known. In the picture above I’m sitting on the same stoop Whitman had once sat on, probably after a long walk back home, or maybe on a sunny morning, watching people walk by on their way to work or kids running by playing. To the right (where I’m facing) is now an elevated highway which was definitely not there in 1855, and almost all the houses on the block were probably not there either. No cars would have been parked there, maybe a horse drawn carriage, and the streets we not paved. As I sat there on the stoop, I pictured Whitman at the age of 36 sitting on the steps with me, conversing with me about leaves of grass.

We took a Whitman tour, guided by a Whitman specialist; we walked from Fort Greene Park to 99 Ryerson Street. 99 Ryerson Street was one of many addresses in Brooklyn which Whitman called home; he lived at this location in 1855. We walked down Myrtle Ave which was the route Whitman would have taken on his way to work or on his way to the ferry. We walked by houses that stood there at Whitman’s time, houses he must have known. In the picture above I’m sitting on the same stoop Whitman had once sat on, probably after a long walk back home, or maybe on a sunny morning, watching people walk by on their way to work or kids running by playing. To the right (where I’m facing) is now an elevated highway which was definitely not there in 1855, and almost all the houses on the block were probably not there either. No cars would have been parked there, maybe a horse drawn carriage, and the streets we not paved. As I sat there on the stoop, I pictured Whitman at the age of 36 sitting on the steps with me, conversing with me about leaves of grass.

We had our second Whitman tour last week and I really enjoyed it. As a class we met at the Fort Greene Park which had monument dedicated for British Prison ship prisoners. A professional team greeted us. Leader of the team Greg Trupiano was passionate person about Whitman’s work.  It was obvious he knew very well about Whitman and the history. After hearing about Whitman and Fort Greene park  a wonderful voice Nicole sang us couple songs including The National Anthem, followed by a reader who read passages of Whitman. After all, it was interesting to know that some of the bones were collected from the shore and put into a room right on the stairs of the monument. Then we walked through the streets where Whitman lived through the myrtle avenue. We arrived at the address 99 Ryerson Street, where well known Whitman’s least changed place is is. The place looks very knew outside, however we were told just renovated outside, inside is still is the same as Whitman’s time. Over all, it was a great tour of Whitman in the neighborhood.

We had our second Whitman tour last week and I really enjoyed it. As a class we met at the Fort Greene Park which had monument dedicated for British Prison ship prisoners. A professional team greeted us. Leader of the team Greg Trupiano was passionate person about Whitman’s work.  It was obvious he knew very well about Whitman and the history. After hearing about Whitman and Fort Greene park  a wonderful voice Nicole sang us couple songs including The National Anthem, followed by a reader who read passages of Whitman. After all, it was interesting to know that some of the bones were collected from the shore and put into a room right on the stairs of the monument. Then we walked through the streets where Whitman lived through the myrtle avenue. We arrived at the address 99 Ryerson Street, where well known Whitman’s least changed place is is. The place looks very knew outside, however we were told just renovated outside, inside is still is the same as Whitman’s time. Over all, it was a great tour of Whitman in the neighborhood.

We had our second Whitman tour last week and I really enjoyed it. As a class we met at the Fort Greene Park which had monument dedicated for British Prison ship prisoners. A professional team greeted us. Leader of the team Greg Trupiano was passionate person about Whitman’s work.  It was obvious he knew very well about Whitman and the history. After hearing about Whitman and Fort Greene park  a wonderful voice Nicole sang us couple songs including The National Anthem, followed by a reader who read passages of Whitman. After all, it was interesting to know that some of the bones were collected from the shore and put into a room right on the stairs of the monument. Then we walked through the streets where Whitman lived through the myrtle avenue. We arrived at the address 99 Ryerson Street, where well known Whitman’s least changed place is is. The place looks very knew outside, however we were told just renovated outside, inside is still is the same as Whitman’s time. Over all, it was a great tour of Whitman in the neighborhood.

Last week the class met at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. A park with a significant history. A site of the Revolutionary War fort, and monument dedicated to the prison ship martyrs, who where held by the British.

As I walked up the grand stairs looking at the monument, it felt like the monument was a “light house” showing the direction. We all met in front of the Visitor’s Center. There was Greg Trupiano the leader of the tour. A very knowledgeable and inspiring person. The tour started with an Nicole, a opera singer who sang Oh Freedom. Mr. Trupiano started the tour with history of the park, and made connection with Walt Whitman history. In the meanwhile Mr. Trupiano had invited a reader, who read loud the passages from Whitman. In that beautiful fall day, Whitman passages were powerful throw the voice of reader.

Walt Whitman loved the Brooklyn, and he also wrote about the Fort Greene Park saying that “Brooklyn needs lungs.” He was concerned about the future, and the people of his city.

After we moved down to the entrance of the vault were the bones of the prisoners are buried. Tour leader explained that in the crypt was only one full body skeleton, who is believed to be Benjamin Romaine. The bones are collected from the shore, what is now know as Navy Yard.

From there we moved to the intersection of the Myrtle Avenue and Portland Avenue, where Whitman lived. Now there is the new building build by the city and named “Walt Whitman Houses.”

The final destination was the 99 Ryerson Street the only house that stand, where Whitman lived. The building has gone through some changes and it is not exactly the same, as it was, when Whitman lived there.

A great tour and very informative.

Here is a link to the images taken in the tour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45007764@N06/?saved=1

Last week the class met at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. A park with a significant history. A site of the Revolutionary War fort, and monument dedicated to the prison ship martyrs, who where held by the British.

As I walked up the grand stairs looking at the monument, it felt like the monument was a “light house” showing the direction. We all met in front of the Visitor’s Center. There was Greg Trupiano the leader of the tour. A very knowledgeable and inspiring person. The tour started with an Nicole, a opera singer who sang Oh Freedom. Mr. Trupiano started the tour with history of the park, and made connection with Walt Whitman history. In the meanwhile Mr. Trupiano had invited a reader, who read loud the passages from Whitman. In that beautiful fall day, Whitman passages were powerful throw the voice of reader.

Walt Whitman loved the Brooklyn, and he also wrote about the Fort Greene Park saying that “Brooklyn needs lungs.” He was concerned about the future, and the people of his city.

After we moved down to the entrance of the vault were the bones of the prisoners are buried. Tour leader explained that in the crypt was only one full body skeleton, who is believed to be Benjamin Romaine. The bones are collected from the shore, what is now know as Navy Yard.

From there we moved to the intersection of the Myrtle Avenue and Portland Avenue, where Whitman lived. Now there is the new building build by the city and named “Walt Whitman Houses.”

The final destination was the 99 Ryerson Street the only house that stand, where Whitman lived. The building has gone through some changes and it is not exactly the same, as it was, when Whitman lived there.

A great tour and very informative.

Here is a link to the images taken in the tour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45007764@N06/?saved=1

Last week the class met at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. A park with a significant history. A site of the Revolutionary War fort, and monument dedicated to the prison ship martyrs, who where held by the British.

As I walked up the grand stairs looking at the monument, it felt like the monument was a “light house” showing the direction. We all met in front of the Visitor’s Center. There was Greg Trupiano the leader of the tour. A very knowledgeable and inspiring person. The tour started with an Nicole, a opera singer who sang Oh Freedom. Mr. Trupiano started the tour with history of the park, and made connection with Walt Whitman history. In the meanwhile Mr. Trupiano had invited a reader, who read loud the passages from Whitman. In that beautiful fall day, Whitman passages were powerful throw the voice of reader.

Walt Whitman loved the Brooklyn, and he also wrote about the Fort Greene Park saying that “Brooklyn needs lungs.” He was concerned about the future, and the people of his city.

After we moved down to the entrance of the vault were the bones of the prisoners are buried. Tour leader explained that in the crypt was only one full body skeleton, who is believed to be Benjamin Romaine. The bones are collected from the shore, what is now know as Navy Yard.

From there we moved to the intersection of the Myrtle Avenue and Portland Avenue, where Whitman lived. Now there is the new building build by the city and named “Walt Whitman Houses.”

The final destination was the 99 Ryerson Street the only house that stand, where Whitman lived. The building has gone through some changes and it is not exactly the same, as it was, when Whitman lived there.

A great tour and very informative.

Here is a link to the images taken in the tour: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45007764@N06/?saved=1

The tour of Ft. Greene Park led by Greg Trupiano was not only informative but inspirational. I left the tour with a much greater understanding of Ft. Greene because of the information presented. The tour began at the visitor’s center in Ft. Greene Park and Greg began to present the history and relevance of Whitman to this park. What was especially pleasing was that Greg brought along a gentleman who read selections of Whitman with great presence. It is always great to hear Whitman spoken aloud, as I believe he wrote it to be spoken aloud. In addition there was in attendance a member of the conservatory, Charles, who had quite a bit to contribute about the park. During the presentation Nicole sang Whitman’s words. She is a professional Opera singer. Her voice resonatedwithin me long after the tour had ended. The fourth person in attendance was an expert on Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. She was also able to contribute her knowledge to the experience. The prison ship martyr’s monument in Ft. Greene Park is over the crypt of bones from the prisoners’ ships in the harbor. There is one full set of remains, the of Benjamin Romaine, and the vault can only be opened by the great great great great granddaughter of Benjamin Romaine, Vicki Romaine. There are lots of other bones in the crypt, but none as complete. They washed up on the shores of the old Navy Yard, and in the morning the prisoners ships would turn over thir dead and they would be buried in shallow graves where the old Navy Yard is today. The water would uncover the bones and the remains were collected for this crypt. There was lots of talk of the Old Jersey. Whitman writes in New York, “the principal of these prison ships was the old Jersey, a large 74-gun …the one which seems to have been most relied on was the old Jersey. The British took a great manyAmerican prisoners during the war-not only by land, but also by their privateers, at sea. When a capture was made in any of the waters near enough, the prisoners were brought with the vessel to New York. These helped to swell the rank of the unhappy men, who were crowded together in the most infernal quarters, starved, diseased, helpless, and many becoming utterly desperate and insane.-Death and starvation killed them off rapidly” (31). More men died on these ships than died in the entire Battle of Brooklyn. When word got back to Great Britain about these deaths it brought a lot of shame on the soldiers. The anonymity between American and Great Britain remained up until the first World War. After the great presentation at the crypt, we moved on to Whitman’s only standing residence in Brooklyn, 99 Ryerson Street. We gathered across the street and had a question and answer exchange. It is our understanding that everybody who lives in their is quite aware that this is Whitman’s house. Many of the tennants have been students of Pratt. Then we walked back towards CUNY as a group. It was a beautiful day for a tour, and we all left more inspired than we had arrived three hours earlier.

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The tour of Ft. Greene Park led by Greg Trupiano was not only informative but inspirational. I left the tour with a much greater understanding of Ft. Greene because of the information presented. The tour began at the visitor’s center in Ft. Greene Park and Greg began to present the history and relevance of Whitman to this park. What was especially pleasing was that Greg brought along a gentleman who read selections of Whitman with great presence. It is always great to hear Whitman spoken aloud, as I believe he wrote it to be spoken aloud. In addition there was in attendance a member of the conservatory, Charles, who had quite a bit to contribute about the park. During the presentation Nicole sang Whitman’s words. She is a professional Opera singer. Her voice resonatedwithin me long after the tour had ended. The fourth person in attendance was an expert on Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. She was also able to contribute her knowledge to the experience. The prison ship martyr’s monument in Ft. Greene Park is over the crypt of bones from the prisoners’ ships in the harbor. There is one full set of remains, the of Benjamin Romaine, and the vault can only be opened by the great great great great granddaughter of Benjamin Romaine, Vicki Romaine. There are lots of other bones in the crypt, but none as complete. They washed up on the shores of the old Navy Yard, and in the morning the prisoners ships would turn over thir dead and they would be buried in shallow graves where the old Navy Yard is today. The water would uncover the bones and the remains were collected for this crypt. There was lots of talk of the Old Jersey. Whitman writes in New York, “the principal of these prison ships was the old Jersey, a large 74-gun …the one which seems to have been most relied on was the old Jersey. The British took a great manyAmerican prisoners during the war-not only by land, but also by their privateers, at sea. When a capture was made in any of the waters near enough, the prisoners were brought with the vessel to New York. These helped to swell the rank of the unhappy men, who were crowded together in the most infernal quarters, starved, diseased, helpless, and many becoming utterly desperate and insane.-Death and starvation killed them off rapidly” (31). More men died on these ships than died in the entire Battle of Brooklyn. When word got back to Great Britain about these deaths it brought a lot of shame on the soldiers. The anonymity between American and Great Britain remained up until the first World War. After the great presentation at the crypt, we moved on to Whitman’s only standing residence in Brooklyn, 99 Ryerson Street. We gathered across the street and had a question and answer exchange. It is our understanding that everybody who lives in their is quite aware that this is Whitman’s house. Many of the tennants have been students of Pratt. Then we walked back towards CUNY as a group. It was a beautiful day for a tour, and we all left more inspired than we had arrived three hours earlier.