Did you know that Myrtle is an ancient Kings County track, first laid out in 1835 as Cripplebush Road? Or that horse cars traveled Myrtle in the 1850s?

From being the first paved street in Brooklyn, to being the site of the Myrtle El, an elevated rail line that ran from 1888 to 1969, Myrtle has always been an important travel route in Brooklyn. This week, Forgotten New York is exploring the past and present of Myrtle Avenue!

Check out the article to find out which local church still holds remnants of the Myrtle El, the former name of Fort Greene Park, what Myrtle looked like in 1969 from aboard the El, where Walt Whitman drafted Leaves of Grass and more.

The above image (from Forgotten New York), taken in 1969 from the Myrtle El, shows a fruit market at the corner of Myrtle and Hall. These days, that is where youll find Liberty Pizza, and just down the block, MARPs office!