14 Things Even the Experts Don’t Know About Coney Island

This week our friends at SpoiledNYC told us to Crack Open a Textbook: 14 Things You Never Knew About Coney Island or more like 14 Things Every Born and Raised Brooklynite Already Knows About Coney Island. 

Well here’s a list of things even that even the experts don’t know about Coney Island.

1.There was once an icey cold prison.

Many of us know that hot dog inventor Charles Feltman had at one time the largest restaurant in the world. Well Feltman’s Restaurant also had a walk in refrigerator larger than Nathan’s current bathroom. During the late 19th century the local police precinct had their hands full arresting criminals for pickpocketing and drunken Bowery brawls. When the jails were full to capacity Mr. Feltman allowed the police to keep prisoners in his enormous walk in refrigerator. Good way to beat the summer heat.

2. George C. Tilyou had a son born inside Steeplechase Park on St. Patrick’s Day.

Luck of the Irish! In 1907 a devestating fire destroyed Steeplechase Park. Just a few weeks after Tilyou’s Connecticut park burned down. In 1908 Tilyou made a comeback when he had the Pavilion of Fun built which was made of fire proof glass and steel. George and his wife Mary were checking out the work being done rebuilding the park when she went into labor. Frank Tilyou was born on March 17th 1908, actually inside Steeplechase Park.

                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. The Harvard Inn where Al Capone received his famous scars was not on W15th st. 

In 1917 Al Capone was working at a rough and tumble Coney Island Bowery entertainment venue called the Harvard Inn. He received the famous scar on his face during a brawl at the club. Many historians believe that the club was also the College Inn and that it was located on 15th st and the Bowery, when in fact it was located a block east on the Bowery. Most advertisements reveal that the Harvard Inn was actually located on the Bowery at Seaside Walk adjacent to Stauch’s Restaurant. View this map below printed a decade before the Harvard Inn opened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. The Drifters hit song Under the Boardwalk was written about Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, not Coney Island.

Song writers Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick stated that their hit song Under the Boardwalk was written about couples under the boardwalk and beach at Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Want to learn the next 10 things about Coney Island?

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