Brooklyn Bridge

1867

FirstMention.com explores the history and origin

of common words and phrases

OK. So it's 1870, and you decide to build a bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Great idea! But what do you call it? The New York Bridge? The Brooklyn-Manhattan Bridge? Roebling Memorial Bridge?

When did the glorious span across the East River first come to be called The Brooklyn Bridge?

The FirstMention we identified harks back to January 25, 1867, and was found, appropriately enough, in a wonderful online resource, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

In a letter to the editor (signed only with initials), an eloquent, if somewhat verbose, citizen of Brooklyn makes the case for a Brooklyn Bridge.

Here's a larger view.

The unnamed letter-writer really hit the nail on the head, as the Brooklyn Bridge has certainly taken its place in history as one of the iconic structures of the ages.

Wanna buy it?

P.S. There were actually a few mentions of 'Brooklyn Bridge' prior to 1987, along the lines of "Let's build ourselves a Manhattan to Brooklyn bridge..." I didn't consider these a valid FirstMention. Also, I couldn't resist this cool picture from the NY State Archives. It's circa 1890, and shows the NYC waterfront, with the Bridge in the background.

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Know of an earlier First Mention? Drop me a line at david@firstmention.com

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exploring the history and origins of familiar people, places, things, words and phrases