Williamsburg in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
On this site stood the original church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel torn down in 1947 for the construction of the B. Q. E.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.
Location. 40° 42.952′ N, 73° 57.102′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Williamsburg. It is on Meeker Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 Meeker Ave, Brooklyn NY 11211, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, the Western Hemisphere, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Capt. Edward J. Giorgio Memorial (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); That We Be Free (about 600 feet away); Bedame-Sessa Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. Ό mile
this page online
Also see . . . NYC Parks profile for Mt. Carmel Triangle.
This triangle, bounded by Union and Meeker Avenues and Jackson Street, honors Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, located at 275 North Eighth Street. Italian immigrants founded Mount Carmel Church in 1887, which was originally located at the corner of North Eighth Street and Union Avenue. Mount Carmel Church takes its name from the Roman Catholic order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (popularly known as the Carmelites), which was founded in 1150 by French hermit St. Berthold on the Israeli mountain ridge of the same name. The ridge, described in the Bible as an area of great holiness and natural beauty, has been important throughout religious history.(Submitted on March 9, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
As millions of Italian immigrants streamed into the United States in the last few decades of the nineteenth century, their need fora parish in New York City became increasingly urgent. Williamsburg with its vibrant Italian community seemed the obvious choice; by 1902 the parish included 12,000 people. By 1920, the 37 year-old church was too small to handle the growing number of parishioners. Unfortunately, funds for a new structure ran out during construction and only the basement was finished. For the next 10 years, the people of Mount Carmel worshipped in the Basement Church.Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 7, 20262. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Statue in the park
Mt. Carmel Triangle was acquired by the City of New York throughthe Meeker Avenue proceedings and named in 1939. In 1944 it became parkland. Mt. Carmel Triangle as it stands today serves as a memorial to the former location of the church. When the BQE was rehabilitated in 1987, Parks gave the parish permission to enhance the paved triangle with greenery and to erect a statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in tribute to the original church. The statue was sculpted by Pete Donohue. Rev. Monsignor David L. Cassato, the parishs pastor in 1985, agreed to work in conjunction with Parks to take care of the landscaping of this park, and it is through this combined effort that a tranquil natural oasis can dwell among several major thoroughfares.Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 7, 20263. NYC Parks signage for Mt. Carmel Triangle
Additional keywords. Urban displacement; Brooklyn-Queens Expressway; I-278
Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 9, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 23 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 9, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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