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Order of Mechanics Parade — Brooklynian

Order of Mechanics Parade

putnam-denizen
putnam-denizen
edited November -1 in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy
Each year I am surprised by the parade which starts and ends at the Mechanics Temple on Putnam between Irving and Classon. Men and women (who seem to be from the West Indies) line up in formal and ritualized garb and march off to the sound of drum and trumpet, to return hours later. Yesterday the bf, son and I were away at church when they set off, but enjoyed watching their return around sunset. We could hear them off in the distance as they inched down Putnam from Fulton, eventually gathering in front of their temple (which btw used to be the Republican Club of Bedford-Stuyvesant - you can still see the LC, for Lincoln Club, up in the pediment). Just as they reached the block they burst into song - was it English, a dialect, creole, couldn't tell? Then, as the band (made up of younger people) serenaded them, they formed two columns which fed into the middle (American bandstand/Soul Train style) and they proceeded into the temple. Only a few people gathered on the sidewalk to watch, but to me it was one of those random moments of beauty and surprise which make living in NY and in Brooklyn so much fun.

Thought I'd just share as a break from all the posts on crime, drugs, etc. Enjoy life. If anyone knows more about this group or the parade (like where do they go?), I'd love to hear.

Comments

  • jaha127
    jaha127
    i saw the parade march by when I had brunch at Brown Betty Cafe... I was wondering what it was for. A few people stood around and watched over on Fulton between Grand and Washington...
  • kevin_on_putnam
    kevin_on_putnam
    The first couple of years I enjoyed it, but over the years, the mechanics consistent disdain for the neighborhood .... and their own building for #@$! sake....has made me feel really grumpy towards them. And what's up with the segregation thing, didn't that go out in the 60's???
  • putnam-denizen
    putnam-denizen
    Kevin - I thought I was the grumpy guy on the block! Not sure what you mean by segregation. There are many social organizations which remain mono-racial or ethnic based. I really don't know enough about this organization to comment. In smaller towns organizations like the masons can be very important in business, etc. I tend to care less in a city like NY, where there are so many choices for social interactions. I suspect they wouldn't be making me (as a gay white man) the grand poobah, but I don't really want to be the grand poobah (okay maybe a little bit - some of those aprons were really neat!). And while I occasionally am bothered by the late night departures from the temple, they tend to be more on the "good night Mabel" lines than the loud arguments. But I did move my bedroom into the back room... I agree that I think they could be a bigger force for positive change in the neighborhood, there is nothing stopping you and me from starting a block organization ourselves. The fact that the building looks a bit run-down doesn't really bother me, especially since I don't know the financial wherewithall of the organization. I have no doubt that a condo developer could make it look all pretty, but then my son and I wouldn't be able to sit on our front steps and watch the parade go by...
  • b_green5
    b_green5
    What do you mean disdain? What sort of segregation? They have always seemed friendly when the fam and I stroll by.
  • kevin_on_putnam
    kevin_on_putnam
    My main bone to pick with them is that they rent out their space for really noisy and disruptive functions. There is the occasional wedding which is nice. but the majority of the functions are alcohol fueled parties.I don't know how many times I've picked beer cans out of my roses, or woken up to the sounds of drunks screaming at each other and then getting in their cars and driving away.

    The segregation part is that it's a black organization, no whites, asians, latinos etc. For a non-profit that I assume is organized to improve society I think that's a little weird.

    I know I'm sounding cranky about this, they're certainly not evil, but after 10 years they're really getting on my nerves.
  • homeowner
    homeowner
    Kevin_on_Putnam wrote:

    The segregation part is that it's a black organization, no whites, asians, latinos etc. For a non-profit that I assume is organized to improve society I think that's a little weird.

    I know I'm sounding cranky about this, they're certainly not evil, but after 10 years they're really getting on my nerves.

    These organizations were created to allow an outlet for blacks during a period in this country when similar white organizations were closed to minorities. They have deep roots in the black community and continue to exist, because even now, white social and fraternal organizations are not active in these communities. Its a black organization that exists in a neighborhood that was until very recently entirely black. There aren't any white, asian or latino members simply because there hasn't been a huge demographic of white, hispanic or asian mechanics on Classon and Putnam for many, many years.

    I haven't hung out in that area for a while, but I remember the average age of those guys being somewhere north of 60, with the majority of their members being well past retirement age. Assuming that they are bringing in newer, younger members now, how many 20 and 30 something asian guys in Bed-Stuy do you know that think it would be cool to kick it at the Mechanics Temple with guys their father's and grandfather's age?

    When they turn down a white guy (or latino or asian) for membership, then feel free to complain about them being segregated. But I'll bet you haven't met anyone who's expressed the least bit of interest in joining them, have you?
  • putnam-denizen
    putnam-denizen
    I am still waiting to hear where they march off to (maybe to fraternize with their fellow organizations in Chinatown and Carroll Gardens?).
  • kevin_on_putnam
    kevin_on_putnam
    Good point homeowner, who was that, groucho marks who said: I wouldn't join an organization that would have me as a member.

    But as to deep roots in the community, half my neighbors are black and they feel exactly the same as I do. I don't see any of the Masons on the street, and they all drive here, so they must be coming from somewhere else. All they leave behind is trash and noise. If they were a nightclub the neighbors would be trying to yank their liquor license, but because they're a non-profit they're exempt
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