The flag on the bridge is at half mast. I was also curious about the “star” shapes on the building and whether the factories came before the bridge. I put the questions to my blog readers who usually know more about the history of these sites than I do:

Lester: I think those factories or warehouses are from the early 1900s, after the bridge was built, when the New York Dock company owned 150 buildings in the area, making it the largest private freight terminal in the world.

Both those buildings are still there today, although the one with the iron crosses has been gutted and only the outside stands. Across the street is St. Ann’s Warehouse which was once a spice milling facility and is now a performance venue.

On April 8, 1991, Texas Senator John Tower was killed in a plane crash in Georgia. It’s possible that the day after George Bush, who was a good friend of Tower’s, ordered flags flown at half staff. It looks kind of like April, with that leafless tree under the bridge.”

Steve says, “As I understand it, the stars are caps attached to the ends of long rods that hold up the floors inside the building. I believe they’re called iron tie rods. Not sure why the star shape was chosen – patriotic symbol, maybe? I’ll see if any of my expert friends know.”

Frank says, “Steve is right. But they are not a patriotic symbol – they are used throughout the world. Lots of them here in Europe.”