Literary Brooklyn: A Real Life Tour of 10 Fictional Brooklyn Places
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
On the corner of Montrose and Graham Avenues stands the church of the Most Holy Trinity. Not only was this church an integral part of Francie Nolan’s life, but it was where Betty Smith herself was baptized. It’s still an awe-inspiring structure—as many churches in Brooklyn are—and has an interesting history of evolving with the changing Catholic population of the neighborhood. Whereas the church served German immigrants at the end of the 19th century (including Smith), Williamsburg’s shifting demographics have meant that the church has had to adapt. It now offers sermons in English, Polish, and Spanish and is still an important part of the community in which it stands.