http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/nyregion/new-york-today-eberhard-faber-pencil-factory-greenpoint-brooklyn-yom-kippur.html 2016-10-11 12:43:36 New York Today: Our Past in Pencils Tuesday: A sketch of a lost industry, going off the grid with the Philharmonic, and Yom Kippur. === Updated, 6:21 a.m. Good morning on this brisk Tuesday. With school back in full swing (except, that is, for all the days off recently), let’s sharpen our knowledge of New York history. Today’s lesson: How our city was once the capital of pencil manufacturing in the United States. In 1861, a Bavarian immigrant named (This specific writing utensil ran in the family: The Faber clan began producing pencils in Germany as early as 1761, and the New York factory was a branch of that booming business.) About a decade after it opened, the factory, which had grown to employ hundreds of workers, was destroyed in a And so Mr. Faber set up shop in a factory in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where his company pioneered the invention of colored pencils. (The company also produced Other items in its repertoire: eyebrow pencils, eyeliners, fountain pens, thumbtacks and pencil cases. In 1956, as many of Brooklyn’s manufacturing businesses fizzled out in the wake of World War II, Mr. Faber Nonetheless, it’s worth penciling in some time for a stroll along Greenpoint Avenue and Kent and West streets. Among the mishmash of laundromats, graffiti-covered walls, boutiques and bodegas, you can still see the factory. The company’s insignia — a large star inside a diamond — crowns several of the area’s red-brick buildings. And larger-than-life, perfectly sharpened, golden-yellow pencils decorate the facades. You can learn more from the Write on. Here’s what else is happening: Things are getting chilly. The last two nights have seen lows of 47 degrees, the coldest temperatures recorded in the city since mid-May. And more sweater weather is on the way. Today’s high is Say hi to the sun, it will be out all day. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Regular service • • • • • • At sundown, many Jews in our city — which has the largest Jewish population outside Israel — will begin observing Yom Kippur. The holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement, is one of the most important dates of the Jewish calendar. This is the first year that the United Nations has recognized Yom Kippur as The decision was made in For many, the period of repentance that started with Those observing will typically spend a full day — this evening through nightfall tomorrow — fasting, praying, reflecting on self-improvement and asking God for forgiveness. New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can For updates throughout the day, What would you like to see here to start your day? Post a comment, Follow the New York Today columnists, You can find the latest New York Today at