6. Whitestone was once called ‘Iron Springs’ for its iron-rich hot spring
While DeWitt Clinton was governor of New York, Whitestone was known as Clintonville, since he had property in the neighborhood. This name was short-lived, especially after the discovery of a hot spring on 14th Street and Old Whitestone Avenue during the mid-1800s.
This hot spring gave Whitestone the name Iron Springs, attracting anemic patients from across the city and state who were looking to cure their iron deficiencies. A local doctor advocated for patients to drink the water to get plenty of extra iron. By 1920, the Water Department sank wells near the spring, but those wells were short-lived since the iron in the water ruined clothes.