Brian recently did some research on how our neighborhood got its name, "Hell's Kitchen." Late in the 19th century the neighborhood was one of the most dangerous places in this country. There are a few legendary tales of how Hell's kitchen got it's ungodly name but the most common version traces it to the story of Dutch Fred The Cop, a veteran policeman, who with his rookie partner, was watching a small riot on West 39th Street near 10th Avenue. The rookie is supposed to have said, "This place is hell itself," to which Fred replied, "Hell's a mild climate. This is Hell's Kitchen."