TAMING THE BROWNSTONE MONSTER (1921)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** By the 1920s, many New Yorkers had moved on from the brownstone. In fact, articles were being written on just how exactly to move on from what was seen as these “monstrosities.” Following the recommendations of self-appointed design entusiasts and contractors with an eye for the moderne, many brownstone townhouses were shaved of their detail and turned into drab brown boxes. The following story, dripping with sarcasm and barely veiled condescension, appeared in the New York Herald, showing just how the monstrosity at No. 17 East 75th Street was tamed.– Courtesy of The New York Herald, Sun., 23 January 1921 By HARRIET SISSON GILLESPIE. With each passing year one sees in New York city fewer and fewer of the relics of the horror period in American architecture the brownstone age. The grim old dwelling of the early 80’s with its sulky facade and its atmosphere of oppressive respectability is passing from our midst, but no one seems broken hearted over the fact. During the acute stage of the housing panic the hasty conversion of anything available into a hive of small suites rid the city of a few of the old time monstrosities, but by no means all of them have passed into the limbo of the kitchenette. Architectural beauty doctors […]
YE OLD TIMBER TAVERN ON COURT ST (1926)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** Old English architecture is a rare sight in New York City. Rare, interestingly, because it once had a distinct place and time in the history of New York City’s 20th century architectural development. As tastes changed, however, its look – sometimes referred to as Tudor, Chester, Jacobean, Elizabethan, &c. – quickly fell into disfavor. Also, its reliance upon such materials as wood and stucco – those that can easily wear if not well maintained – forced owners of these structures to look for more long-term solutions to their maintenance. One of these solutions usually meant simply covering their more wearable materials with those that stood up better to weather. Although it would take nearly a century to do, such is the case with No. 93 Court Street, initially designed in the Old English style. “Brooklyn’s most distinctive office building,” started a Brooklyn Daily Eagle article in October of 1926, “may well be the description of the new home of Malkind & Weinstein, architects, which is being completed at 93 Court st., and is expected to be ready for occupancy in November.” The article went on to highlight the building’s design and beauty. “The building will carry out the style of Old English architecture in every detail in its exterior, while the […]
THE SPITE HOUSE OF MELROSE AVENUE (1899)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** Around the turn of the last century, Melrose Avenue in the Bronx was widened. The land that the city needed to perform this expansion was purchased from private owners. In some cases, however, it left some very-difficult-to-build-on lots. Such was the case with a lot on the corner of East 161st Street and Melrose Avenue. From The Strand Magazine, 1899. “This odd building stood on the corner of 161st Street and Melrose Avenue, New York City. It was a bit over 4ft. in depth, 17ft. frontage, and one and a-half storeys high, with a basement and sub-basement built under the broad sidewalk, extending to the curb. The house itself was of wood, on a steel frame, and had a slate roof. “Its owner was an eccentric tailor, who lived and carried on his trade below the street. The interior consisted of a small show-room, a store-room, and spiral iron stairway going down to the ‘lower regions.’ “The upper storey seems to have been constructed merely as a finishing touch. It was reached by an iron ladder from the store-room. The entire construction, appointments, and fittings were very ingenious, and were all the ideas of the owner. “The story of the house was that the original lot was cut away in opening […]
IS THAT A TUB IN YOUR KITCHEN? (1920)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** The following article tells how a young lady’s visiting relation – during the New York City housing shortage of 1920 – thought it would be simple to quickly find her niece a $50 (a month!) apartment in Brooklyn – and how, upon viewing one in Brookyn Heights, she was shocked – “Shocked, I say!” – to see a bathtub in the kitchenette (or a kitchen in the bath)! – Courtesy of Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sun., 22 August 1920 AUNT BELLA is an august soul and very imposing in her handsome second mourning. And she set her tea cup down with a force Which made me nervous for my Royal Sevres. “You needn’t tell me,” said Aunt Bella firmly. “This Housing shortage is all a myth, and is cooked up between the newspapers and the property owners to keep up the high rents. You haven’t looked, child—you admit it yourself. Right here in Brooklyn there are, I know, hundreds of apartments, kitchen, living room and bath. Here you sit and let your rent go up 25 percent, and don’t make a murmur. That will be $62.50 for this box of a place. Nonsense!” as I weakly murmured something about the intense heat. “It Would be cheaper to take a taxi today and […]
THE HIDDEN JEWELS OF No. 952 PUTNAM (1924)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** In 1922, $40K in gems hidden behind some bricks in a chimney, were almost lost to the ages when their owner was about to pass away. A week before she passed, though, she directed her favorite neice to the secret location of the hidden jewels. A word to the wise when attempting to renovate your newly purchased old brownstone: “People used to hide valuables in their homes. So, look around the old joint before you invite a builder to start demolition!” (From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mon., 28 January 1924.) Jewels worth $40,000, hidden in a niche in the kitchen wall of the residence of the late Mary A. Geis, at 952 Putnam avenue, and given by the deceased a week before her death to her favorite niece, Miss Minnie McDonald of 582 Woodword avenue, Queens, may be retained by the latter, despite efforts made to recover them by Joseph Geis, an executor of the will. Surrogate Wingate has handed down a decision in favor of Miss McDonald, the respondent. A week before her aunt died, according to the dramatic story told on the stand by Miss McDonald, she sent for her and told her that she was dying. “She directed me to go into the kitchen and remove certain bricks […]
A DEAD CHILD’S HEART AT 549 HENRY ST (1877)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** (The following story comes from the Brooklyn Union-Argus, Mon., 14 May 1877.) A child fourteen months old of Mr. James Menagh’s, of No. 15 Dennet place, died on Saturday of heart disease. The case was a curious one, and had attracted general interest in the Long Island College Hospital, where it had been treated for a short time. A few days before its death Dr. Henry Read, of No. 549 Henry street, attended it. He, too, became interested. When the child died he refused to give the parents a certificate of death unless be was permitted to make a post-mortem examination of the body. After some hesitation this was granted. He made the autopsy, signed the certificate and took his departure. Mrs. Menagh suspected, either from his manner or from the package that be carried, that something was wrong, and she examined the child’s body. Cutting the thread with which the doctor had sewn up the stomach, she found that the heart was missing. The doctor’s unwillingness to grant the certificate was at once explained. He wanted the heart for anatomical study. The parents were indignant, and notified Captain Reilley, of the Eleventh. Detective Daly accompanied the father to Dr. Read’s residence, and the latter delivered up the heart, which was […]
