HOUSE HISTORY RULE No. 23 – PARAPETS (1910)
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.
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House History Rule No. 23: “The more elaborate a house’s parapet, the less likely it will survive.”
When you look up to the top of any brownstone, rowhouse, or townhouse, you sometimes see a parapet, an extension of sorts above the cornice which adds a certain grandeur or majesty to any building.
The problem with many of these parapets, though, was their susceptibility to the elements. Over time, they wore, rotted, and simply fell apart. Eventually, these ornate elements of design were removed to prevent further damage to the structural integrity of the houses they graced.
Built by Otto Singer in 1909, these 1-Family brick houses, exist on West 8th St. & King’s Hwy., in Bensonhurst.
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Brownstone Detectives is a property research agency. Our mission is to research, document, and save the histories of our clients’ historic properties. From this research, we produce our celebrated House History Books. Each book is fully cited, featuring detailed narratives and colorful graphics, and is designed to bring the history of any house to life. Contact us today to begin discovering the history of your home.
