Prospect Lefferts Gardens Brooklyn -- 111 Clarkson Avenue History
Photo by Suzanne Spellen

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Former Herman Raub House
Address: 111 Clarkson Avenue, between Bedford and Rogers Avenues
Neighborhood: Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Year Built: 1902
Architectural Style: Eclectic Queen Anne
Architect: Hugo von Wiedenfeld
Landmarked: No, unfortunately.

I went looking for this house a few weeks back, without the exact address, just knowing it was on Clarkson. It’s nestled next to an apartment building, so you can’t see it until right up one it, and wow, it still impresses, in spite of the severe alterations to the porch.

It was built at the turn of the century for Consumer’s Park Brewery president Herman Raub, designed by Austrian architect Hugo von Wiedenfeld. He put together an imaginative combination of Tyrolean elements, Islamic detail, and classic Victorian styling in this one of a kind home, and much of it still remains, in a sort of Grey Gardens kind of way.

It’s three stories tall, with a third floor loggia and porch with brackets that echo the same theme as the portico below. You can still glimpse hints of stained glass and other period details on the side of the house.

Prospect Lefferts Gardens Brooklyn -- 111 Clarkson Avenue History
Photo by Suzanne Spellen

The house has been owned by a lawyer named Raphael Berger since the 1980’s, about the same time the porch was enclosed with the modern brick and smoked glass windows. Mr. Berger uses the porch as his office.

He was interviewed by Christopher Gray for his Streetscapes column back in 2007, when he was floating the house out on the market for $3.15 million, which seemed to just be an experiment in seeing where any market interest was.

According to Mr. Gray, the inside of the house still retains many of its original details, and his article gives more detail on the house’s history. Photos from the NY Public Library’s collection show the house in 1978, one owner previous to Mr. Berger, with the original porch, and a wealth of interior detail. Wow!

Prospect Lefferts Gardens Brooklyn -- 111 Clarkson Avenue History
Photo via New York Public Library
Prospect Lefferts Gardens Brooklyn -- 111 Clarkson Avenue History
Photo via New York Public Library
Prospect Lefferts Gardens Brooklyn -- 111 Clarkson Avenue History
Photo via New York Public Library

 


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. “great to expose Brownstone Fans to the fabulous Nooney Collection!”

    Very true. There are some real gems there, both architecturally and socially.

    The house was so beautiful with the porch and the little dome. Well, at least there is a record for some future person to use in their restoration.