Pining for the Joseph Steele House
Maybe it’s near where you live and you pass by all the time or maybe it’s in a neighborhood you get to less frequently, but it’s a house that you have an emotional attachment to even though you’ve never set foot inside. For us, that house is the Joseph Steele House on the southeast corner…
Maybe it’s near where you live and you pass by all the time or maybe it’s in a neighborhood you get to less frequently, but it’s a house that you have an emotional attachment to even though you’ve never set foot inside. For us, that house is the Joseph Steele House on the southeast corner of Lafayette and Vanderbilt. Whenever we walk by (which is frequently) we’re always hoping we’ll get to see something we haven’t before: Maybe the garden door will be open a crack and we’ll catch a glimpse of what the back stair look like. Or maybe a light will be on in the dining room and we’ll get to see if there are moldings on the ceiling. And, of course, there are the fantasies of someday living there. We’re not the only one with a certain affection for this place. Here’s what the AIA Guide has to say about the 1850 charmer:
An extraordinary relic from the days when these precincts were farm country. Greek Revival, with elegant narrow clapboards, a bracketed cornice with eyebrow windows, and a widow’s walk with a view of the harbor in those open, early days. It wears its age well, with dignity.
Indeed. For those of you coming to the Clinton Hill House Tour this weekend, make sure to and gaze at this beauty for a few moments. Do any readers have particular houses that they’ve formed similar attachments to?
This my friends is NOT a widow’s walk. A widow’s walk is a platform with railing.
I believe (although I have no confirmation) that the sisters who live there are the Skinner sisters, and I suspect they are related to Cornelia Otis Skinner, who wrote an autobiography called something like “Family Circle” about her family in NYC during the turn of the 20th century. I think the house described in the book was this yellow house – her family was a well known acting family at that time, along the lines of the Barrymores.
I believe many MANY naive types have attempted to make offers for this house over the years, and have been firmly turned down. The sisters are looking pretty frail these days though. Who knows what will happen – all I know is that they are not fools.
Two elderly sisters live here, and they are rumoured to be descendants of Captain Clinton, which the ‘hood is named after. They are very nice and have no intention of leaving, and it is one of my favourites as well. The widow’s watch strikes my curiousity.
This is not a POS, however. Forte Towers qualifies for that catagory. Every week it looks more hideous!
Got scared the other day when I saw a guy who I believe to be one of those guys who pays cash for houses ringing the bell of the yellow house and chatting up the guy who answered. They seemed flattered by the attention of whatever sort it was. I wonder how many people have gotten up the courage to tell the owners they will buy it from them. I bet lots of people through the years. I was on a walking tour of Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill one time and the guy doing the tour said one time they actually all got invited in and saw the place. He said it was nice, but really, really run down. That was in the 90’s though, so who knows what it’s like inside now.
i used to live across the street from that house for many yrs. I LOVE it..the colour..everything..the owners’ niece (does not live there) seems to be in charge of the occasional paint job, etc. If I could afford and they were selling it would be soo mine.
Well, I’ve in the nabe for 6 years, witness almost no activity when I pass, and have noticed the 2 elderly women on occasion when I’ve passed. Once, hanging out on the stoop, another coming home from grocery shopping. There’s something kind of sad and forlorn about that place, like it hasn’t had the windows opened up, or good times in quite a while. All it needs is a weeping willow in the front, and maybe some overgrown shrubs and lots of cats, and it would complete the “Grey Gardens” feeling I get from it sometimes. I hope they never demolish it, and put some hideous modern structure in its place
Music school on 9th street–old Higgins mansion, owner of Higgins Ink, maker of India ink, before ballpoint pens
I can remember when Brownstones in Park Slope were going for $35,000 … late sixties, early seventies… I gasp when I see the asking prices these days.
It’s wonderful to see so many younger folks as in love with these beautiful homes in the different neighborhoods of Brooklyn as I have always been …
Happy home hunting!
Just noticed that 8:34 beat me to the punch on that one. I’d love to know how much they paid for that house. My guess would be they bought it about 15 years ago for an ungodly amount like ~ gasp ~ half a million dollars.