Building of the Day: 241 Clinton Avenue
The Building of the Day is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 241 Clinton Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby Name: Former Charles Millard Pratt House, now Residence…
The Building of the Day is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 241 Clinton Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby
Name: Former Charles Millard Pratt House, now Residence of the Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Year built: 1890
Architectural style: Romanesque Revival
Architects: William Tubby
Landmarked: Yes
Charles Pratt was the richest man in Brooklyn, a partner in Standard Oil with J.D. Rockefeller. He did many fine and philanthropic things with his money, building nearby Pratt Institute, for one, and he was quite generous to his children.
Clinton Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby, is Pratt country. His own home, at 232 Clinton Avenue, built in 1874, was followed by very large and generous Brooklyn homes for three of his sons.
George Dupont Pratt had a house at 245 Clinton, Frederick B. Pratt got the beautiful home, now called the Caroline Ladd Pratt House, at 229 Clinton, and next door, at 241 Clinton, is eldest son, Charles Millard Pratt’s home.
In my opinion, Junior got the best house.
The architect, William Tubby, who was one of Papa Pratt’s favorite architects, designed this Romanesque Revival masterpiece in rich red Roman brick, with a dark green Mediterranean tile roof. The most striking feature of the house is the magnificent arched porte-cochere, but paying too much attention to that (and who can blame you), might lead you to overlook all of the other goodies of this house; the oriel above the arch, the hipped roof with all of its changing shapes and rooflines, the eyebrow window, and the unusual, but very visually pleasing arrangements of the windows.
From the back of the house you can see another curved bay, and a small conservatory. Tubby adorned the house with some incredible terra-cotta ornament, including the Byzantine leaf panel with CMP entwined in it, as well as some faces and other fanciful design. Topping it off is that very cool bronze lamp at the entrance.
Somehow, over the years, most of the very Baptist Pratt properties became part of the Catholic Dioceses of Brooklyn, and this became the official residence of the Bishop of Brooklyn. Unfortunately, he never seems to give tours. I’d be there.
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I agree with FSRG. a) This is the wrong place for such a debate. b) You weren’t contributing anything constructive; like you said yourself, you were just mocking the Church because of the offenses of a few. That is low class.
those gates are remote controlled, and the driveway is heated, so the snow melts away. very nice house! the bishop is invisible though. you never see or hear anyone at this house, except for official events.
FSRG;
This is not the place to debate such an issue. However, I will say that if your standard is that an entire instituation should be mocked because of the crimes of a few of its members, you’ll be a busy guy.
I remain in my statement that it was a cheap shot, and low-class. Usually you supply intelligent commentary on this page, but not this time.
fsrg – well said, I was trying to articulate the same thoughts.
fsrg – well said, I was trying to articulate the same thoughts.
Benson – really? I think engaging and covering up systemic child abuse is low class and criminal, I think mocking the institution that perpetuated it is…appropriate
FSRG;
Low class.
Thought Chris Rock owned it and/or lived there. No?
Never. If he said he did, he was joking.
wasder, lucky someone took them over. Queen of All Saints also owned a couple of others on Clinton too.