280 Washington Avenue: The Before Photos

Yesterday we showed you some photos of the renovation at 280 Washington Avenue. Today, on the jump, we’ve got some “before” photos (including a shot of the Moroccan party room!) along with some history on the historic mansion pieced together by the owner. Good times! Click through for the pre-reno house porn…

The house was built by Charles Erhart, cousin and partner of Charles Pfizer, for his daughter Fanny Erhart Erbloeh, her husband and their four children. 282 was built for his son William Erhart (Chairman of the Board from 1929 – 1940). Fanny and her family lived in the house until they moved to Manhattan in 1910.

The house was sold to Walter Rappelyea Davies, a local attorney descended from the early Brooklyn land owning family, the Rappelyeas. He was also the treasurer of The Brooklyn Committee for the Prevention of Tuberculosis headed by Frederick Pratt. Business records belonging to Davies were found in under a false floor during the restoration.

In 1925, The Brooklyn Public library leased the house as their offices and made a handful of changes to the top floor to create a tea room, a stenographer’s room, a mailroom and a mechanical room. They also demolished the iron and glass conservatory (leaving its base) to build a fire rated records room .

In 1930, Saint Angela Hall purchased the house to use as their school library and as a convent. Partitions were added to split rooms to create more bedrooms, the top floor bathroom was modified to accommodate multiple users, and a laundry room was added on the garden floor.

In the 1990’s, Charles Davis purchased 280 and 282. Some restoration work was done and some fantastical additions were made including what Mr. Davis referred to as the Moroccan Party Room in the cellar.

The skylight before

2nd Floor Bathroom

There were lots of bars on the windows

Master bedroom

4th floor bathroom

3rd floor kitchen

Moroccan party room!