Building of the Day: 491 Rogers Avenue
Brooklyn, one building at a time. Name: FDNY Firehouse, Engine 249, Ladder 113 Address: 491 Rogers Avenue, between Midwood and Maple Streets Neighborhood: Prospect Lefferts Gardens Year Built: 1895-96 Architectural Style: Eclectic, with Flemish details Architect: Peter J. Lauritzen Other buildings by architect: Firehouse Engine 235, Monroe St. in Bed Stuy, Offerman Building on Fulton…
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: FDNY Firehouse, Engine 249, Ladder 113
Address: 491 Rogers Avenue, between Midwood and Maple Streets
Neighborhood: Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Year Built: 1895-96
Architectural Style: Eclectic, with Flemish details
Architect: Peter J. Lauritzen
Other buildings by architect: Firehouse Engine 235, Monroe St. in Bed Stuy, Offerman Building on Fulton St. Downtown Brooklyn, Union League Club, Grant Square, Crown Hts North.
Landmarked: No
The story: Architect Peter J. Lauritzen designed eight firehouses for the Brooklyn Fire Department between 1895 and 1897. This one originally was designated Engine 149 and Ladder 63 in 1896, when Brooklyn was still independent from New York City. The land was bought from the Lefferts family and the firehouse built at the cost to the city of $15,700. It went into service on January 20, of that year.
When it was built, the firehouse had room on the first floor for the steam fire engine, the hose truck and ladder truck. There were six stalls for the horses, and a feed and equipment room. The second floor had a company room, offices, a dormitory for 12, and shower/bathrooms. Lauritzen’s designs included all new state of the art fire fighters’ amenities, including for the first time, hot running water for showers. This time period also saw the institution of a paid fire department, for the first time. Each man working at this house would have been on a 24 hour a day schedule, 6 days on, one day off. For this service, they received about $900 a year, averaging out to twelve cents an hour for a 144 hour week.
By the 1920’s, the firehouse was getting too small to accommodate the new fire trucks, and the doors were too narrow. The entrance was modified and enlarged, with new steel beams installed, and new doors. Unfortunately, this retrofit also stripped all of the original wood wainscoting from the main floor. It would have been gone anyway, because in 1996, the building was totally rebuilt behind the original façade, adding a third story, and an entirely modern interior. At some point, I suspect the tower sported a peaked roof, but that is long gone.
Engine 249, Ladder 113, aka “Camp Rogers Rats”, has had a proud history. Recently, one of their most respected and loved members, Lt. John H. Martinson, died in 2008, in a fire at the Ebbetts Field houses, a fire started by a child playing with paper on the stove. Their service to the city is deeply appreciated.
he worked for the parfait brothers who made tubby and short even more so.
yes, the name Batty could cause issues in the schoolyard
but Asher Benjamin is too boring
so I will stick with small-footed Minard.
Batty was a giant among men. look him up.
I have to admit that Minard Lafever is a weird name. I’m thinking of changing it to
Batty Langley. Any thoughts?
Did he work for Harde & Short? Or Lamb & Rich?
Sounds a little batty to me. You’re either becoming a vampire or you need serious help . But then again, don’t we all?
And, about that whole jail thing, Raymond Street. Isn’t that “gee they were so stupid they forgot to put in a door” thing just a little too pat, like something a walking tour guide would say? I mean, the architect, the contractor, the client, the Board of Health, the Art Commission, the Department of Buildings – it got past all of them? And what door? When? Where, what street? And doors in jails – I sort of think those are something you want to minimize.
And, even as a “throw away the key” Republican, I agree with other posters about the scandalous conditions in our jails and prisons. A national disgrace. Of course, we have a few of those.
Sign me, Almost Went to Jail Once, Could Well Have Been Prison
I always think of Wonder Woman when I hear the word bartizan. Of course, I always think of small feet when I hear the word minard. Benson? That makes me think of a ’56 Chevy.
Montrose, come over, to the dark side.