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January 30, 2009
Mysterious tunnel
I've just unearthed a curious tunnel beneath the English basement of my 1860s wood-frame house, and I can’t figure out why it was built. I’ve contacted three architectural historians so far, all of whom are mystified.
It’s 12 feet long, 4.5 feet deep, 2.5 feet wide, and runs in an elegant S-curve that starts in the sub-basement, runs under the original kitchen, and ends at a vertical shaft that’s flush with the building line and leads to the back yard. It has finely finished brick walls (better by far than the walls of the house itself), a concrete floor, and as far as I can tell, it’s not pitched.
It’s not a coal chute—too long and curvy, and anyway, there's another coal chute, entirely vertical, that leads from the sub-basement to the front of the house. It’s not a sewage outlet—too wide. Not a water inlet—too far from the cistern. And it’s probably not a root cellar, as it’s not wide enough for storage (and would have been too hot anyway, since it’s connected to the sub-basement, where the furnace likely was.)
Any insights? Guesses?
Comments
you dont live on Elm Street do you? ha. seriously tho, that is awesome! i have no idea what it could be..
*r*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at January 30, 2009 1:12 PM
Maybe a stop on the underground railroad?
Posted by: SJ at January 30, 2009 1:34 PM
many years ago people used the basements as an underground cities, markets et al.
There was no fridges so the coolnes and the like environment was satisfying for storage of foods, wines, and other men made products.
I am not sure if that was also happening in Brooklyn but let's face it, we live where used to be a farm land ?????
Let me know if you do find out more.
Posted by: karo25 at January 30, 2009 1:37 PM
you should read "Neverwhere" by Gaiman.
Posted by: bobjohn at January 30, 2009 1:40 PM
I agree with SJ, makes me think Underground Railroad.
Posted by: mscrochety at January 30, 2009 3:00 PM
take some pics. sounds like quite a find.
Posted by: Fjorder at January 30, 2009 3:07 PM
have you found any dharma initiative logos?
Posted by: funkymonkey at January 30, 2009 3:38 PM
have you checked old property maps? you can find them online through the NYPL. they start in brooklyn in 1855, and you may find that either your old house was once something else -- possibly a workshop or something -- or it may show that your backyard used to have an outbuilding or a workshed or somthing. or maybe next door.
nypl.org - maps.
let us know what you find!
Posted by: chuck at January 30, 2009 3:54 PM
If the quality and coursing of the brick is so dramatically different than that found in the rest of your house, I agree it might have belonged to something else on the site before your house was built.
Otherwise given the location, I'd be highly suspect it might have been used for the underground railroad or some other sort of smuggling.
Try looking into previous owners through city and census records if you can.
Posted by: FenFen at January 30, 2009 4:05 PM
Where is your house located?
Posted by: mopar at January 30, 2009 4:46 PM
Next time you are down there recite the following:
Y'AI 'NG'NGAH,
YOG-SOTHOTH
H'EE-L'GEB
F'AI THRODOG
UAAAH!
and let us know what happens.
Posted by: Karka at January 30, 2009 5:00 PM
RE: Underground Railroad: The escape network was solely "underground" in the sense of being an underground resistance. The network was known as a "railroad" by way of the use of rail terminology in the code. The Underground Railroad consisted of meeting points, secret routes, transportation, and safe houses.
It was not physically under ground.
Posted by: hancock1 at January 30, 2009 5:25 PM
Or, if needed:
OGTHROD AI'F GEB'L-EE'H YOG-SOTHOTH 'NGAH'NG AI'Y ZHRO
Posted by: superstooper at January 30, 2009 6:16 PM
Dude,
didn't you see Being John Malkovich? That's the tunnel to enter somebody elses consciousness. Is there a little door there somewhere?
But seriously, if your house dates to 1860 and this was already beneath the structure and of finer masonry it may be part of an earlier waterworks. The main clue seems to be it's shape. You have to wonder why a masonry structure would be curved, it was either built to conform to another structure or perhaps to support something curved. Could it be the remains of a factory/foundry where the iron structures required masonry structures to hold water?
Posted by: Legion at January 30, 2009 6:45 PM
My guess is it was used during prohibition for storage. Look at the construction and determine the age. That will help narrow it down.
Posted by: Iknow at January 30, 2009 7:28 PM
Also hush! If the city finds out they will raise your square footage and taxes.
Posted by: Iknow at January 30, 2009 7:29 PM
they had secret rooms in which to hide in house used along the underground railroad. National Register of Hysteric Places inclusion next.
Maybe bootleggers. Any Kennedys ever own the place?
j
Posted by: jasonstonestreet at January 31, 2009 1:26 AM
woah. that sounds cool.
whats throwing me off is how narrow it is. Otherwise, given the elegant shape and fine finish work, I would have guessed it was an old-school indoor pool? Maybe someone had a carp or koi collection?
pictures would be great to see!
Posted by: sloper77 at January 31, 2009 3:17 PM
I've heard that there is a string of houses along Henry St in Cobble Hill that have/had underground tunnels connecting them. In the good ol' days, they were used for escape in the event one of the houses were raided.
Posted by: CHMomma at January 31, 2009 9:46 PM
Check out this video about tunnels found under 225 and 227 Duffield Street used in the underground railroad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8VXZO0-mEY
Posted by: SJ at February 1, 2009 12:43 PM
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