Jehovah Witness History Brooklyn
Left: Letter from the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1969. Right: Photo of the Watchtower buildings by Joe Mable via Wikimedia

Here’s a fun blast from the past. After reading our post last week on how the Jehovah’s Witnesses came to Brooklyn, a Brownstoner tipster sent us the 1969 letter mailed out by Witness President Nathan H. Knorr when the organization bought their largest buildings in Brooklyn Heights.

Posted to church members around the globe, the letter thanked everyone involved for helping purchase the former pharmaceuticals complex — which was promptly put to use as paper storage. The letter also mentions the installation of the now-iconic Watchtower sign.

Today, these buildings are some of the most valuable sites in Brooklyn. And a number of these same buildings just went up for sale last year.

Jehovah Witness History Brooklyn
Letter scanned by John Redwood

Related Stories
The End of the World: Charles T. Russell and Why the Jehovah’s Witnesses Came to Brooklyn
Witnesses Put Three Hot Sites on the Market in Dumbo and Heights, Sure to Get Bonkers Prices
This Massive Development Site — For Sale by the Witnesses — Will Utterly Transform Dumbo

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