Building of the Day: 206 Monroe Street
The BOTD 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: 206 Monroe Street, between Nostrand and Bedford Avenues Name: FDNY Engine Company 235, Battalion 57 Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant…
The BOTD 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: 206 Monroe Street, between Nostrand and Bedford Avenues
Name: FDNY Engine Company 235, Battalion 57
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant
Year Built: 1895
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: No
This firehouse was organized in 1895 as Brooklyn Fire Department (BFD) Engine #35. It became part of FDNY in 1898, when Brooklyn joined greater New York City. The engine number changed to #135 in 1899, and finally #235 in 1913.
The building itself is in fine shape, featuring well preserved Byzantine Leaf carvings of firemen at the base of the peaked roofline, and a handsome limestone and tan brick facade. The ironwork probably supported block and tackle to hoist hay up into the upper stories.
I am still trying to find the architect, as it is fine work. This house lost 6 men on 9/11, and I remember being in a large night time candlelight vigil walk many members of the community made to the firehouse, on 9/12, to offer our sympathy and support for all of their work and sacrifice. It was very moving, and I’ll never forget it.
Just a little inside information on this building from one who worked there from 1989 thru 1996. Peter J. Lauritzen is indeed the architect of this building as the company opened in 1895 as Engine 35 ( look close or thru binoculars and you’ll see the ’35’ on each of the firemen at the base of the gable. Yes, The hardware is for the original flagpole and during 2008-2009, Engine 235 left Monroe St and quartered with Ladder 102 on Bedford Avenue (1 1/4 north of Monroe St). Although the interior has underwent various chages thru the years, many elements still remain such as the white tile of the apparatus floor, wainscoting up both flights of stairs and around the 2nd floor. The firehouse on Liberty Avenue (Engine 236) is the mirror image of E-235. Finally, on 9/11, 7 members lost their lives, 6 from E-235 and Battalion Chief Dennis Cross, Bn 57 stationed with the company since 1968.
Hi MM, I thought this building looked familiar. There’s an identical twin of this building located at (approx) 1004 Liberty Avenue, at the SW corner of Conduit Ave. I’ve driven by it a few times over the last few years. It’s apparently also still in use by FDNY. I can’t quite make out the Engine Co. # in the Google Maps photo.
Will do, newelyork, please let me know when you are done. Would love to see it. I’ve read the report and seen pictures, I bet you are doing a wonderful job.
The featured firehouse just reopened (maybe 6 months ago?) after closing for renovations/restoration (?) for about a year.
My pleasure, I love this stuff too! It sure helps resuscitate some of my motivation, especially when I’m drudging through reviewing product submittals at quarter to 8pm… which are for EC 253 coincidentally.
If you ever end up featuring EC 253, wait until after our restoration. We are replacing an asphalt shingle roof with a copper Spanish tile roof to match the building’s original 1895 roof – it is going to look spectacular!
THANK YOU! Newelyork! He was actually on my shortlist of possible architects. I can’t thank you enough!
Although I’ve read the listing for the Offerman building, which is on my list for here when I get some pix, I didn’t remember that. You find out more about people in the notes than anywhere else. I just found out he designed another of my favorite buildings, too, in Crown Heights. I found his signature on some records at the DOB.
I love this stuff! Thanks again!
Great building Montrose!
I’ve done exterior restorations on two other firehouses and I dug up the name of the architect of this one, it was Peter J. Lauritzen.
I know this based on my research on one of the firehouses I restored, Engine Company 253 in Bensonhurst, which was built in the same year by the Parfitt Brothers. There were 18 or so firehouses built in Brooklyn in 1895-96, and I believe they were all designed by either Frank Freeman, Peter J. Lauritzen, and the Parfitt Brothers. The LPC designation report for the Lauritzen designed Offerman Building on Fulton and Duffield identifies him as the designer of E.C. 235 in its endnotes.
Looking forward to your next building!
Looks Flemish or Czech.
I like buildings with steep gables.
what is the hardware on the gable? The original flagpole holder?
Looks like the flagpole was held straight up. But can’t be sure.
These old firehouses are great.