Building of the Day: 197 Washington Park

(Photo: Property Shark)

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: 197 Washington Park, between DeKalb and Willoughby Avenues
Name: Private House
Neighborhood: Fort Greene
Year Built: 1881
Architectural Style: Neo-Grec, with Queen Anne detailing
Architect: John Antrim (or Antrum)
Landmarked: Yes, Fort Greene Historic District

Why chosen: Before it was called Fort Greene Park, the large park across the street from this house was named Washington Park, hence the name of the street. The two blocks that make up the street have long been a desirable place for a home, and many of the houses were built and owned by some of Brooklyn’s more influential folk. One might think that all the houses on these prime blocks would be large mansions, but they are, in fact, a mixture of sizes and reflect the growth of the neighborhood. 197 is one of two homes designed by John Antrim, or perhaps Antrum, the writing is unclear in the records. He built the more classic Neo-Grec number 198 in 1880, and the more innovative and stylistically diverse number 197 in 1881. Both houses are rather narrow, only 17 feet wide. But the addition of the graceful oriel bay on the third floor, supported by the beautifully balanced and carved bracketed cornice make this one more special, as does the extra floor. Unfortunately, the stoop was removed, but whoever did it preserved the beauty of the twin arched window and doorway, as well as the carved floral motif. They also made the entryway on the ground floor as attractive as possible, suggesting that it was done at an earlier time, before ripping detail from row houses without a thought to aesthetics was fashionable. The house may have first been owned by the Smith family. The family patriarch, Freeborn Garrison Smith was a piano manufacturer. He had come to NY from Baltimore, and worked for the Bradbury Piano Company, and eventually bought the company, manufacturing Bradbury pianos at his Brooklyn factory, nearby on Fulton and Adelphi Streets. (I used to own a Bradbury baby grand when I lived in Bed Stuy. I had no idea they were made here in Brooklyn.) He was known as an ardent Prohibitionist, and a staunch member of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, one of Brooklyn’s largest Protestant churches. He died in the house, in his bed, in 1911, at the age of 84. Other members of his family experienced tragedy in the house. In 1888, the Brooklyn Eagle announced the death of 6 year old George Smith, son of Harry and Marion Smith, at this address. Two months later, the paper announced the death of their other son, Arnold, who was almost 5. Both children died of diphtheria. Their daughter, however, lived, and eventually got married in the house. Today, the house is still listed as a single family, but the Smiths are long gone.