Building of the Day: 201 Prospect Place
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: 201 Prospect Place, between Carlton and Underhill Name: Private House Neighborhood: Prospect Heights Year Built: 1888 Architectural Style:…
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: 201 Prospect Place, between Carlton and Underhill
Name: Private House
Neighborhood: Prospect Heights
Year Built: 1888
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: George I. Morse
Landmarked: Yes
Why chosen: This house would be a stand out on almost any block, but is especially arresting on this block of Prospect Place, as most of the houses on this side of the street before you get to 201 are earlier Italianates, a style very different from this house.
It’s another fine piece of work by George Morse, architect of the Temple Bar Building, the Franklin Trust Building, and PLG’s Grace Reformed Church, among others.
The triangular bay, with the carved ornament at the angle, the segmented windows and transom, the stained glass and bas-relief ornament, and the pleasant garden floor entrance, with the wrought iron fencing make this a one of a kind home.
Not to mention the highly unusual rose colored stone visible underneath the pink paint job.
[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]
Wow the stone is pink, crazy. I wonder if the paint was a closer match when first applied and has faded.
This house was on the Prospect Heights House Tour in about 2002 or thereabouts. The interior is pretty great too.
MIMI: I believe you’re right that there was once a famous owner — possibly a local politician. I also heard/read that one of the reasons this block has such fine houses on the north side is because the speculative builders of the day were expecting the boundaries of Prospect Park to be expanded so that Prospect Pl would become the equivalent of Prospect Park North. Of course it never happened but it’s certainly a jewel of a block within Prospect Heights.
But why would anyone paint a pink home pink?
MM,
I lived here on the top floor in 91-92. A beutiful house. One other interesting item is a large carved oval stone with a flat top in the building courtyard, maybe about 18″ high. I was told that it was originally located at the curb, and I think it was either used to mount horses or provide a step when entering/leaving a carriage. Have you ever heard of this?
What a happy surprise to see you cover this building. It’s been a favorite of mine on the block for a while. The organic carving seems to anticipate the then-burgeoning Art Nouveau style. Tks!
MM,
You are a treasure to Brooklyn. I’m so glad you live on this side of the East River. I’m a big fan of George Morse and wasn’t aware of this structure. Thanks again for a wonderful educational series. You got to gather all this info and publish a book. I would love to have this info in hard copy on my living room table for all to see.
Thank you MM. Love this series.
I think there was a story about this house being built by a rich merchant who went bankrupt and committed suicide. Has anyone else heard something similar?
It’s hard to believe this was built in 1888.
It seems more modern than that.
Were other works by George Morse similarly “different” and “special”?
I’ve gawked at home many times and have wondered about the stone beneath the peeling pink paint.
Rose-colored stone?!