Building of the Day: 273 Waverly Avenue
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: 273 Waverly Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby Name: Garage Neighborhood: Clinton Hill Year Built: early 20th century Architectural…
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: 273 Waverly Avenue, between DeKalb and Willoughby
Name: Garage
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Year Built: early 20th century
Architectural Style: Eclectic
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes
Waverly Avenue was built up largely as a service street for the Clinton and Washington Avenue mansions of the late 19th century. It is lined with carriage houses, garages, and modest homes, as well as the rear entrances or grounds of some of the larger houses on these avenues.
Even among carriage houses, this is a small garage, and is notable for its survival, and the simple beauty of it. Someone thought enough of its function and its place in the community to design and build a handsome structure with the raised pediment at the peak of the facade, and the very nice corbeled brickwork.
A side view shows a door, believed to have been added later, and a window, also altered. The current door is, of course, a modern replacement.
It is not known for whom the garage was built, but one can imagine the owner swinging open original double doors, and rolling out in their Model T, driving goggles and motoring hat and coat included, ready for a drive through fashionable Clinton Hill, and beyond.
[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]
I’d imagine that the original owner kept something like a Pierce Arrow in this garage, rather than a plebeian Ford.
Fantastic – my favorite BOTD yet!
I think tyburg is right – this looks as though it was built as a garage, not a carriage house. I’d bet the door and window are original, too.
Minard, keep your Brooklyn Heights paws off this garage. The Clinton Hill people will track you down! I know some of them.
Wasder, 😉
Montrose, I am picturing you and B’stoner in riding coats and goggles in an early Franklin or Pierce Arrow in front of this little building. Now that’s a Holiday card!
This is great, MM.
Yeah — I wonder if this was not built as a “carriage house,” but rather specifically as a garage for a car. Though, Model T’s are actually pretty big. Which is more compact a Model T (or similar) or a city buggy.
It looks almost like a little red church!
The church of Henry Ford.
Such nice craftsmanship for such a little back-alley garage!
The builders, may they rest in peace, must be feeling pretty good right now as they watch their garage being adored online.
Even among carriage houses, this is a small garage, and is notable for its survival, and the simple beauty of it. Someone thought enough of its function and its place in the community to design and build a handsome structure with the raised pediment at the peak of the facade, and the very nice corbeled brickwork.
…
Great stuff (as always), MM.
Our neighbor has a detached brick garage, built 6-7 years ago to match the house. It’s a functional rectangle, no detail whatsoever (which is fine, blends right in with the modest homes in our nabe). But I look at what is above that garage door and I am just amazed at the thoughtful details that make this simple building interesting.
A freakin’ garage! C’mon, MM. I know the weather is gorgeous but…
Just messin’ with ya. Great work.
***Bid half off peak comps***