Building of the Day: 118 Brooklyn 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: 118 Brooklyn Ave, at corner of Bergen St. Name: Private House Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (Crown Heights North…
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: 118 Brooklyn Ave, at corner of Bergen St.
Name: Private House
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (Crown Heights North Historic District)
Year Built: 1893
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Architects: Henry B. Hill
Landmarked: Yes
Many architects have signature design elements that often give us a hint to their identity, if it is not well known or documented. There is documentation on this house, but even if there had not been, this house is classic Henry Hill, son of, and business partner with, father Amzi Hill.
Amzi and Henry designed many buildings with three signatures that appear on this house: 1) decorative use of brick on chimney stacks and sides of buildings, 2) windows with decorative carved flanges in this signature shape, on the upper stories, and 3) divided twin windows with decorative wooden or stone ornament between the windows.
This is the only semi-detached or free standing house Henry did in this neighborhood. This one has 17 rooms, and was built for developer Jordan Snedecker. In 1898, the owner was one James P. Laing, a wholesale commissions merchant.
The house has not seen very much change in 100 years, is now listed as a 2 family, and is another excellent example of the varied and interesting housing stock in Crown Heights North.
[Photos by Suzanne Spellen]
MM, this is indeed an interesting house, as are many of the jewels in CH. i can very much see a family living here and with all those rooms, why not throw in a B&B.
marvelous house. stunning. There are such treasured in Crown Heights.
I was just admiring that house the other day (book club meeting at a house on Bergen) – thanks for the info!
I’m close to getting the owner to step out and question if I’m casing the place cause I’m always slowing down or stop to eye it as I walk by. one of my fav’s in the hood
Nice one!
Very interesting about the signature touches.
Wowee, MM. “Varied and interesting housing stock of Crown Heights North” is an understatement. The whole neighborhood is chock full of architectural delights. This house is surely among them.
SOLD!