Building of the Day: 190 New York Avenue

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Private House
Address: 190 New York Avenue
Cross Streets: Prospect and Park Places
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North
Year Built: 1896
Architectural Style: Colonial Revival
Architect: Edward P. York
Other buildings by architect: (York & Sawyer) Brooklyn Trust Bank (Chase) Montague & Clinton. In Manhattan – Bowery SB: E.42nd St, Federal Reserve Bank: Maiden Lane, Greenwich SB, 36th & Broadway.
Landmarked: Yes, new Crown Heights North HD, Phase 2 (2011)

The story: At the turn of the 20th century, the St. Marks District was home to many of Brooklyn’s wealthiest and successful families. These captains of industry and finance had large free-standing, attached and semi-detached homes built on the streets and avenues that make up this part of what is now Crown Heights North. New York Avenue, an important north-south street, had many exceptionally fine homes, and this Colonial Revival mansion stands out on this block of large mansions. It’s had quite a history.

The architect of the house was Edward P. York, who trained in the offices of McKim, Mead & White. That firm was at the forefront of promoting the new Colonial Revival style, and many of the ideas for this house may have been born of that experience. Two years after designing this house, York would go on to become a partner in York & Sawyer, one of the best, and most prolific practitioners of the Beaux Arts style, specializing in banks, office buildings, clubs and college buildings, including the Brooklyn Trust Company, now Chase Bank, a landmark both inside and out, on the corner of Montague and Clinton, in Brooklyn Heights.

The house was built for John Simmons and his large family. Simmons was a classic immigrant success story. He was born in Wexford, Ireland, and came to New York as a child with his family. He attended public schools in Manhattan, and moved to Brooklyn after getting married. He got into the pipe business, and became a partner in the firm of Hunter, Keller and Co. which manufactured iron pipes and fittings. He would leave them and found his own company, the John Simmons Company. He was quite successful, becoming one of the largest companies of its kind, eventually leasing a large part of one of the warehouse/factory spaces in the Bush Terminal in what was then called South Brooklyn. His company had a very successful amateur bowling team which made the New York Times on several occasions, as winners in various tournaments.

The Simmons’ had eight children: four sons and four daughters. He was most active in his Central Congregational Church, and served as a deacon there for many years. At least one of his daughters had her debutante coming out in the house. John Simmons died in October of 1900, here at home, and was mourned by all as an extremely decent and generous man.

The family must have immediately sold the house, because by five years later, in 1905, it was home to Charles S. Burr, the head of J.S. Plummer, a large straw goods importer with offices in the SoHo area of Manhattan. Poor Mr. Plummer died suddenly on July 25th, 1905, at the nearby Union League Club, on Bedford Avenue, where he had been staying, since his family was vacationing in Maine. It turned out he had died of ptomaine poisoning, stemming from a hearty meal at a clambake, the week before. He left a widow, three daughters and two sons.

Skipping forward many years, the house was broken up into a two family. One of the tenants during the 1950’s was Ethel Waters. She was a legendary blues/jazz/gospel singer, as well as only the second African-American actor to be nominated for an Academy Award, this for the film Pinky. Around this time, she also took an aspiring young African-American actress under her wing, introducing her to producers, directors, and other actors. That woman was my mother. I wonder if she ever came to this house. GMAP