Woodframey Goodness on Kenmore Terrace
We were blown away when we passed this beautiful free-standing woodframe house on the corner of East 21st Street and Kenmore Terrace (a small cul de sac with otherwise modest houses) a couple of weeks ago. It was raining pretty hard (hence the blotchy photo) so unfortunately we didn’t get to poke around. Back behind…
We were blown away when we passed this beautiful free-standing woodframe house on the corner of East 21st Street and Kenmore Terrace (a small cul de sac with otherwise modest houses) a couple of weeks ago. It was raining pretty hard (hence the blotchy photo) so unfortunately we didn’t get to poke around. Back behind the house, towards Church Avenue, is an old graveyard (photo on the jump), the name of which escapes us. There’s gotta be a story behind this house–we just don’t know what it is. Help! GMAP
It was definitely moved. I have seen pictures of it in its original location adjacent to the church on Flatbush Avenue. Another building, now long gone, which was transferred quite close by from off Flatbush Avenue was the Melrose Club Headquarters, before that the mid. 19th c. Clarkson residence. They were surrounded by elaborate wood frame houses.
Actually, it’s the Church that takes care of it, and I think upkeep may be a strain on their budget. Every summer a couple of van loads of blonde kids from Western Michigan Dutch Reformed Churches (the Dutch went there from here) comes in and works on the place. I’ve looked in my guides for the information about the origin of this house, built 1853, but didn’t find much more that its date. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that it was moved to this spot, but I can’t find the reference.
Hats off to CAMBA for keeping this beauty in such great shape…
Popcorn School (my sons are alumni) is actually in the basement of the brick church house next door (ca. 1924?). The parsonage is mid-nineteenth century, I think.
Here’s a nice portrait of the neighborhood, ca. 1928, from the Brooklyn Standard: http://tinyurl.com/n3qo3
I believe this building also houses a cooperative pre-school, The Popcorn School. The houses directly opposite this building have been featured on this site before – the English Garden Suburb style homes on Kenmare Terrace. Landmarked Georgian style homes are on the street immediately behind, it, Albemarle Terrace.
A handful of these homes in excellent condition have been for sale in recent years and have brought asking prices of less than 1 million. The area is on the fringes of what is today Victorian Flatbush, but 100 years ago Ocean Avenue, St. Pauls Court and Crooke Avenue were studded with huge woodframe homes. Almost all gone, now, save one or two in adulterated form. There’s a new photo book out, part of that Historical Brooklyn series, which focuses on Flatbush. Forget the authors names.
And furthermore, you’re repeating yourself.
http://tinyurl.com/jfplv
You need some good Brooklyn guides. This was formerly the house in which the pastor at the Dutch Reformed Church lived. Some years ago it was turned into offices now used by CAMBA — Church Avenue Merchants Blook Association. It was not originally on this spot, I think, but was moved from somewhere nearby. The churchyard still has stones with family names of the original Dutch settlers in the area. The church building itself is late 18th Century, I think, older than anything else around, but the church organization may go back to 17th Century. This is really the center of the town of Flatbush, before Brooklyn gobbled it up and was in turn gobbled by New York City. (All from memory, subject to revision.)
The Dutch Reformed Church is on the corner of Church and Flatbush, their property extends to E. 21st St.