Brooklyn's renowned architects Parfitt Brothers designed some of the quickly developing borough's most striking buildings at a time when the field of architecture was in its infancy.
Major Talent: Parfitt Brothers Make Their Mark on Brooklyn
A Medieval-Inspired Service Center for the Autos of 1920s Crown Heights
Today, there are only a few American car companies still in existence, but back in the first half of the 20th century, there were dozens.
‘Separate But Equal’ in 1870s Williamsburg: Colored School No. 3
This is the last of Brooklyn’s Colored School buildings, a bricks and mortar reminder of segregated public education in the city.
Fond Memories of an Upstate New York Independence Day
When I was growing up, Independence Day was huge in our town. Only Christmas Eve came close in town-wide celebrations.
A Developer’s Novel Scheme for a Bit of Florida With English Cottage Style in Flatbush’s Coral Gardens
In their approximately 40 years in business, Realty Associates was one of the largest developers of homes and apartment builders, not just in Brooklyn, but also in Queens and parts of Long Island.
Axel Hedman’s Twin Houses of Distinction in Prospect Lefferts Gardens
This interesting group of houses by Axel Hedman often gets overlooked.
Building Crown Heights: A New Look for Living in a New Century
In the early 20th century, developers reported that their customers wanted smaller houses that had open spaces, more closets and more than one bathroom.
A Day of Remembrance and Celebration: The History of Memorial Day in Brooklyn
We normally celebrate Memorial Day with food, festivities and perhaps even a day at the beach, on the semi-official start of the summer season.
A Scrap Dealer Makes It Big in Queen Anne Style on Highland Boulevard
A Scottish-born entrepreneur named Andrew Watson made a tidy fortune on scrap metal and in the early 20th century commissioned an expansive Queen Anne house in Cypress Hills.
The Opulent Splendor of Downtown Brooklyn’s Lost Fox Theatre
Downtown Brooklyn once had a theater district as vibrant as Manhattan’s, with almost as many venues, offering the gamut of entertainment from opera to Shakespeare, popular slapstick comedies to classic dramas, vaudeville to minstrel shows.
