Backyard Reno Unveils Old Well in Fort Greene
This just in from a reader: We are in the midst of a renovation of our brownstone in Ft. Greene and made a fascinating discovery in our backyard. The contractors were digging a hole to pour the footings for an extension and new deck and they stumbled across the opening of an old well. The…
This just in from a reader:
We are in the midst of a renovation of our brownstone in Ft. Greene and made a fascinating discovery in our backyard. The contractors were digging a hole to pour the footings for an extension and new deck and they stumbled across the opening of an old well. The well was below what used to be a blue stone patio and the opening was under about 2 feet of dirt. The well is approximately 8 to 10 feet deep and is made of stone. I’d like to get readers’ opinions about the use of and history of wells in Brownstone Brooklyn. Also, I’d like to get readers’ suggestions about what I should do with it. I am sure my contractor will suggest that we fill it in and keep building, but I am interested in hearing ideas about preserving the well or maybe some creative way of incorporating it into our backyard or renovation. I’d hate to just cover it up because it’s a pretty cool discovery.
Cool indeed! Any ideas? Check out another close-up photo on the jump.
Click on photo for a larger view
Hope it is indeed a cistern or well and not a privy. I’ll bet some want to have it filled in [liability issues???] but if it were my yard I would build it up to the present ground level and make it a true secondary water source if at all possible. Your plants will love it. You can also use the water in the yard for many many other things. Good luck and let Brownstoner know the outcome!
Definitely keep it intact. Add it to your deck/patio, put the wishing well top on it or the handpump as people have mentioned.
It is a great piece of history and would be an amazing unique element to your backyard.
Make it bigger, fill it with water and swim in it. Drain and use as a root cellar in the winter.
I meant to say water your non edible plants from it.
Its also a great compost bin…
Congratulations on a great find. I’m a little jealous…
I would get the water tested and if there are no heavy metals, add a period manual water pump and water your edible plants from it. There is no reason to use drinking water to water plants.
If the water is somehow potable, it is a great backup water supply in case there is ever a problem with the nyc water supply.
Buld your deck over it with a trap door. Drop a keg in there and fill it with ice and just have the tap sticking out for your summer parties.
I believe it’s a cistern, not a well or a privy. I worked on a project on the Lower East Side that had a similar underground structure. There was also a privy further back in the yard, but that was not stone-lined.
It could be an outhouse pit or a sistern used to collect runoff water. Traditionalmod is correct in that you should keep an eye out for objects (garbage) that was thrown is to fill it up once they didn’t need it anymore. You should call Jack Fortmeyer (718-541-9642) who “specializes” in digging yards and looking for things like this. He can also give you some interesting ideas on what to do with the space, if anything. We found over a hundred objects (bottles, plates, toothbrushes etc.) when we dug ours, all over 100 years old. Have fun!