What is a Brownstone?
Serious question — What is the definition of a brownstone? Does the facade actually have to consist of “brownstone” (which I understand is a relatively low strength and easily worked sedimentary stone)? When I see brownstone facades being redone it looks like the workers mix up a mortar mix, add brown coloring and then apply…
Serious question — What is the definition of a brownstone? Does the facade actually have to consist of “brownstone” (which I understand is a relatively low strength and easily worked sedimentary stone)? When I see brownstone facades being redone it looks like the workers mix up a mortar mix, add brown coloring and then apply to the facade. Are there “brownstones” that have something other then actual brownstone but have this brown mortar applied as a coating? I have always followed the rule that what looks like a brownstone must be a brownstone, but I am realizing that I don’t actually know if there are rules to what must be under the surface for a building to qualify as a brownstone.
Bessie: Your building is a brownstone, no question (to my mind, anyway). My experience is that the determining factor is the front facade. The rear facade of nearly every brownstone, limestone, etc. is brick.
Lechacal: I’m sure you and others will enjoy the following links. Working on deadline right now so no time to pull up more, but they’re easy to find:
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/01/realestate/post-pioneer-arrivals-keep-park-slope-in-flux.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/27/garden/80-s-brownstoning-divide-and-conquer.html
http://brownstonerevival.org/comingsoon.html
Christopher: Because you mention the 70s and 80s, I’ll wager that your grandmother’s description was influenced by the brownstoning movement. It’s true, I grew up in MANY neighborhoods way deeper in Brooklyn, where buildings were mostly wood frame and/or brick, but we were in the various “brownstone” neighborhoods all the time, and never referred to a building by construction material (“oh, what a beautiful wood-frame Victorian!,” rather than “oh, what a beautiful building”). The former kind of description was left to people who wanted to be sure you understood they weren’t “one of you,” to which we said, “we noticed, and we’re thankful.”
“Christopher – you may not have noticed people diffferentiating more than 5 years ago, but living in cobble hill/brooklyn heights in the late 70s and early 80s people there certainly did.”
Posted by: SenatorStreet at March 25, 2009 1:54 PM
As someone who grew up in Brooklyn Heights, in teh 70s and 80s, I’d disagree. In fact I’d say I remember more of the generalization of “brownstone” as opposed to “I live in a brick row house”.
No one ever said “row house” or “town house”. It was either “building” or the generic “brownstone” to describe the generically 25′ wide 5 story buildings of BH.
My grandmother, been in the Heights 96 years, refers to her building as a “brownstone” even though it has a brick facade.
I think it’s a generic term to describe the type of structure. At least that’s how it’s always been in my experience growing up in BH.
yes, Bessie, it is. All of the corner buildings have brick on the long sides and brownstone on the face.
Ok. How about this one. My corner building has 3 faces you can see from the street. The front is brownstone 20′ wide. The street-facing side is 45′ long, and predominantly brick with a 10′ wide +/- brownstone bay. The rear is brick. I would consider this a brownstone since it was built as a set with 3 other neighboring buildings with brownstone facades. What’s your call?
vinca, what is the “brownstoning movement of the late 60s?”
thanks SS, I was also going to ask about the thoroseal, which I do have on the back of my house. Maybe I’ll do some colorization on that to keep the neighbors from lynching me
I suspect you’re right on that “historical” context, christopher. Only once the neighborhoods filled up with Asshats did this differentiation really start. Did the Asshats start it or did the brokers??
I’m with Christopher on this (and I’m sure I pre-date him by one or two decades): “townhouse” is not a “native Brooklyn” word, and until recently very few in Brooklyn would have said anything other than that they lived in a house/building, or they lived in an apartment. Townhouse might be the word everyone understands in today’s real estate market, but it’s not accurate to Brooklyn, historically or otherwise (and sorry DIBS, it’s not on the cover of Lockwood’s book, which is called “Bricks & Brownstone: The New York Row House…”). Brownstone, limestone, etc., may have been in and out of the vernacular, but re-emerged into more popular use with the “brownstoning” movement of the late 60s. The building I live in is unquestionably a limestone. It wouldn’t be mistaken for anything else, but it’s also got brownstone and brick components to it’s front facade. I live in a house, in a brownstone neighborhood, with a CO for more than one family.
Christopher – you may not have noticed people diffferentiating more than 5 years ago, but living in cobble hill/brooklyn heights in the late 70s and early 80s people there certainly did.
From reading the history of architecture in NYC I’ve learned that this differentiation is certainly nothing new; it most certainly existed 100 years ago.