Edwin Litchfield and Third Street
Forgotten NY throws us a fastball down the middle this week with its look at Edwin Litchfield’s impact on Park Slope, with an emphasis on Third Street. Highlights include the former Brooklyn Improvement Company building (soon to be part of Whole Foods) at Third and Third, his Prospect Park mansion (above) and the extra-wide Third…
Forgotten NY throws us a fastball down the middle this week with its look at Edwin Litchfield’s impact on Park Slope, with an emphasis on Third Street. Highlights include the former Brooklyn Improvement Company building (soon to be part of Whole Foods) at Third and Third, his Prospect Park mansion (above) and the extra-wide Third Street (to accommodate Litchfield’s carriage) that connects them. Yum.
Edwin Litchfield and Third Street [Forgotten NY]
Forgotten NY says:
“Other buildings here feature such lamps, but of the ones on 3rd Street, this was the only one not electrified.”
Actually, many of 3rd Street’s gas lamps do still work with gas–very few are “electrified.” Most have “mantles” which glow to give off light. There are about 10-12 working gas mantle lamps on the street. The one pictured is the only one in the “flame” style. It was recently renovated by the new owners when they returned to 3rd Street after briefly moving to Garfield Place and missing it.
Forgotten NY might have missed a forgotten gem the corner of 3rd St. and 8th Ave. On the northwest corner is one of the few remaining hitching posts in the neighborhood. It has pointed cap and is made of stone.
As for Forgotten NY’s observation about riches, the block really is not like that. Most of the residents have been here for decades and some for generations. We still feel “new” after 11 years.
Anyway, thanks to Kevin for his blog–its a great contribution to NY.
Wow! That is absolutely remarkable! I always wondered how this private residence, situated within the confines of the park.
Did the City at least give him market value? (although i would imagine it was probably pretty hard to find comps for the litcfield villa.) Geez, did they give him anything?
At least they didn’t demolish the building after the land grab….
If I win tonight, I can only save one…
http://www.forgotten-ny.com
If you read to the end you get this gem:
The city of Brooklyn took title to the property to include in Prospect Park while Litchfield was on a European vacation in 1869. The city leased it to him till 1883, when he left the USA after Grace’s death.
Ahhhh, the good ole days- when eminent domain was blind to wealth. Because make no doubt about it- this was a surprise move by the city. The family came home and found themselves locked out- the decendants still talk about it.
Yeah, I’m sorry he didn’t too. He promised to buy that Bay Ridge church. But thanks to the indefatiguable, endlessly entertaining Mr. Walsh, another mystery was cleared up for me. I never knew what that freaky little mini-mansion house on Thoid and Thoid was. I’m kind of curious how that will be incorporated into the new Whole Foods complex. Time will tell.
i’m sorry Kevin didn’t win the megamillions lottery. i bet then he could really produce some interesting lamp post sculpture 🙂