I.D. This Photo, Win a Book
Charles Lockwood, author of the definitive Bricks and Brownstone, sent in this photo of a mother and child on a brownstone stoop that he bought online. He’s not sure where it is and is offering a signed copy of his book to the first reader that can correctly identify the location. Guesses?
Charles Lockwood, author of the definitive Bricks and Brownstone, sent in this photo of a mother and child on a brownstone stoop that he bought online. He’s not sure where it is and is offering a signed copy of his book to the first reader that can correctly identify the location. Guesses?
Is it just a shadow or something in the background or does the house to the left have a gable?
SJ,
You read my mind. The windows and the stone base on these houses, along with the widow’s walk are all features I associate with the Back Bay neighborhoods. Also, that shadow across the front looks a lot like a pitched roof, which I don’t see all that often in BK, though that is inconclusive.
My guess is Boston, Back Bay.
I agree that Harlem is a strong possibility as is Boston, but just out of curiosity… what in this picture would lead you to believe that it would be Boston or Harlem as opposed to anywhere else with rowhouses and victorian type people?
As to what sins lie behind those curtains, my suspicion would be a great deal.
Awesome photo, I love that there is a person in the second story looking down over the people below. But these houses could be anywhere, including Manhattan or some other city altogether. Or was the author told the photo is from New York?
Very clever about the sloping roof over the door detail. The top window in the middle is also very large with a cross-shaped division between the panes.
These look like small, middle-class, single-family townhouses erected around the 1890s or so. (Montrose, I am guessing the date based on the style — would you agree?) It is certainly the case that buildings of this sort were being erected in Eastern Bed Stuy (close to Ocean Hill) at this time as another poster suggest. (Ocean Hill, at least the part I am familiar with, is more two families, as is Bushwick.) The time frame is also right for Crown Heights, but I don’t know if they were putting up single family, narrow houses — Montrose?
I’m sure there are other areas (Manhattan? Baltimore???) where such houses such as these were being built at this time as well, but I am not familiar with them.
Judging by the lady’s outfit. this picture was taken in the 1910’s. I would guess it is Boston, although there is an outside chance it could be Harlem judging by the way the row has “end pavilions”. I don’t think it is Sunday though. She is taking the little girl to school and besides, a professional photographer would not be taking pictures of houses on the Lord’s Day.
It feels like morning to me too. The way the shadows are hitting the house. The figure I had assumed to be a little brother in a cap looking down. But maybe too tall for a boy.
What sins lie behind those lace curtains???
So… Morning in January or February is at least a good start. That would make this house on the west side of a north/south running street that was built before 1910.
As to the woman, assuming you are correct, it looks like she’s pulling on her white gloves and worrying that her neighbors are going to get to church before her. I hope she didn’t have to stand in the back…
look upstairs is that someone in the window?