Living in a Cobble Hill Townhouse/Time Capsule
Talk about old-school. According to the cover story in this weekend’s City section, the house at 312 Clinton Street in Cobble Hill has been in the same family for five generations, and it’s filled with mementos (“collections of bottled fainting remedies, thigh-high men’s socks, and mint-green sales slips for coal”) and obsolete appliances, like an…
Talk about old-school. According to the cover story in this weekend’s City section, the house at 312 Clinton Street in Cobble Hill has been in the same family for five generations, and it’s filled with mementos (“collections of bottled fainting remedies, thigh-high men’s socks, and mint-green sales slips for coal”) and obsolete appliances, like an Easy brand washing machine built around 1940. The house was purchased in 1866 by the great-great-great-grandmother of its current resident, Nora Geraghty. Geraghty says the house’s collection of antiques and lack of some modern amenities have occasionally made her feel like she couldn’t “live a modern, normal life,” but that the way it connects her to her family’s past ultimately justifies the clutter and lack of some mod cons. The way I feel about my great-great-grandmother, says Geraghty, my great-great-grandchildren will feel about me, unless New York is gone by the time they’re born. Because in a thousand years, this place will never be sold. Are there readers who have been living in the same house as their ancestors and can relate to Geraghty’s reluctance to change her property?
The Ghosts of Clinton Street [NY Times]
Photo of 312 Clinton by Kate Leonova for Property Shark.
Oh shut it, 11:51.
As a newcomer to the US I had the preconceived notion that Americans knew the price of everything and the value of nothing – but after reading this article it seems that at least some understand the value of things that have been touched, worn and breathed in for generations, played parts in peoples lives, were cherished, or just did their job very well without needing replacment.
“I’m sure it’s already in a trust. They seem astute enough to have figured that out, especially if it’s been through so many generations.”
-Don’t be so sure. In the past it was probably below the tax-free limit, but today with appraisals in Cobble Hill in the 3 million dollar range, it puts the thing in a whole different ballgame. That is big-time wealth, and the IRS will tax it as such.
I’m sure it’s already in a trust. They seem astute enough to have figured that out, especially if it’s been through so many generations.
Sometimes, depending on the value of the house, the inheritance taxes are soo high that the inheritor must sell to pay the IRS (unless they have half a million dollars hanging around to pay taxes). This is a real scenario given the tremendous values of these little houses today. It isn’t just the folks in Brooklyn Heights that need to look at estate planning and living trusts.
This young woman better get her dad to put the house in a trust, or she may not be able to hang on to it.
I so agree, Brenda. I was also drooling over the stove and hearth, as well.
I think it’s great to have a strong connection to the past. Keep what is meaningful, (and easy to keep or store) and let go of the rest. As much as I am a packrat, and keeper of stuff, I would have no problem donating, selling or giving away really old letters and papers, etc, provided they were just papers. Keep one receipt from the dairy, you don’t need 10 year’s worth, no matter how historical. There are people who would be very glad to have it, as Brenda states, so they aren’t going in the trash. But after a while, a lot of stuff just needs to go. You can’t let the past smother you.
On the other hand, having that history is certainly wonderful, and as an antiques lover, I’m sure they have some great pieces, made even more precious by the family connection.
It was an interesting piece, and I enjoyed it. Certainly more worthy than last week’s whiney townhouse owners.
9:10 – if they never sell (and that seems likely given the history of the family and the quotes) – essentially it is far from a multi-million dollar inheritance – its actually a very expensive liability.
My sister is sending my daughter a framed postcard her great grandmother sent in 1913 (how’d she get it back, is what I want to know?) for Xmas. I pointed out to sis I have a postcard of my own, sent my my kids great GREAT grandmother in 1907. I came to the realization that these are pieces of paper that have been SITTING AROUND IN PILES OF PAPER FOR A HUNDRED YEARS! It kind of makes you look at your Con Ed bill and think electronic billing might be the way to go.
The next time I find MY postcard, I will throw it out.
That said, I am still – and have always been – living with furniture I have been around since birth, belonging to this or that grandparent, great grandparent or great great grandparent.
It is no gift. I’d love to go down to West Elm and get something decent looking that I’d actually LIKE but 1) I can’t throw it out. It’s good quality stuff even though I hate most of it. 2) I can’t throw it out because I am a little sentimental 3) I can’t give it away because none of my cousins would come to NYC to pick it up and they’re all white trash anyhow and won’t treat it right.
You get paralyzed by the crap.
Now if any of my cousins is reading this, you know of course I didn’t mean YOU : P
“However, very old letters, cards and other paper ephemera are craved by collage artists and scrapbookers, and it’s nice to offer to freecycle them on Craigslist or the like.”
Why on earth would anyone offer their PERSONAL letter and cards, no matter how old, to collectors? That’s insane. It’s still personal stuff.