Building of the Day: 451-453 Decatur Street

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Semi-detached twin houses
Address: 451-453 Decatur Street
Cross Streets: Patchen and Ralph Avenues
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant
Year Built: late 1870’s, early 1880’s, before 1884
Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: No

The story: These unusual houses are another one of Bedford Stuyvesant’s building mysteries. The houses may have been built on spec, or perhaps were parent/child houses for an extended family. Like many wood frame houses of the day, the wood frame is supplemented by a brick in-fill, which is fire retardant, and gives the house more insulation and support. They are an odd design, a pared down Queen Anne with interesting roof lines, shapes and lines that suggest a Second Empire central tower design, without actually doing one. Perhaps originally, there was much more going on here, maybe more of a tower? It’s hard to tell, as life has not been easy for these houses over the years. My photos are a couple of years old, and some work has been done on 451 since. These old Queen Anne’s always have an interesting history, and these houses are no exception.

In 1884, both houses were listed for auction, the description saying, “two 3 story and cellar ornamental cottages, each contains 12 rooms, bath, vestibule doors, 2 bay windows, etc. Houses filled in with brick throughout and in good order. The lot of 453 is large being equal to 26 x 100 feet.”

In 1887, 453 Decatur was home to A.B. McCord and family, who made the New York Times when their 18 year old son, Henry J. McCord, disappeared. According to his father, he left his home on June 27th, and never returned. The family said that he never drank, or had bad companions. He was described as “above average height, slimly built, and walks with a halting step. He has a scar on his forehead. He wore a Prince Albert coat, red underwear, and a white necktie.” There is no mention of him again in the papers.

Herbert Brower was the owner of 451 Decatur, in 1895. He was in real estate, and came from Syracuse, NY, where he was in the wholesale shoe business. He died in the house in March of 1895, leaving a widow and three sons behind.

By 1902, one Harry Vanderhoven lived at 453, while a Mrs. Leula Tompkins lived next door, at 451. Harry was a young guardsman in Company L of the 13th Regiment, in Brooklyn. The 13th was headquartered nearby in their new armory on Sumner and Jefferson Avenues. Apparently, the regiment had been drilling that day, and instead of turning in his weapon at the armory, young Harry decided to take his gun home. He still had a round left in the chamber, so he took the gun outside and shot it into the backyard, into some laundry hanging there. Mrs. Tompkins was in her backyard, behind her fence, picking flowers in her garden, when the bullet passed through the laundry and the fence and hit her in the leg. She screamed and fell, and was taken to nearby St. Mary’s Hospital, where doctors had to amputate her right leg. Harry Vanderhoven was arrested and spent at least one night in jail, and the papers do not follow up as to what happened next, except the Brooklyn Eagle emphasized that the shooting was an accident. I would imagine his regiment was not happy with Mr. Vanderhoven. GMAP