Forum: History
January 22, 2010
Can Anyone Tell Me Anything?
Can anyone Tell me Anything about this piece? It is about 8'w x 4'H, 1" thick I think Plexi Glass with Mirrors. Sort of like Stained glass effect, probably backlit at one time.. Any ideas of value? Origin? It has been in the basement of one of my buildings for years!
November 23, 2009
House History
I've been doing a lot of research (on and off) on the history of our house. Most recently I went to the library to look up the original occupants of the house in the directories and on the census. The first owner of the house's occupation is listed in the directory first as a carver, then later as a designer (1899-1910). On the 1905 state census his occupation is listed as "shell carver". I think this must have been to do with woodworking, especially since his sons were carpenters, but does anyone know exactly what this means? I wondered if it might be to do with inlays in furniture? If anyone has any insight I'd be very interested in hearing it!
October 7, 2009
526 Carlton Brownstone
This building was sold in 2005 for 1.4 million and now is on the mkt for 2.3 million! This is crazy! The entire country suffers real estate lows and this building goes up 80%! WTC! The 'renovation' was a group of totally unlicensed guys. No permits or inspections. The owner is the broker. More on her family history at: http://www.esotericfreedom.com/
September 28, 2009
Old 30's Photos of B'stones?
About 15 years ago my ex and I bought a copy photo of our Carroll Gardens brownstone, taken as part of a govt program that photographed every building in the city. I recall that this was a city program but I'm not positive. We had to submit our block and lot number. I have since lost the photo - does anyone know the web site or address where I can buy a copy?
Thank you!
Tim
July 16, 2009
Unpermitted Extension
We're changing our CO and having trouble with an illegal extension that was built by the previous owner. We need to prove that it was built before 1989 to avoid penalties. Any thoughts other than Sanborn (which does not even show it correctly on the current map)?
March 17, 2009
Looking for picture of mural
Hey, does anyone have a picture of the mural that is/was in Ft Greene near Flatbush Ave. -- it might have been on Prince street or thereabouts? If so, please let me know here, I would like a copy. I have included a picture of it in it's current partially destroyed state.
February 25, 2009
The Union League Club-House
This is a 1891 photo of The Union League Club-House on Bedford Ave. in Crown Heights Grant Square. With all the talk of the Montauk Club apartment today I thought it would be interesting to see what people thought about this building. You see the similarities in architecture but this building looks even more upscale and larger. I really hope that someone could bring this great building back to its glory days. When I pass this area I try to imagine how it was 100 years ago. Do you think we will ever see this building have its renaissance.
February 14, 2009
Half Moon Hotel- Seagate
Was working in Seagate , a gated community near Coney Island. Got talking with the security guard, who seemed to know quite a bit about local history. He said the community was founded in the 1890's by gangsters, became sort of their summer resort and party destination with their girlfriends. Then the lawyers made their way in, followed by some Wall St guys. This photo is 4200 Atlantic Avenue, and the building backs the water. As little as 10 yrs ago it was a junkie den with 20+ apartments but at one time was called the " Half Moon Hotel" the mobsters would bring their girls out here for drinking, dancing and the other things that go with it. Anyone know anything else about the history of this place?
February 13, 2009
Researching a House's History?
I know its possible to check the records of everyone who lived in a house...I want to do mine - how do I do this? Thanks for your help....
January 30, 2009
Mysterious tunnel
I've just unearthed a curious tunnel beneath the English basement of my 1860s wood-frame house, and I can’t figure out why it was built. I’ve contacted three architectural historians so far, all of whom are mystified.
It’s 12 feet long, 4.5 feet deep, 2.5 feet wide, and runs in an elegant S-curve that starts in the sub-basement, runs under the original kitchen, and ends at a vertical shaft that’s flush with the building line and leads to the back yard. It has finely finished brick walls (better by far than the walls of the house itself), a concrete floor, and as far as I can tell, it’s not pitched.
It’s not a coal chute—too long and curvy, and anyway, there's another coal chute, entirely vertical, that leads from the sub-basement to the front of the house. It’s not a sewage outlet—too wide. Not a water inlet—too far from the cistern. And it’s probably not a root cellar, as it’s not wide enough for storage (and would have been too hot anyway, since it’s connected to the sub-basement, where the furnace likely was.)
Any insights? Guesses?