THE RETURN OF AUNT CAR (2013)
A few years ago, I found a posting on a genealogical site searching for information about a person named Caroline Gill. One of the owners of my house went by that name, so my interest was piqued. I wrote and gave the poster what information I knew, hoping for an exchange. As it turned out, that poster, Stacey Maupin Torres, had more information about Caroline than I ever did, which she began to share with me. In her reply, though, she casually mentioned some information that she didn’t know I already had. She told me that her “Aunt Car” had lived at 738 Macon Street in Brooklyn. As I read her message, I began to realize that I had not divulged to her that I lived in her aunt’s old house. So, imagine Stacey’s surprise when I told her that I was writing to her from that very house! After this revelation, every email we wrote to one another seemed to be pages in length. Stacey would tell me details about her Aunt Car’s and Uncle Henry’s lives (they lived at 738 Macon Street in the 1950s and 1960s), and I would tell her what 738 Macon Street is like now, and send her pictures of the house – including invitations to come and visit. Stacey told me that, in the 1960s, she had lived in Queens and had been to 738 Macon Street with her family many, many times. Her Aunt Car, she explained, had had large family gatherings […]
CELEBRATING DECORATION DAY (1868)
What we know today as Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day starting in 1868 after the Civil War. It was a day created to memorialize those veterans who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, both North and South. Citizens would spend the day at the local cemetery placing small flags, bunches of flowers, and other remembrances on the graves of the deceased veterans, expending the remainder of the day picnicking with the whole family in the peaceful setting. We’re planning on celebrating the lives of those military men and women who gave their lives in the performance of their duties, as well as all those who have served, and those who currently serve. However you spend it, remember to contemplate the sacrifices made by those who came before us and who volunteered their services to make this country better. Happy Memorial Day! And remember to thank a veteran! – The Brownstone Detectives – Follow @BrownstoneDetec ———————————————————————————————————————– The Brownstone Detectives The story you just read was composed from historical research performed by The Brownstone Detectives. Allow us to do an in-depth investigation of your house and its former owners and produce your very own House History Book. Your hardbound coffee table book will include an illustrated and colorful narrative timeline that will bring the history of your house to life. Contact us today.
“DETECTIVES” HISTORY AUCTION NETS $1K
Brownstone Detectives created some history of its own last week. At the Prospect Park Alliance’s Party in the Park, the house detectives had the opportunity to join with Chris Bonnell, a brownstone illustrator, to contribute to the green non-profit organization’s annual silent auction. Bonnell donated a brownstone illustration to the auction, while Brownstone Detectives volunteered a House History Report. In the end, the team was the second-to-top auction grosser, raising $1000 for the Alliance’s activities. “It really excited the donors to get to bid on both the history and the illustration in the one offering,” said Brian Hartig, CEO of Brownstone Detectives. Bonnell, who recently received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts, has been drawing brownstones for some time now. A regular feature of the fundraiser’s silent auction every year, he thought that a team effort this year would create a more holistic approach to the documentation of a house. So he contacted Hartig – who agreed. “I’m looking forward to working with Chris on this project and others going forward,” said Hartig. “His drawings and our histories are going to make an excellent combination.” The two are planning to meet the winning bidder soon to start their work on drawing and researching her house. Follow @BrownstoneDetec ———————————————————————————————————————– The Brownstone Detectives The story you just read was composed from historical research performed by The Brownstone Detectives. Allow us do an in-depth investigation of your house and its former owners and produce your very own House History Book. Your hardbound […]
WIN A HOUSE HISTORY @ PROSPECT PARK!
Brownstone Detectives is giving away a free House History Report this week! We’ll be teaming up with architectural illustrator, Chris Bonnell, to help raise funds for the Prospect Park Alliance. The Alliance’s annual fundraiser Party for the Park – will be held at the Prospect Park Boathouse this Thursday, 14 May, at 8-11 p.m. Part of the fundraiser is a silent auction, where attendees can bid on donated products and services. There you will find our combined biddable auction – a House History Report and a House Illustration. HOUSE HISTORY REPORT – THE BROWNSTONE DETECTIVES If you are the lucky highest bidder on our auction, we will create your House History Report by researching and laying out your house’s chain of title, revealing the name of every person who owned your house, when they took ownership of it, and – wherever such information is available – how much they paid for it. In addition to the chain-of-title research, we will also perform historical research on the owners and on the house itelf. Most House History Reports run approximately 15-20 pages, detailing the historical lineage of your home in an engaging narrative. HOME ILLUSTRATION – CHRIS BONNELL Additionally, architectural illustrator, Chris Bonnell, will draw your house, capturing its personality and charming details in a high-quality digital print. Chris is a Brooklyn-based writer and illustrator, holding a BA in English from the University of Florida. Additionally, he is graduating this week from the School of Visual Arts with his MFA. Click HERE […]
BOYS HIGH TO MEET WRECKING BALL
Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Boys High School, the oldest public high school in Brooklyn, is slated for demolition later this year. The structure, located at 832 Marcy Avenue, will be replaced with a 300-unit glass and steel affordable and market-rate apartment building. Formerly regarded as an “historic and architecturally notable public school,” the building recently suffered minor structural problems and was regarded by the Department of Buildings as “too-outmoded for any corrections to be made.” A developer has moved in quietly to purchase the building for $33.9 million – a new record for this section of Brooklyn – and will begin the tear-down process, likely in September. The company, Brooklandia Investments, is an investment firm with headquarters in New Zealand which prides itself on its speed of construction. “We are here for the community,” noted Brooklandia’s Thorin Oakenshield, in a statement yesterday. “We have consulted with numerous other development and building firms, as well as city planners, in order to take the pulse, so to speak, for what the locals want in their neighborhood – the consensus was amazing – residents want top-notch modern apartment buildings. “This,” Oakenshield stated, “we are prepared to deliver on.” The speed with which this deal occurred and the cloak of secrecy under which the Department of Buildings declared the 125-year-old structure unstable has amazed some local residents who felt that they were not informed of the future for the building. “It’s been here since I was a kid. I used to go to that school,” said one […]
PICS FROM THE WWI MEMORIAL CEREMONY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW KARAS. Many thanks to so many people who supported the memorial service in Saratoga Park last Wednesday (10 September). In addition to those from the NYC Parks Department and the political representatives who spoke – Borough President Eric Adams and Councilwoman Darlene Mealy – the military was represented by Lt. Col. Joseph Davidson who came out from Fort Hamilton, and the chief historian for the History Channel/A+E Networks (also currently President Obama’s Commissioner on the World War One Centennial Commission) was on-hand to speak about the importance of renovating our old WWI memorials and honoring those who fought for our country. The Brownstone Detectives performed the historical study, researching the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines from the neighborhood who made the ultimate sacrifice almost 100 years ago during the Great War. And in the process, with just two weeks to do it in, The Brownstone Detectives further identified the descendants of many of the men on the honor rolls, three of whom attended the ceremony. And, Michael Lisnet, our great Macon Street neighbor, who helped us out by finding us a wonderful photographer, Matt Karas. Matt, whom we’d never even met or spoke to before, came out to take some wonderful pictures of the event for us. The pictures in this blog post all belong to him – and we thank him very much for his support. Enjoy these wonderful snapshots shared with us by Matthew Karas: Follow @BrownstoneDetec ———————————————————————————————————————– The Brownstone Detectives This story was composed […]
A BROWNSTONE DETECTIVES BOOK: PROGRESS!
This is from a chapter of a book we are currently working on! Those of you who’ve been to our home may recognize the woodwork along the left side of this image. Our graphic designer has a way with re-imagining 122-year-old millwork! Tell us how you like it! 🙂
THE BROWNSTONE DETECTIVES ON HGTV!
Just when you thought you couldn’t get enough of The Brownstone Detectives…. Those loveable history gumshoes are taking it to HGTV!!! The Brownstone Detectives will sleuth it up this summer in a series focusing on the extraordinary findings people have made within their old houses. They will focus first on a 19th century family’s unlucky chapter spent in their brownstone home in Stuyvesant Heights. Stay tuned for more news…as this case develops! Follow @BrownstoneDetec ———————————————————————————————————————– The Brownstone Detectives This story was composed from research performed by The Brownstone Detectives. Let us do an in-depth investigation of your house and its former owners and produce your very own House History Book. Your hardbound coffee table book will include an illustrated and colorful narrative timeline that will bring the history of your house to life. Contact us today.
