THE HIDDEN JEWELS OF No. 952 PUTNAM (1924)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** In 1922, $40K in gems hidden behind some bricks in a chimney, were almost lost to the ages when their owner was about to pass away. A week before she passed, though, she directed her favorite neice to the secret location of the hidden jewels. A word to the wise when attempting to renovate your newly purchased old brownstone: “People used to hide valuables in their homes. So, look around the old joint before you invite a builder to start demolition!” (From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Mon., 28 January 1924.) Jewels worth $40,000, hidden in a niche in the kitchen wall of the residence of the late Mary A. Geis, at 952 Putnam avenue, and given by the deceased a week before her death to her favorite niece, Miss Minnie McDonald of 582 Woodword avenue, Queens, may be retained by the latter, despite efforts made to recover them by Joseph Geis, an executor of the will. Surrogate Wingate has handed down a decision in favor of Miss McDonald, the respondent. A week before her aunt died, according to the dramatic story told on the stand by Miss McDonald, she sent for her and told her that she was dying. “She directed me to go into the kitchen and remove certain bricks […]
