YE OLD TIMBER TAVERN ON COURT ST (1926)
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?
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Old English architecture is a rare sight in New York City. Rare, interestingly, because it once had a distinct place and time in the history of New York City’s 20th century architectural development.
As tastes changed, however, its look – sometimes referred to as Tudor, Chester, Jacobean, Elizabethan, &c. – quickly fell into disfavor. Also, its reliance upon such materials as wood and stucco – those that can easily wear if not well maintained – forced owners of these structures to look for more long-term solutions to their maintenance. One of these solutions usually meant simply covering their more wearable materials with those that stood up better to weather.
Although it would take nearly a century to do, such is the case with No. 93 Court Street, initially designed in the Old English style.
“Brooklyn’s most distinctive office building,” started a Brooklyn Daily Eagle article in October of 1926, “may well be the description of the new home of Malkind & Weinstein, architects, which is being completed at 93 Court st., and is expected to be ready for occupancy in November.”
The article went on to highlight the building’s design and beauty.
“The building will carry out the style of Old English architecture in every detail in its exterior, while the interior will be modern in construction and fittings. Its pleasing design will add much to the architectural beauty of downtown Brooklyn ranking it with the Finchley and new Vantine buildings of Manhattan as a skillful adaptation of period architecture to business requirements.”
Although it was never expected that Ole English architecture would gain widespread use in New York City, this style had been introduced in – and began gaining steam since – the early 1920s and was a favorite of one-off building designs, not just in New York but in major cities across the country.
IS THERE A BROWNSTONE BEHIND THIS FACADE?
The row of brownstone structures along this stretch of Court Street (between Schermerhorn and Livingston Streets) would indicate that there had once been a brownstone at this location, as well. Indeed, it can be guessed that the structure that appeared in 1926 at No. 93 was simply some extensive facade work covering an original 1800s-era building. In fact, according the the Department of Buildings, the only work performed on the property around this time were “alterations,” which leads one to believe that, yes, indeed, there is a brownstone beneath that Old English facade.
But referring to the structure as having an Old English facade today is certainly a stretch. While there may be a gable roof to the building’s main section and – what looks like – a tower at its south side, most of the Old English details – timber beams, exposed stone work, &c. – on its facade have been plastered over, hidden, maybe, forever. Understanding when this happened, however, would require some more detective work.
SO WHEN DID THE “COVER-UP” OCCUR?
Reviewing old documents and viewing the various “street views” of Google Maps, we were able to determine that the cover-up occurred after 2014. By 2017, the deed had been done and Malkind & Weinstein’s architectural gem had been hidden forever.
BUT WHO WERE THE OCCUPANTS OF No. 93 COURT STREET?
By late 1926, before the building was even ready for occupation, it had been entirely leased save for one floor. Malkind & Weinstein occupied the 4th and 5th floors. The Malsac Holding Coporation had the 3rd floor. The two spaces on the 1st floor were leased to the Arch-Preserver Shoe Company and Ben’s Toasted Sandwich Shop.
Additionally, architectural drafting rooms were to be located on the top floor, “offering working quarters for 40 draftsmen, exclusive of designing and sketching staffs in the special studios.”
Ben’s Toasted Sandwich Shop would soon move out, however, and its place taken the following year by, perhaps, a restaurant more fitting to the architectural design of the property – “an eating place of rare excellence” known as “Ye Olde Timber Tavern.”
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Brownstone Detectives is an historic property research agency. Our mission is to document and save the histories of our clients’ homes. From our research, we produce our celebrated House History Books and House History Reports. Contact us today to begin discovering the history of your home.
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