Maple Street, Then and Now
Here’s a fun one. A reader bought an old postcard of her block in Lefferts Manor (Maple Street between Bedford and Rogers) on eBay recently and sent it to Zach Van Schouwen, the guy who takes creates modern-day replicas of old Brooklyn photos at his website Re-Brooklyn. Evidently they had yet to invent people who…
Here’s a fun one. A reader bought an old postcard of her block in Lefferts Manor (Maple Street between Bedford and Rogers) on eBay recently and sent it to Zach Van Schouwen, the guy who takes creates modern-day replicas of old Brooklyn photos at his website Re-Brooklyn. Evidently they had yet to invent people who block bike lanes with their pick-up trucks back then. Check out a larger version of the postcard, estimate to be from around 1920, here.
Bedford Avenue and Maple Street [Re-Brooklyn]
I am the person who sent the postcard to Zach so our block could be photographed and compared by him on his blog. He did great.
I wanted to share some info because the year of the photo is in question, when zooming in on the original scan there is a sign where the cluster of schoolboys and man are standing on the left side of the street. First word is hidden by a tree branch then next word is “Shops” then on the next line it reads, “One family houses” then next line is “Open”. Also in the shadows on the right there is a very early motor car, earlier than 1920. I reckon the photo was taken not long after the houses were completed and the “A1920” on the postcard is a catalog number not a year.
Yes and thank you, Zach, your website and your re-photographing efforts rock.
I agree with Montrose Morris, could be time for awnings to make a comeback here. You still see awnings on some 1920s houses in Southern CA. I’ve always loved the look of them. One of my favorite houses there was a big 3-story house on Sunset Blvd that looked like an Italian villa and it had awnings over all the windows.
No big deal–thank you VERY much for providing this wonderful photograph.
Er, you’re right, I took Brownstoner’s note of “1920” to heart, but I wrote 1912 on the photo after checking the LPC designation, so I guess that was what I meant to type. Oops!
Zach,
Thanks for the explanation. These Maple Street houses were actually built in 1909–1910, so the photograph might be a little older than 1920.
re Bob Marvin:
Bear in mind that I only concluded it was about 1920 because there were new trees (the houses were built around 1918). So don’t take it as proof… the original was undated.
What a fun comparison. I love the old awnings. Before air conditioning, they were definitely the way to go to cool off the house. It worked really well, too.
One could still get those awnings custom made, but it would be prohibitively expensive. The good thing is that there are now specially treated outdoor fabrics, in stripes, too, that are mold and rot resistant. I think they would look very stylish if they make a comeback. They are also the “green” way to go.
Awnings were popular among all NYC housing types — before air conditioning.
There are dramatic photos of Central Park West, Riverside Drive, and Park Avenue taken as late as the 1930’s where tall apartment buildings are covered with them.
Maybe they’re a “fire hazard” but their loss’ affect is similar to that of casement windows, so often replaced by bland double-hung numbers. And the classic “six-over-six” multi-paned windows, familiar to pre-War apartments, replaced by single sheets of glass.
Such small grace notes helped make New York facades “sing.” Their disappearance diminishes the city’s style.