JeffReuben
Greenpoint streetscape (b&w)
According to the Greenpoint Historic District Designation Report published by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1982, the six rowhouses shown in this photo, 846 to 860 Manhattan Avenue (even numbers only; there is no 852 or 858 Manhattan Avenue) were built in 1884. The builder was Claus Dunkhase and the owner was John Kuntz. The report states that the architect was likely Frederick Weber, who had previously designed five almost identical houses down the street at 880 to 892 Manhattan Avenue, which were also built by Dunkhase for Kuntz.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of 2 August 1884, in its roundup of new building permits issued for the preceding week by the City of Brooklyn included the following: “Manhattan avenue, east side, 268 feet north of Calyer street, six 4 story brick stores and dwellings, 25x62. Owner, John Kuntz.” 130 years later, that's still an apt description of these buildings.
The church located to north of these rowhouses, at the far left side of the photo, is St. Anthony - St. Alphonsus Church at 862 Manhattan Avenue. It is a Roman Catholic parish church, built in 1874 and originally known as St. Anthony of Padua Church. When it was completed, this section of Manhattan Avenue was then called Orchard Street. The church was formally dedicated on 13 June 1875 and in an article the following day, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle observed that "the church is the largest and handsomest structure in the Seventeenth Ward." The Eagle noted "the spire is surmounted by a large cross, the depth of which from the ground is 215 feet. It is octagonal in form, and has numerous dormer windows placed at intervals at its sides. As the structure itself is on the highest ground in Greenpoint, from any of these windows a view of all Brooklyn and New York can be had."
The church was designed by Patrick C. Keeley. Keeley was a prominent and prolific architect who designed many churches throughout Brooklyn and elsewhere. According to an 1870 article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Keeley, a native of Ireland who lived in Brooklyn, designed many religious buildings throughout the US and Canada; as of 1870 "at the lowest calculation the number [of buildings he designed] is considerably over 300." On a personal note, the Eagle reported that he had married young and had 17 children (he was then "in his forty-ninth year"). One other note regarding him; in some articles the Eagle spelt his name "Keeley" while in others it was rendered "Keely".
Greenpoint streetscape (b&w)
According to the Greenpoint Historic District Designation Report published by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1982, the six rowhouses shown in this photo, 846 to 860 Manhattan Avenue (even numbers only; there is no 852 or 858 Manhattan Avenue) were built in 1884. The builder was Claus Dunkhase and the owner was John Kuntz. The report states that the architect was likely Frederick Weber, who had previously designed five almost identical houses down the street at 880 to 892 Manhattan Avenue, which were also built by Dunkhase for Kuntz.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of 2 August 1884, in its roundup of new building permits issued for the preceding week by the City of Brooklyn included the following: “Manhattan avenue, east side, 268 feet north of Calyer street, six 4 story brick stores and dwellings, 25x62. Owner, John Kuntz.” 130 years later, that's still an apt description of these buildings.
The church located to north of these rowhouses, at the far left side of the photo, is St. Anthony - St. Alphonsus Church at 862 Manhattan Avenue. It is a Roman Catholic parish church, built in 1874 and originally known as St. Anthony of Padua Church. When it was completed, this section of Manhattan Avenue was then called Orchard Street. The church was formally dedicated on 13 June 1875 and in an article the following day, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle observed that "the church is the largest and handsomest structure in the Seventeenth Ward." The Eagle noted "the spire is surmounted by a large cross, the depth of which from the ground is 215 feet. It is octagonal in form, and has numerous dormer windows placed at intervals at its sides. As the structure itself is on the highest ground in Greenpoint, from any of these windows a view of all Brooklyn and New York can be had."
The church was designed by Patrick C. Keeley. Keeley was a prominent and prolific architect who designed many churches throughout Brooklyn and elsewhere. According to an 1870 article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Keeley, a native of Ireland who lived in Brooklyn, designed many religious buildings throughout the US and Canada; as of 1870 "at the lowest calculation the number [of buildings he designed] is considerably over 300." On a personal note, the Eagle reported that he had married young and had 17 children (he was then "in his forty-ninth year"). One other note regarding him; in some articles the Eagle spelt his name "Keeley" while in others it was rendered "Keely".