New-York tribune., 1899-06-16
BITs OF HEIGHTS HISTORY.
. CHARMING PART OF BROOKLYN
THAT sAvoRs OF oLDEN DAYS.
.,.xeroNs AND FAMILIES THAT HAVE
MADE 1T FAMOUs-A DESIRABLE
PLACE FOR A HOME

sscond word strongly accented. always means that
oortion OF the First Ward which includes Columbia
Jfe,rhts Willow. Hicks and Henry SITS. with the
orcss streets many Of them quantity named after
,rr,,s There are Cranberry, Orange and Pineapple
7, was intended originally TO continue the series
,,sehutely. bat for some reason the list was cut
.hort at these three-perhaps because the Clerks
.,u-dv English people that they were though
"natriots" preferred that their family name
.bould carry TO posterity some idea Of the bound
-,, NJ their large estate. or. perhaps. as their
relatives the Hickses and the Middaghs. had
,,rss,s named after them. the Clarks Perreponts
md Joralemons were determined not 10 be left out
.na 50 the names Of the lanes leading 10 the old
ndernills Mt the waters edge were perpetuated IN
these fashionable streets.
Few are now left OF the spacious old nanors that
.nos graced this slightly bluff" One at the end
- ro-alemon-st is still in good repair, though II
hss Uofuly descended from its high estate, and is
,ov made into double tenement" by having Its
b-oad hallway cnt in half by a partition wall to
.now Of which the beautiful old staircase had TO
10 ,orn down There are bits of carving left yet
about the chimney pieces and spindle work in the
upper hall but In its present surroundings and
with its occupants one feels sorry for It,
NOT THE JORALEMON HOUSE
The people who now live in IT, however, arc proud
Of its antiquity. and in showing a stranger about
will tell him It Is the old Joralemon house. But It
not for that stood almost at the brow OF the hill
none Of ,s treasures could be saved for as in most
o, those old houses the beams were built into the
chimney and are supposed 10 fR-e rNarred for
sone time before breaking into the quick baze that
burned almost like magic. The old 'oralemon
house Of the present stands in the street OF that
name Just opposite Sidney Place II is white. with
two stories and dormer windowed roof, broad
pszza in front and pretty little side porch open
ing In country style BIT OF garden beside IT,
Its present owner is Mrs. Scranton who was Miss
Joralenon As FOR the much older structure at
the end Of the street. many Inquiries failed to
reveal It's history except that Il was Joralemon
house and stood there at the time of the battle OF
Long Island for there are bullet holes in the SIDE
Perhaps these stray shots fred at the
House OF the -Four Chimneys." which lowered
above It on what is now Hicks-st.. and was often
used as target by the British until they fnalT
occupied Il for time The Infamous Cunningham
had his home there, but not FOR long. This house
belonged to the Pierrepont estate.
WANTED FOR A PARK.
Before the Heights were built up as at present
there were many far-sighted people who wished
the city to take the ground for city park. but the
ilea was ridculed absurd-there not any
need Of a park there. when people could so easily
walk OF an evening TO the open fields just beyond
where the Municipal Building now stands. When
Coonnade Row, that stood the brow OF the
Slope leading 10 Fulton Ferry was burned, some
fifty years ago the project was again revived. but
without success. The city did. however. finally
reserve the open lots at Of the
for small parks, and until few years ago Pierre
pont Park private inclosure. still and
pretty bit Of country and rich greensward bounded
ly Pierrepont and Montague SITS. and Pierrepont
Place. This has been partially built up with
a row Of frst-class dwellings. In OF these Pro-
fessor and Mrs. Lea McIlvaine Luquer began
housekeeping. Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Corning
occupy another as do Justice and Mrs. Amet +.
jerks
Just above here was the home Of Simeon B.
Chittenden. ST., where a charming hospitality used
10 be dispensed and stin nearer Hicks-st. was the
Martin house with its famous picture gallery. This
is now torn down 10 make way for dwellings and
the Chittenden home is large boarding house.
This faces Willow-st and distinctly observable
from it's stooptis the home Of Mrs. Fisher Howe.
with its beautiful Conservatives and bay windows
fp Of rare plants whose colors cause many ,:' ex-
low-st are the three Leavett houses, built in Eliza
SfSsa SSsn 3 sT efeea in he early ey
bull, Just after Dr David Leayett sold MS home
Bowen, publisher Of The Independent" Mr..
Bowen and his neighbor and friend Simeon b.
receptions for celebrities who were in the city,
those OF literary fame being generally seen at Nj
xnothef Of the old old houses stands in Willow
ST. just opposite the Bowen place This is or wood,
Two stories IN height and has asa reSi % ep
II religlOusy In the antique style.
CHURCHES OF THE HEIGHTS.
Plymouth Church and Mr. Beecher indls-
soubly connected with the Heights. He lived for
years on Columbia Heights two doors from Orange
St. and his house a marvel Of convenience,
having tiny bookcases wherever there was
chance for them Yet Plymouth was the youngest
abroad; The Reformed Church on the Heights.
Rev; j Douglas Adam Is now the minister; the
,Old First (Cnitarian), whose pastor was the be-
where the powerful DR. Cox was the clergyman
and last, but by no means least the Church OF the
make up a religious coterie whose influence Is fet
sn over the land. Other churches there are in the
This section is full OF broad old fashioned houses
where people live in the utmost comfort Gardens
and holding swings dear to the hearts OF the
Many Of the front stS3Ps have 6@ss
but now carefully cleaned and respondent in their
ratings In the quaint pineapple pattern not
often seen now. but used here as finish to build
inss whose inner mouidings newell posts and finals
and It's prckiy foliage
Il would be welnigh impossible TO give the
now. residents Of the Heights. They would form
representative people Of the old families. Largely /
q New England stock. the society here resembles
elusive. but once within the charmed circle. one |
: always there, no matter how ones circumstances
may change.
CHANGES SINCE THE OLD DAYS.
This fine old residential district has changed
sderably since the days OF the good old families.
whose homes are now occupied by their descend !
ins have passed into possession OF the stranger
The view from the Heights and the beauty and di- /
'ersity OF the surrounding scenery may not be so
7harming from a purely natural point of view as ,
in the days Of our great grandfathers. but II
nything II has been enhanced 10 the vision of men
u affairs by the marvellous growth OF the city In
very direction and by the animated picture which /
I presents OF human industry and activity and
he fruits Of ambition and achievement Ola land {
md sea
To intending purchasers OF those In Manhattan +
Who contemplate living in Brooklyn the Heights
Iner splendid opportunities, accommoda tons ana
advantages as d place in which 10 live. There are
'rand. old homes with spacious. lofty and ele-
'ant rooms The neigh borhood Is quiet clean, at
ractive In every way There is no roar or hustle