greenpoint -- part two

 

let’s get back to ‘the point’ – from the gritty/gentrifying northern section to historic minton street

 

get closer!!

 

park it here on the northernmost side of the neighborhood

 

deco-ration

 

schlocky apts on the way

 

ahh, the scent of fresh laundry

 

greenpoint side of the pulaski bridge

 

old vs. new

 

speaking of old, something is old and good is under there

 

hanging in there

 

build a cab, or a bear, whatever

 

more of this later

 

oh it’s always christmas in greenpoint!

 

corner bike shop

 

no tell

 

your classic ny style deli

 

By 1860 the so-called five black arts (printing, pottery, gas, glass, and iron) were firmly established in Green Point, as it was first known. In 1867, Charles Pratt established his kerosene refinery (Astral Oil Works)—the first successful American oil well had flowed in 1859 at Titusville, Pa. Pratt's product later gave rise to the slogan, "The holy lamps of Tibet are primed with Astral Oil." Astral Oil provided the wealth that later made possible Pratt Institute, myriad Pratt family mansions, as well as Greenpoint's Astral Apartments.

 

The Astral Apartments, 184 Franklin St., bet. Java and India Sts. E side. 1885-1886. Lamb & Rich.

 

Commissioned by Charles Pratt as housing for his kerosene refinery workers, by the same architects who created his Pratt Institute Main Building. This many-entried block was patterned after the Peabody Apartments in London. Alfred Tredway White had initiated such housing experiments in Brooklyn at Riverside in Brooklyn Heights and the Tower Home Apartments in Cobble Hill. Here we see patterned brickwork, rock-face brownstone arches and lintels, and structural steel storefronts with the rivets themselves as decoration.

 

the astral has dramatic romanesque revival arching

 

new

 

cute

 

ye olde style street signs – fell out of favor in the auto age

 

yes it is

 

getting nicer

 

Originally Mechanics and Traders Bank, 144 Franklin St., NE cor. Greenpoint Ave. ca. 1895.

 

Brooding but glorious Renaissance Revival in Pompeian red terra-cotta, brick, and rock-face brownstone, with grand pilasters crowned by fantastic Composite capitals. Savor the terra-cotta frieze among other riches adorning this lovely building.

 

faber pencil factory building

 

nearby is the 'old' faber pencil factory building

 

detail on 94 kent street (1863)

 

more oldeness -- syrup of figs (it was a laxative & the ad is circa 1900)

http://www.magazineart.org/main.php/v/ads/foodandbev/healthfoods/Syrup+of+Figs+-1900_sA.jpg.html

http://www.zazzle.com/1902_syrup_of_figs_vintage_illustration_mug-168998329792374259

 

93-103 Milton Street. N side. 1874. James R. Sparrow, builder.

 

Six brickfronted houses (Nos. 105-109 were originally three more in a set of nine) that retain their delicate archivolts over their entrance doors, curved Renaissance Revival window lintels, each facade now painted individually for identity.

 

church of the ascension (Episcopal), 129 Kent St., bet. Manhattan Ave. and Franklin St. N side. 1865-1866. Henry Dudley.

 

Granite ashlar with brownstone trim, a double-pitched silhouette and red Episcopal doors. Its low and friendly scale is reminiscent of an English country church. Note the 3 oval oculi.

 

1858

 

historic marker

 

St. Elias Greek Rite Catholic Church/formerly Reformed Dutch Church of Greenpoint, 149 Kent St., bet. Manhattan Ave. and Franklin St. N side. Church, 1869-1970. William B.Ditmars. Sunday school, 1879. W. Wheeler Smith.

 

Bulky brick, brownstone, and whitestone, with the Victorian Gothic polychromy (note the alternating red and gray voussoirs) promoted by writer-architectural historian John Ruskin and hence termed Ruskinian Gothic. Note the cast-iron fence with its Gothic crests, and the octagonal Sunday school.

 

well , it’s just about time….

 

….to bring this greenpoint thread to a….

 

*** I hope u enjoyed the grit and the good – a long thread on manhattan avenue aka

        the hyper-polish main drag in greenpoint is up next ***

 

 

The better side of Greenpoint.

^ it gets better still. but frankly...i'm having trouble getting into it. i will slog on tho. i dk what my problem is, probably because my computer is acting up. it's a great place, lots of variety thats for sure.

 

Interesting neighborhood!