Suzanne Spellen
Brownstoner
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Past articles by Suzanne:
One Man's Early 20th Century 'Castle' in Prospect Park South
This house gives credence to the idea that a man’s home is his castle. And if that home was designed by the homeowner himself, well, that’s even better. → Read More
A Bed Stuy Neo-Grec Brownstone Gets a New Look
It’s a safe bet that when the row was built this house looked just like its Neo-Grec neighbors. → Read More
A Touch of Fanciful Medieval French Style in Prospect Park South
This neighborhood is an embarrassment of riches, with one interesting house after another. → Read More
Welcome to Brooklyn’s Sailortown, Ye Olde Tars and Salts
The men of Brooklyn's Sailortown helped make Red Hook into New York City’s busiest port, and propelled Brooklyn’s economy and culture into a brighter future. → Read More
Crafting the Ideal: The City Beautiful Movement in Brooklyn
The City Beautiful Movement was rather grandiosely designed to combat urban problems through architecture and city planning. → Read More
The Battle of Gettysburg in the Round: Brooklyn's Lost Cyclorama
A precursor to the cinema, a major exhibition depicting the pivotal 1863 Battle of Gettysburg stood near Brooklyn City Hall in Downtown Brooklyn for years, where thousands paid 50 cents each to view it. → Read More
Slee & Bryson: Architects for the Modern Age
The firm's unassuming but numerous buildings, many in the Colonial Revival style, changed the look of Brooklyn. → Read More
A Magnificent Home for the Disadvantaged Boys of Early 20th Century Brooklyn
St. Vincent’s established its first home in 1869 but by the turn of the century was running out of space and built a new home at 66 Boerum Place. → Read More
An Inventive Architect Designs a Bank With Industrial Grit in Williamsburg
Although many of Brooklyn’s historic bank buildings are quite large and very often quite impressive, that’s not always the case. → Read More
Ornamenting Brooklyn: The Fashion of Terra-Cotta
Brooklyn is home to both monumental and everyday examples of this versatile material. → Read More
Anglo-Italianate: A Charming Architecture Style That Makes the Most of Narrow Lots
With its low stoops, center stairs, intimate scale and rounded forms, Anglo-Italianate is a quaint and feminine architectural style designed to make the most of narrow city lots. → Read More
Parties, Gossip and Too Much Brew: How 19th Century Brooklynites Celebrated the New Year
In the late 19th century, Brooklynites had many ways to celebrate the New Year but the ability to participate depended on one's social class. → Read More
A Tale of Two Cities: A Children's Christmas in 1899
The Brooklyn Christmas of 1899 was not so different than today, a tale of the haves and the have-nots. → Read More
This Exuberantly Colorful Terra Cotta Building in Crown Heights Housed Bowling and Billiards
The building is reminiscent of movie palaces and popular eateries of the 1920s and ‘30s, when the craze for this style of ornamentation peaked. → Read More
These Unusual Curved Twin Houses in Crown Heights Are Like No Others
Tucked quietly away on Sterling Place, these two houses have long been an architectural mystery. → Read More
Axel Hedman Designs Something Different in Prospect Lefferts Gardens
This block of houses on Maple Street is truly different, and truly great row house architecture. → Read More
Bringing Music to the Park Slope Manse of William M. Brasher
William M. Brasher was a major manufacturer of oilcloths and did quite well enough that he could afford to build a fine mansion on the corner of 7th Avenue and Lincoln Place. → Read More
Red Hook’s Lidgerwood Complex and the Importance of Our Industrial History
Preservation and landmarking efforts have mostly concentrated on residential and civic architecture and not our our rich industrial heritage. → Read More
Feeding Brooklyn: The Gowanus Grocery Warehouse of Thomas Roulston
The building at 70-124 9th Street in Gowanus was built as the warehouse for the Thomas Roulston grocery chain. → Read More
Welcome, Neighbor! Covenants and Deed Restrictions in Brooklyn
One neighborhood in Brooklyn has an unusual restrictive covenant that has helped it remain economically stable, racially integrated, and fiercely committed to maintaining its special flavor and history. → Read More