The Garfield Building was located at 26 Court Street,[1] at Remsen Street,[2] in Brooklyn, New York.[3] It was built by contractor William Lamb, who was originally from Glasgow, Scotland. Together with his brother Thomas, the builders began their careers with the firm W&T Lamb, starting in 1861.[4] The seven-story Garfield Building was offered in an auction by the Brooklyn Real Estate Exchange in January 1906. The lot covered 100 feet by 150 feet on Remsen Street.[5][6] It was near Borough Hall, the court house, Temple Bar, Hall of Records, the borough's first subway station, and the heart of the financial center.[7]

Description and history

The building was constructed by tea merchant Abiel Abbot Low, the father of future New York City mayor Seth Low, in 1881.[5][6] The structure, designed by J. C. Cady of the then-separate city of New York, replaced four brick buildings on Court Street and three on Remsen Street.[5] The Garfield Building was eight stories high and measured 121.5 ft (37.0 m) high, with a clock tower at the corner of Court and Remsen Streets. It was designed in the Italian Renaissance style, with a facade of brownstone on its first two stories and Philadelphia brick and terracotta on its upper stories, as well as a red-tiled roof.[6] Inside were 279 offices (illuminated by a light court), two elevators, and a law library.[5][6]

In the late 19th century the structure often served as a meeting place for railroad officials and the Brooklyn Republican Campaign Committee.[2] Colonel Charles L. Fincke, of the 23rd Regiment of the United States National Guard, maintained an office at the Garfield Building.[8] It also was home to lawyers.[9]

The Garfield Building was razed after a period of building inactivity following World War I. City departments were moved to a new Municipal Building and the Court Remsen Building.[10] The Chanin Construction Company, led by Irwin Chanin, bought the building from the Childs Restaurants chain for $1.3 million and announced plans in 1924 to construct a 26-story building on the site for $4 million.[11] The developer, the 26 Court Street Corporation, filed a lawsuit later that year, which sought to overturn an old covenant that banned development within 8 ft (2.4 m) of the sidewalk on Court Street.[12] The dispute was prolonged because many neighboring property owners opposed the proposed annulment of the covenant.[13] By May 1925, the Chanin Construction Company was demolishing the edifice.[6][14] During demolition, several workers were nearly killed after the building partially collapsed.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Brooklyn Rapid Transit, New York Times, April 1, 1886, pg. 8.
  2. 1 2 The Brooklyn Republicans, New York Times, October 12, 1883, pg. 2.
  3. ↑ Brooklyn Rapid Transit, New York Times, June 12, 1883, pg. 5.
  4. ↑ Death List Of A Day, New York Times, October 4, 1903, pg. 7.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Garfield Building". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 27, 1925. p. 26. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Richards, W. W. (May 31, 1925). "Garfield Building's End Due to High Value of Site; A. A. Low Proved a Prophet". Times Union. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  7. ↑ Classified Ad 3-No Title, New York Times, January 23, 1906, pg. 14.
  8. ↑ Col. Fincke Resigns, New York Times, April 22, 1887, pg. 2.
  9. ↑ Florist McCullough Disappears, New York Times, January 9, 1895, pg. 09.
  10. ↑ Brooklyn Changes In Business Centre, New York Times, March 13, 1927, pg. E21.
  11. ↑ "Skyscraper of 26 Stories to Replace Garfield Building". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. September 16, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Garfield Building Owners Try to End Construction Ban". Times Union. December 2, 1924. p. 24. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Plan Skyscraper Beyond Disputed Remsen St. Zone". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 16, 1925. p. 3. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Last of Garfield Building Looks Windowless Upon Rising Municipal Home". The Standard Union. May 4, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

40°41′36″N 73°59′27″W / 40.69329°N 73.99079°W / 40.69329; -73.99079

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