Bushwick Democratic Club House
Encyclopedia
The Bushwick Democratic Club House was a notable building located in Brooklyn, New York. The building, designed by Brooklyn-based architect Frank Freeman
in his signature Richardsonian Romanesque
style, was completed in 1892, and designated a New York City
landmark in the 1970s. It was later destroyed by fire.
, was first organized in October 1890. After the 1890 election, the members decided to construct a new building for the club's activities, for an amount not exceeding $60,000. A block of land was subsequently acquired for the purpose on the corner of Bushwick Avenue and Hart Street, Brooklyn. Frank Freeman, the same architect who had designed the recently completed Thomas Jefferson Association Building
for the Kings County Democrats, was commissioned to design the new building.
The foundation stone was laid on June 30, 1891 by Brooklyn Mayor Alfred C. Chapin
, with New York Lieutenant Governor
Edward F. Jones
and a large crowd also in attendance. After the ceremony, a sumptuous banquet for 300 Democratic Party dignitaries was held, at which were read letters from former U.S. President Grover Cleveland
and Governor
David B. Hill
expressing their regrets at being unable to attend. The building was officially opened on September 23 of the following year, with Lieutenant Governor William F. Sheehan
and Brooklyn Mayor David A. Boody
giving the main speeches.
In 1941, the building was sold to the Knights of Columbus
, who retained it for 25 years. Thereafter it became the Bethesda Pentecostal Church. In late 1970, it was designated a New York City landmark. The building was eventually destroyed by fire.
The 1970 report by the Landmarks Preservation Commission emphasized the building's "superb Roman brick masonry, particularly in its use of rowlock arches and lintels above the openings." Another feature deemed of particular interest was "the use of recessed balconies, created by setting the walls and windows behind them, instead of projecting them out from the wall in the usual manner." The report concluded that "It is features such as these, which, in addition to the masterful use of materials, signalize the unusual work of Frank Freeman."
Frank Freeman
Frank Freeman was a Canadian-American architect based in Brooklyn, New York. A leading exponent of the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style who later adopted Neoclassicism, Freeman has been called "Brooklyn's greatest architect"...
in his signature Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
style, was completed in 1892, and designated a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
landmark in the 1970s. It was later destroyed by fire.
History
The Bushwick Democratic Club, a social club for members of the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, was first organized in October 1890. After the 1890 election, the members decided to construct a new building for the club's activities, for an amount not exceeding $60,000. A block of land was subsequently acquired for the purpose on the corner of Bushwick Avenue and Hart Street, Brooklyn. Frank Freeman, the same architect who had designed the recently completed Thomas Jefferson Association Building
Thomas Jefferson Association Building
The Thomas Jefferson Association Building was a notable building located in Brooklyn, New York. Designed by Brooklyn-based architect Frank Freeman and completed in 1890, it was considered a fine example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style...
for the Kings County Democrats, was commissioned to design the new building.
The foundation stone was laid on June 30, 1891 by Brooklyn Mayor Alfred C. Chapin
Alfred C. Chapin
Alfred Clark Chapin was an American lawyer and politician.-Early life:...
, with New York Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
Edward F. Jones
Edward F. Jones
Edward Franc Jones was an American merchant, manufacturer, author and politician from New York.-Biography:...
and a large crowd also in attendance. After the ceremony, a sumptuous banquet for 300 Democratic Party dignitaries was held, at which were read letters from former U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
and Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
David B. Hill
David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
expressing their regrets at being unable to attend. The building was officially opened on September 23 of the following year, with Lieutenant Governor William F. Sheehan
William F. Sheehan
William Francis Sheehan was an American lawyer and politician. During his political career he became known as Blue-Eyed Billy.-Biography:He was born on November 6, 1859 in Buffalo, New York....
and Brooklyn Mayor David A. Boody
David A. Boody
David Augustus Boody was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Jackson, Maine, he attended the common schools and Phillips Academy . He studied law with Charles M. Brown in Bangor, Maine, was admitted to the bar in 1860 at Belfast, Maine, and commenced practice in Camden, Maine...
giving the main speeches.
In 1941, the building was sold to the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, who retained it for 25 years. Thereafter it became the Bethesda Pentecostal Church. In late 1970, it was designated a New York City landmark. The building was eventually destroyed by fire.
Description
An "astounding, round-edged cube ... wrap[ping] a tight skin of precise decoration around a compact mass", the building was described shortly after its construction in the following terms:It is a beautiful structure, Romanesque in style, slightly modernized. The exterior trimmings are of light terra cottaTerra cottaTerracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
and red sandstoneSandstoneSandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
which, with the old gold mottled brick of which the walls are composed, produce a fine effect. There is a court yard of twenty-five feet in front of the building, and the main entrance is reached by a series of steps and landings, on which are handsomely wrought bronze lamps with incandescent electric lights. The furniture, including buffet, billiard and pool tables, is of quartered, figured oakOakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, the carpets are of velvet; the draperies are of soft, warm-colored figured silk, and the decorations on the walls and ceilings are in delicate tints, harmonizing perfectly with the other appointments. The basement is occupied by the bowling alleys. The café and billiard room are on the first floor, making practically one apartment with vaulted ceilings twenty-five feet high. On the mezzanineMezzanine (architecture)In architecture, a mezzanine or entresol is an intermediate floor between main floors of a building, and therefore typically not counted among the overall floors of a building. Often, a mezzanine is low-ceilinged and projects in the form of a balcony. The term is also used for the lowest balcony in...
floor are the officers' rooms and the ladies' rooms. On the third floor are the banquet hall and card rooms, and on the top floor is the gymnasium. The stewards apartments and the club kitchen are above the main building at the rear.
The 1970 report by the Landmarks Preservation Commission emphasized the building's "superb Roman brick masonry, particularly in its use of rowlock arches and lintels above the openings." Another feature deemed of particular interest was "the use of recessed balconies, created by setting the walls and windows behind them, instead of projecting them out from the wall in the usual manner." The report concluded that "It is features such as these, which, in addition to the masterful use of materials, signalize the unusual work of Frank Freeman."