These gorgeous homes are just as lovely today as they were in 1901, the year stamped on the back of this postcard.
That’s right about when Flatbush was colonized into middle-class neighborhoods of single-family houses.
“No section of Brooklyn has witnessed a more attractive and satisfactory development than the Flatbush section,” reports a New York Times article from 1910, kind of an early “If You’re Thinking of Living in” piece.
“Enjoying good transit facilities, with pleasant surroundings and admirably situated lots, it is not surprising that thousands of residents who wish to be close to the centres of the city’s commercial industries and yet possess the advantages of pleasant suburban homes have chosen Flatbush as a home site.”
I wish I could make out the handwriting at the top left. It looks like “565 East 31st Street.” It must be the address of the sender rather than the cross street in the postcard, since East 31st Street doesn’t cross Ocean Avenue.
Tags: Brooklyn 1901, Brooklyn at the turn of the century, Ditmas Park, Ocean Avenue Brooklyn, suburban Brooklyn, Victorian Flatbush, vintage postcards Brooklyn, vintage postcards NYC
Ephemeral New York 
August 26, 2010 at 8:12 am |
Just had to say that I LOVE this blog! I devour evey post. I found you while looking for information on those fabulous mansions of the gilded age. I love all of your posts!
Thank you!!!
Judy
August 26, 2010 at 1:54 pm |
Glad you like it! New York in the Gilded Age is so richly documented.
August 26, 2010 at 12:05 pm |
I grew up in Flatbush and I loved every minute of it – my best friend and I spent our days exploring every inch of it, as well as other areas. But the Flatbush I remember will always be one of my favorite places.
I love reading your posts about NYC.
Alex
August 26, 2010 at 1:57 pm |
Thanks! I’m never sure of what’s Flatbush and what’s Midwood and where the microneighborhoods within them start and stop.
August 22, 2018 at 1:52 am |
i think the address in the upper left corner of the postcard is “565 E. 51st Street, Brooklyn, NY…That’s my guess. Thanks, Janet Norton from Vancouver, Washington.