Brownstone to Beer Hall to Cell Phones: Brownstoner traces Brooklyn building’s history
In a recently revised article, Brownstoner traces the history of 385 Jay St., one of the few mid-19th century brownstones that survives in the Fulton Mall area.
While these brownstones were slowly being replaced by stores, theaters and banks as the area became commercial in the late 19th century, some of them still survived but were converted to other uses.
The building at 385 Jay St., like many others of its type, became a rooming house by 1879. Several businesses occupied the ground-floor space, including a cigar shop that was raided for illegal gambling in 1900.
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.