by MatthewC This article made possible by a donation to our Writer’s Fund Raffle by Human@Ease.
As Preservation Greenpoint reported last week, Keramos Hall at 857-861 Manhattan Avenue just won a Lucy G. Moses Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
What is Keramos Hall you say? Our thoughts exactly. Which is why we decided to devote a lil’ bit of research to this. Like us, you might have been surprised recently when the scaffolding came…
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That really is an amazing piece of historical restoration. I believe that owners usually don’t have to replace what was already removed (but not 100%). Either way, that was a pretty penny. Well done.
So interesting. Can you please start doing more articles like this on the history of Greenpoint?
Thanks, Andrew! My team at Preservation Greenpoint plan to do more posts like this one…any recommendations on buildings to focus on are welcome.
Right across the street…875-77 Manhattan Ave! Greenpoint’s art deco masterpiece. Built in 1931, as a bank, it now houses a city-run community health center. It has a landmark status according to records. This one, Matthew!
If you look in the window of the TD Bank on Manhattan and Meserole an entire wall has a floor to ceiling street scene of Manhattan Avenue from an old photo as it once was and the Art deco bank can be seen there. It has an interesting metal structure, maybe a flag pole, bending out towards the street. Its best to look at night because they light it up so nicely and the photo has been colorized, you almost feel like your there!
We love that Art Deco bank as well! Really not a lot of Art Deco in Greenpoint. It is a protected landmark (thankfully) but we don’t know much about it. Will definitely add it to our list!
Well I was thinking it would be nice to see articles like this that rediscover the lost history of Greenpoint. Like seeing how many of the buildings on this map still have its historic decor (https://www.rotatingcorpse.com/app/uploads/2010/07/gptmapbig.jpg) or featuring a link to this, a history of Greenpoint from 1919 (https://archive.org/stream/historicgreenpoi00felt#page/4/mode/2up)
In my opinion, to really embrace a place as “your community” one really should know the importance of its history.
The architect of the Keramos Hall, Thomas C Smith, lived and designed the Mansion currently the Reformed Church on Milton Street. Recently four industrial looking bright night lights were attached to the church’s facade which ruins the beauty of the building especially at night. Maintaining Landmarks is so often, understandably, a financial burden for many. Anyone know if there is some sort of financial assistance to help those that can’t afford it?