Charles Lockwood @ Brooklyn Library

Thanks to the post on brownstoner.blogspot.com, I was able to catch a good hour plus of Charles Lockwood's lecture on brownstones in Brooklyn. This was actually my first visit to the Brooklyn Library at Grand Army Plaza and I took the occasion to open up my first library card in Brooklyn. The library is amazing. It was filled with people today and was quite warm in there. The media room was quite empty when I got there today, but 15 minutes into the beginning of the lecture, there were a good 75 people in there. I didn't get to stay for the entire lecture -- I left at 5:10pm.

He had a large compilation of photographs and microfiches? that he displayed on the screen and gave a great description of the history of the Brooklyn brownstone. Included in his lecture were several ads that several manufacturers used to advertise in newspapers. Included were companies that specialized in wrought iron fences and front stoop railings. According to Charles, the Industrial Revolution caused a boom in the constructions of brownstones. Many of the brownstones were 'mass-produced' and were rarely ever designed by architects, or 'celebu-tects' as he put it.

He went through the life cycle of the neo-Classical brownstones, to the Italianate style and to the more conventional ones that you see today.

He threw in a lot of jargon that I didn't understand, like mansards (sp?), etc.

He had also featured many color photos of brownstones that I think he must have consulted on in Brooklyn Heights. Had a nice shot of South Portland St.

If anyone else went and had a different impression, feel free to share!