Crown Heights History: 770 Before it Was 770

by Crown Heights Historian Shmully Blesofsky VIA his Instagram account History of Crown Heights.

Before Eastern Parkway was created in 1870, the grounds of 770 were part of the N.E. Mason farm. Not much is known about these farms since they were secondary properties barely inhabited on the edge of the then city of Brooklyn before development began. I researched the name N.E. Mason; he was apparently a rear admiral in the Navy, though I’m unsure if this is the same person who owned the farm. It could make a great story: “The Original Admiral of 770.”

New York Public Library. A “Squatter shack” circa 1900. This one is near Washington Avenue and Eastern Parkway but it’s an example of how they may have looked. 

In the 1890s, Crown Heights experienced a squatter phenomenon; Eastern Parkway was paved but development had not yet begun. There were shacks along Eastern Parkway, mostly concentrated toward the Rogers Avenue area. This might explain the story of the McMahon family, noted in The Brooklyn Citizen in 1892 when Patrick McMahon lodged a complaint with the health board about an improperly compounded prescription that tragically led to the death of his 9-month-old daughter.

Times Union, January 13, 1892. Depicting the terrible tragedy of what it seems as Irish squatters living at 770 Eastern Parkway.

The Brooklyn Citizen, January 7, 1902, published a foreclosure notice confirming that 770 was on the N. E. Mason Farm. This foreclosure surprised me, and I’ll need to conduct further research to determine its impact. Thus far, I have found that it did not affect the Union or President Street developments. Additionally, the newspaper map mistakenly lists incorrect names for the farm

Insurance map from the 1890s. I trust this more than the newspaper map mentioned earlier. J. Spader is located alongside Kingston, and John Skillman is on Brooklyn Avenue, confirming that 770 was situated on the N.E. Mason farm. 

In 1903, Union Street began to be developed, marking the start of Crown Heights’ growth. Development resumed in 1909, with blocks gradually being “improved” by developers and builders every few years. However, while Union, Carroll, and Crown Streets were developed, the block of 770 remained largely empty, save for buildings on the corner of Kingston Avenue and Eastern Parkway.

Circa 1916. If you look towards Kingston Avenue from Eastern Parkway, the block where 770 is located appears mostly empty. The building in view is 788 Eastern Parkway, which now houses “Downstairs 770.”

The reason the block at 770 remained undeveloped for many years may be because the leading developer and visionary of Crown Heights envisioned an exclusive neighborhood with only one house per lot. Eastern Parkway was the showcase of his project, and he wanted it built to his exacting standards. He even built his office on Eastern Parkway off Brooklyn Avenue.

Circa 1915. Fred Rowe, the prominent developer of Crown Heights, lived in Union and Brooklyn Avenues, conducting his real estate dealings from a specially constructed office building. Although he could have chosen any location for his office, he likely built it on Eastern Parkway to safeguard his vision for Crown Heights.

Returning to the lot at 770, in the city’s deed records, you’ll find that Jacob and Rose Schapiro sold the lot to Jacob and Fannie Roseman in 1925. As of today, I haven’t found records of any buildings or homes on that lot at that time, so I assume it was empty. In 1930, Rosenman sold it to R.H.K. Holding Co., which was owned by Dr. S. Robert Kahn, the builder of 770.

The city records of deeds only contain information from 1925 onwards, which is unfortunate because it would be valuable to uncover all the details. Hopefully, records from 1903 to 1925 will be discovered.

A possible connection during that time is to the Bank of United States. The run on the bank triggered financial failures across the country in the 1930s. Jacob Rosenman was on the advisory committee of a local branch near Crown Heights.

On 770s blocks most of the houses were built in the 1920s, but I specifically want to look at 

On the blocks of 770, most houses were built in the 1920s, but I’m particularly interested in 760 Eastern Parkway and its architecture. My theory is that when the well-known architect Edwin Kline visited from Great Neck to see the lot he was commissioned to build on, he saw the house three doors down and designed based on it. Alternatively, Dr. Khan may have come up with the idea, or perhaps it made sense to design something in harmony with the other houses on the block. From what I’ve seen, none of Edwin Kline’s buildings resemble 770, which speaks to his versatility, but starting from scratch allowed him to design a unique project with all its distinctive details.

Circa 1915 the block of 770 undeveloped. In the background are the Union Street houses the called SpotlessTown. The far right is Fred Rowe’s office building. 

760 Eastern Parkway which may have inspired the design of 770.

Circa 1940. The original, untouched building of 770 still stood, six years after its construction. Note the porch on the left, which can be seen in pictures from subsequent years before the expansion. The original door was made of stained wood.

Circa 1943 the driveway in between 770 to to the right and 788 “Downstairs 770” to the left. 

In 1930, S Robert Kahn purchased the double lot and posted his building plans. Here is the newspaper announcement of the new building:

“Number 770-8 Eastern Parkway., 3-story brick, doctor’s office, garage and 1-family, 54×74; cost, $45,000; R. H. K. Holding Corp., 1692 Eastern pkwy, owner; E. Kline, architect.”

Now, let’s discuss the man who built 770: Dr. S. Robert Kahn. My conclusion is that he was a man whose ambitions exceeded his practical abilities. He was clearly ambitious and successful, perhaps even visionary, but he seemed to disregard legal and personal consequences. Personally, he strikes me as an ADD Jewish doctor who overreached. Instead of purchasing a house on President Street with an office like other successful doctors, he built a grand three-story house on prime Eastern Parkway and hired a special architect. He had a grand vision but perhaps lacked long-term follow-through.

He seemed like a wild character. His brother-in-law, who lived with him, had his driver’s license revoked for reckless driving. Dr. Kahn himself was arrested when a woman died on his operating table. He was also caught cheating on his taxes and was disinherited by his own mother. Finally, if he led such a reckless life, it wouldn’t be surprising if he engaged in illegal procedures such as abortions. He was far from the only doctor to do such such procedures but it seems like his story got more attention due to his prominent building and cheating on his taxes (and bribing a judge). 

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 13, 1939. He made $100,000 a year from 1930 to 1934. That sounds like a fortune for those days. Also, “illegal operation” was a euphemism for an abortion. It appears the abortion occurred at 770, and due to complications, she was sent to Crown Heights Hospital, where she tragically died.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle , February 16, 1939.  

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 1935: Dr. S. Robert Kahn’s brother-in-law, who apparently lived with him at 770, had his driver’s license revoked due to drunk driving. This sheds light on the general atmosphere of the Kahn family.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle June 11, 1938.  Dr Robert Khan is disinherited from his mother who lived on 1692 Eastern Parkway.