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Crown Heights History: 1281 President Street, One of the Most Noticed Houses on President Street

This series on Crown Heights History has been compiled by Instagram account @crownheightshistory, a born and raised Crown Heightser, and shows some of the ongoing research taking place.

1281 President Street, one of the most noticed houses on President Street.

The house was built by Henry Roth between 1900-1910. Henry Roth was a prolific developer in Crown Heights and was from German Jewish decent. He was a successful real estate developer and was successful in many other areas as well. Not much has changed in the house except that they took down the front porch.

Henry Roth was involved in many Jewish charities which was a rite of passage those days with the Jews in New York once they succeeded financially.

I personally feel that this house reflected his open boisterous personality. I did not see that written anywhere but it’s based on what I personally read about him, so I’m sharing it as an observation.

President Street between Brooklyn and New York Avenue where our house is located is different than its adjoining block.

On President street between Kingston and Brooklyn you had no less than three lawsuits guarding the blocks ascetics making sure no structure outside the restriction of a single family less then $10,000 dollar was built.

This block however was mostly controlled by Henry Roth and he has many semi attached homes which lends to a different aesthetic feeling of the block. This may have been because there was no clause when they conveyed the deeds, or that it simply wasn’t enforced.

Arne Delhi did file plans for an 11 family “tenement” building on 1316-1318 President Street, and in 1914 an 8 family building was planned by a small time Developer A. H. Rosenberg, but both never materialized. This may have been the doing of Henry Roth, but that is yet to be discovered.

Henry Roth and his Wife

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7 Comments

  • Lisa Still

    I believe this house was also featured in the novel ‘Sippi, by John Killins, who lived just around the corner on Union Street. It’s still a beautiful home.

  • Jon Baker

    Have you done a piece on 1323 President St yet? Today it’s a shadow of it’s former self, but I saw it once in 1991, when a lot of the original details were still in place. It was built by my great grandfather, Louis Cohen, for his 9 children plus servants. Cohen founded the Bklyn JC as an Ortho synagogue. 18 months later Samuel Rottenberg put up $2500, became president, and affiliated Conservative

    • History

      Oh wow! Yes I read all about him, that’s amazing. I definitely have my eyes on that house. It was built on a lot 150 wide and before the apt building or house on it’s left were built. In 1914 they announced plans for an apt building but he ended building a house there instead.

      Interestingly even the New York Times announced it when he sold his home in 1929.

      How can I reach you directly?