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Crown Heights History: The Ill Reputed Nassau Inn

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

Located at 324 Albany Avenue off Eastern Parkway, Nassau Inn was known by many names: Drivers Rest, Foresters Inn, Con Duffys Casino, and Uncle John’s. It was both referred to as the “best known landmark in Brooklyn” and disparaged as an “evil resort.”

It was the home of a Brooklyn politician John E. Greany, who was exposed for accepting bribes in exchange to receiving contracts. Which totaled around $12,000 (but today that would be like $19 billion dollars, at least!)

In 1894, William Greany (maybe his son) applied for a liquor license, which suggests that the hotel either opened around that time or had already been in operation.

After development started discontent grew among the new residents and developers in the area. Frederick Rowe from the Eastern Parkway company and the homeowners of Spotless Town on Union Street joined forces with Father Smith of St. Gregory’s Church in a quest to shutter the inn. District Attorney Louis Goldstein rallied many witnesses to testify against the establishment, resulting in the owners being convicted for “keeping and maintaining a disorderly house.” Whatever that means in 1914 lexicon.

The concerted efforts of those who sought its closure ultimately succeeded, leading to the end of an era for the untill now unknown story of the Nassau Inn.

Pictures: I was lucky to notice the inn at the edge of the 1903 picture of union Street. The block was 700 feet long with no obstructions which is why you can see all the way until Eastern Parkway and Albany. The Inn was also known to be next to the 19th hole of the golf course so I was able to identify it in the picture of the golf course.

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5 Comments

  • Nassau Brewing Company

    Was there any connection between the Nassau Inn and the Nassau Brewing Company in Crown Heights during the same time period?

  • Nassau Brewing Company

    From what I see online, they were located at 925-949 Bergen & 1024 Dean Sts., Brooklyn, New York

    • History

      I doubt they were connected, but I don’t know. I’m more intrigued how they lawfully got put out of business. One article claims Nassau Inn was a landmark but I saw no mention of that anywhere else.

      Of course newspapers will lie, be paid off, or agenda driven, and that statement seems obviously from the owner.
      Point is it would be really nice to find out the full story.