A Picture History of the Brooklyn Bridge


History of Flatbush, continued


avenue, and the nice and tasty building in which Mr. Beekman resides. The old house of Hendrick Vanderveer, has been succeeded by the handsome, well finished and convenient dwelling of Mr. Samuel G. Lott. And though the last, not the least, in the north of the village, Mr. Willink has erected the splendid mansion, into which he has recently removed, together with its beautiful barn and stables, surmounted with a cupola, all of which, he has enclosed with a costly panel fence. In addition to these, to some other houses Grecian fronts have been added, and various improvements made, which give to the whole village an air of beauty, pleasantness, richness and comfort, which are surpassed by but few others. A distinguished gentleman of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,* on his first visit to the place, called it a village of palaces. Besides these more conspicuous houses, many more have been put up in various parts of the village, some of which too, are beautiful and neat. Quite a considerable settlement lets grown up, a little east of the Academy, and also one the north of the village, on which spots it few years ago, not a house was to be seen. Indeed within the past twelve or fifteen years, more than sixty new buildings have been put up, besides those which have been erected in the place of old ones, which have been removed.

It no doubt will appear strange to some, that a village so contiguous to the great emporium of our country, and combining the advantages of health and means of education, with the absence of many temptations to the young should not have grown with more rapidity. But the reason is to be found in the fact that until within a very few years, not a building lot could be purchased in the town. The owners of property, living in comfort, and gradually adding to their estates, felt no inducement to part with their lands. But of late, some few farms have been purchased, and Flatbush property is now in the market. Had the village been laid out regularly in streets and building lots, some thirty or forty years ago, it would we have no doubt by this time have rivalled some of our largest inland towns. But notwithstanding the present aspect of neatness and comfort, which it presents, it is susceptible of still greater improvements. These we trust, will in due time, be made, and the village become, what it is capable of being made, the pride and beauty of Long-Island.

We had intended to give some account of the genealogy of most of the older families of Flatbush. Materials to a very considerable extent have been collected with this view, but as they are not sufficiently full, especially in regard to some families, we deem it proper to waive this part of our subject.

From a review of the history of their little home which we have taken, truly the inhabitants of Flatbush have abundant cause to admire the goodness of that God who in his benign providence has smiled so graciously and so constantly upon them.. Their cup has overflowed with blessings, and still the same mercy of the Lord is crowning their families with peace. With adoring gratitude let us lift up our hearts to his throne and with fulness of love to him let us show the fervor of our thankfulness by lives devoted to his glory. Committing to his guardian care, the interests of our village, and praying his blessings to rest upon it, let us aim to make it as eminent for morality, for intelligence, for pure religion, as it is now for health, beauty and temporal prosperity.


* Hon. Robert C. Grier.


Page 89


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