Exploring Victorian Flatbush and environs

The "Japanese House," otherwise known as the Frederick S. Kolle House, dates to 1903 and is at 131 Buckingham Road.

We recently explored the Victorian heart of Prospect Park South, a charming, incredibly preserved Brooklyn neighborhood of ornate homes, lush lawns, broad boulevards with ample medians and old-growth trees. Strolling through with the intention of snapping some pictures and getting a feel of the place can be overwhelming. Virtually every house on these streets with august-sounding names like Albermarle and Beverley would be a landmark in its own right anywhere else in the city. Indeed, much of the neighborhood was protected in 1979, and shortly thereafter much of the country got a taste of its wonders when the home at 101 Rugby Road (shown below) was used in the film "Sophie's Choice" in 1982. The story of Victorian Flatbush begins with Dean Alvord's idea to develop an exclusive neighborhood in an area that was undeveloped -- the name of Flatbush was then quite accurate. He created a country-in-the-city retreat that has to be seen to be believed. So take a few hours and go! I jumped on the B to Church Street and was there. The area is bounded by Canton Avenue to the north, Coney Island Avenue to the west, Bedford Avenue to the east and Cortelyou Road to the south. If time is of the essence, the definitive experience can be found on Albermarle and Beverley roads, and on streets such as Buckingham, Marlborough and Rugby roads.

Here's an idea of what awaits you. Read more in our recent City Living. And you'll probably be calling these folks if you're truly taken by the place.

The Church Street entrance to Buckingham Road ...

On Buckingham ...

Detail of the "Japanese" house ...

A stunner with a corner turret, a common feature on these homes ...

Onto Albermarle Road ...

100 Rugby Road ...

And across the street is 101 Rugby, below, the "Sophie's Choice" house ...

There's much more after the jump, including a look at some interesting places to shop and old-school signs.Other houses that dot the neighborhood. They're all stunning, and there are many we left out because of shutter fatigue, not for lack of inherent worthiness ...

A stepped gable fantasy. Our Dutch forefathers would blush.

And now from the country back into the city. Here's a very unusual subway station on Beverley Road -- unusual by city standards, but right at home in Prospect Park South.

Main shopping stretches include Church and Cortelyou Street. Here are some interesting spots on Church ...

And some highlights on Cortelyou. Vincent's barber shop is a gem, with a beautiful old sign and lovingly preserved interior to boot. We would have gotten a hair cut there, but they were closed that day.

We love vintage signage, and there were a few other interesting examples on Cortelyou:

And some nifty old signage on Coney Island Avenue ...

And newer spots that have popped up on Cortelyou ...

We stopped for a bite at Connecticut Muffin.

Photos and text: Rolando Pujol

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