“Fairytale” whispers through the Brooklyn air here at The Gingerbread House. It stands as a testament to whimsical architecture. This is not just any house. It is a landmark with a story etched in its very stones.
The Gingerbread House is properly known as the Howard and Jessie Jones house. It is an American example of the Arts and Crafts style. James Sarsfield Kennedy designed it in the early 20th century.
Bay Ridge, where The Gingerbread House is located, was once called Yellow Hook. This was due to the color of the clay found there. A yellow fever epidemic led to the name change to Bay Ridge.
Wealthy businessmen found Bay Ridge attractive. They could commute to work while enjoying palatial homes. The Crescent Athletic Club was another influential resident of Bay Ridge.
James Sarsfield Kennedy, the architect of The Gingerbread House, was born in Canada. He came to Brooklyn in 1898. Shipping tycoon Howard E. Jones chose Kennedy to design his new home.
Kennedy designed a garage for Jones before The Gingerbread House. The house construction cost $25,000. Kennedy created a magnificent Arts and Crafts style house. He drew inspiration from English architects like Richard Norman Shaw.
The Arts and Crafts movement valued handmade craftsmanship. It advocated for natural materials and a return to rustic architecture. The Gingerbread House embodies this with its stone and organic roofline.
The house is made of uncut stone in varying shapes and sizes. It conforms to the land’s natural rises and falls. The roof is an undulating asphalt shingle masterpiece. It appears to be a roofer’s nightmare.
Despite its storybook appearance, The Gingerbread House is not a simple folly. The interior features Craftsman-style decor. A 1918 article described the interior as “English oak.”
Whimsical hand-wrought ironwork adorns the fences and gates. The house sits on a large lawn. The Jones family must have been thrilled with their unique home.
The Gingerbread House became a tourist attraction from the day it was finished. Kennedy went on to design other interesting houses. However, he never surpassed the brilliance of The Gingerbread House. It remains one of a kind.
The Gingerbread House stands on the corner of Narrows Avenue and 83rd Street. It is across from Fort Hamilton High School. The nearest subway is the R train at 86th Street and 4th Avenue.
The Gingerbread House has a large garden and patio. It was declared a New York City landmark in 1988. Its whimsical nature continues to enchant all who pass by. It is more than just a house. It is a piece of living art.