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Matthew Clarkson Mansion
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Matthew Clarkson Mansion
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The Matthew Clarkson Mansion, later home to the Midwood Club and the Union League Club, Flatbush; ca. 1880. Built in 1836 for Matthew Clarkson, a member of the prominent Flatbush family, this temple-fronted classical mansion once sat on a large tree-lined plot west of Flatbush Avenue. Following Clarkson's death in 1883, at the age of 87, the mansion became the first home of the Midwood Club, a gentlemen's social organization founded in 1889. The Club would eventually buy out Clarkson's heirs and assume ownership of the building. By 1917, the Midwood Club's membership had declined considerably and the club itself was on the brink of extinction. That year, the Union League Club, formerly located at Grant Square, took over the former Clarkson mansion and restored its place in Brooklyn social life. In 1937, the building became the Y.M.C.A.'s Flatbush chapter. After a January 1940 fire caused significant damage, the once-proud 104 year old estate was sold for development and razed.
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Matthew Clarkson Mansion
\[Midwood Club House, Flatbush] Path leading up to Midwood Club House, Flatbush; W. Nelson, maker\[?] \[written in ink on label on recto]; Martense, \[stamped in black ink on label on recto]; 13 \[written in ink on label on recto]
Matthew Clarkson Mansion
Brooklyn: 21st Street (East) - Caton Avenue 112 East 21st Street, adjointng the S. W. corner of Caton Avenue, showing the Clarkson Mansion, built in 1836. It was later known as the Midwood Club and was for a time used by the Brooklyn Union League after they gave up their Grant Square quarters. In the late 1930s it was known as the Sperry Memorial Butlding and was then the Flatbush branch of the Y. M. C. A. For additional data see "The New York Times," Octoer 6, 1940. 1923 Views 1,2 Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
Matthew Clarkson Mansion
Brooklyn: 21st Street (East) - Caton Avenue 112 East 21st Street, adjoining the S. W. corner of Caton Ave., showing the Clarkson Mansion, built in 1836. Early in its history the house was purchased by a group of prominent Flatbush men who formed the Midwood Club and so named the mansion. Later the Midwood Club was purchased b leaders of tho Brooklyn Union League Club who made it their headquarters for a time. From 1927 to 1940 the house was the headquarters of the Flatbush branch of the Y. M. C. A. and was known as the Sperry Memorial Building. On January 21, 1940, A fire wrecked the structure and toward the end of the year, or early 1941, was torn down to make way for an apartment house. For additional data see 'The New York Times," October 6, 1940. 1927 Views 1,2,3 Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
Matthew Clarkson Mansion
Brooklyn: Midwood Club (formerly Clarkson Mansion), Ocean Avenue near Caton Avenue, Flatbush, undated.
Matthew Clarkson Mansion
Brooklyn: 21st Street (East) - Caton Avenue 112 East 21st Street, adjoining the S. W. corner of Caton Ave., showing the Clarkson Mansion, built in 1836. Early in its history the house was purchased by a group of prominent Flatbush men who formed the Midwood Club and so named the mansion. Later the Midwood Club was purchased b leaders of tho Brooklyn Union League Club who made it their headquarters for a time. From 1927 to 1940 the house was the headquarters of the Flatbush branch of the Y. M. C. A. and was known as the Sperry Memorial Building. On January 21, 1940, A fire wrecked the structure and toward the end of the year, or early 1941, was torn down to make way for an apartment house. For additional data see 'The New York Times," October 6, 1940. 1927 Views 1,2,3 Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
Matthew Clarkson Mansion
Brooklyn: 21st Street (East) - Caton Avenue 112 East 21st Street, adjointng the S. W. corner of Caton Avenue, showing the Clarkson Mansion, built in 1836. It was later known as the Midwood Club and was for a time used by the Brooklyn Union League after they gave up their Grant Square quarters. In the late 1930s it was known as the Sperry Memorial Butlding and was then the Flatbush branch of the Y. M. C. A. For additional data see "The New York Times," Octoer 6, 1940. 1923 Views 1,2 Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
Matthew Clarkson Mansion
Brooklyn: 21st Street (East) - Caton Avenue 112 East 21st Street, adjoining the S. W. corner of Caton Ave., showing the Clarkson Mansion, built in 1836. Early in its history the house was purchased by a group of prominent Flatbush men who formed the Midwood Club and so named the mansion. Later the Midwood Club was purchased b leaders of tho Brooklyn Union League Club who made it their headquarters for a time. From 1927 to 1940 the house was the headquarters of the Flatbush branch of the Y. M. C. A. and was known as the Sperry Memorial Building. On January 21, 1940, A fire wrecked the structure and toward the end of the year, or early 1941, was torn down to make way for an apartment house. For additional data see 'The New York Times," October 6, 1940. 1927 Views 1,2,3 Eugene L. Armbruster Collection
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