New York, NY - Urban Archive

South of Union Square

Story

The Litchfield Villa

This Italianate mansion, located just inside the entrance at Prospect Park West and 5th Street, was built for Edwin C. Litchfield between 1855 and 1857. A prominent Brooklyn real estate developer and landowner in present-day Park Slope, Litchfield was responsible for the expansion of the Gowanus Canal from a tidal creek into a shipping channel

By

Prospect Park Alliance

1

Litchfield Villa

Litchfield Villa

In 1855, Litchfield hired acclaimed architect Alexander Jackson Davis to construct an Italianate estate for his family.

2

Litchfield Villa

Litchfield Villa

In addition to the hilltop mansion, Davis also built a coach house, greenhouse, and chicken house (none of which remain today).

3

Litchfield Villa

Litchfield Villa

When completed in 1857, the structure was named Grace Hill, after Edwin's wife Grace Hill Hubbard Litchfield.

4

Litchfield Villa

Litchfield Villa

In 1869, the Litchfields reluctantly ceded their home and its grounds to the City of Brooklyn, but were granted permission to lease the property until 1883. Those 50 acres of Litchfield land now constitute over five percent of the park's present acreage.

5

Litchfield Villa

Litchfield Villa

In 1883, a year after Grace Litchfield's death, Edwin Litchfield moved abroad and his villa was passed on to the City Park Commissioners.

6

Litchfield Villa

Litchfield Villa

The Litchfield Villa, as it is now known, is now the Brooklyn borough headquarters of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and also the home of the Prospect Park Alliance.

Privacy Policy Terms of Service