The Stories Your House Could Tell: 1410 Glenwood Road

1931

The 17th house in our 240-part series once served as a convalescent home and was fondly remembered by a famous scientist in his dying hours as a childhood refuge. It was also occupied by a Suffragette whose ancestry dates back to the Norman invasion of England. This same home was also the destination of a traveler who died on the way, the victim of the worst rail disaster in American history – whose life might have been saved years earlier by a dog of the era’s most famous actor. Many of us have spent time in this house, as hosts of its gracious owners. 

It’s the Russo home, yet another masterpiece built by John R. Corbin. He sold it, soon after it was erected in 1905, to a remarkable couple. Oscar Lawrence Williams grew up on the American frontier in his father’s Dakota Territory hotel, while his Southern Belle wife, Florence Bullington, traced her lineage back to Sir Richard le Forte, the leader of the Norman army at Hastings in 1066. Sir Richard’s heirs were the Fortescue family and in 1150, Lady Elizabeth Fortesque wed Sir John Crocker in Devon, England, further cementing ties between the French Normans and English Anglo-Saxons. Sir John Fortesque, another ancestor, served as the Lord Chancellor to King Henry VI. We could continue, but we're wanted back in the 21st Century, so let’s move on. 

1924 Florence & Otis Williams - Passport Photos

Oscar owned a successful dredging company which allowed the Williams to take many a “motor car” trip hither and yon in their Packard. During one such trip in early September of 1914, Florence’s sister and brother-in-law, Phoebe and Ben Kinsie, were house-sitting, asleep on the second floor. 

1910 John Bunny-Vitagraph Star

Two burglars broke in with socks taken from a backyard clothesline they wrapped around their shoes to muffle the sound. After chloroforming the Kinsies, they began pocketing jewelry until the barking of a neighbor’s dog interrupted the thievery. The next day the press reported that the socks and the dog both belonged to John Bunny at 1416 Glenwood Road. Bunny was the most famous actor of his time, a former Broadway star who was then making dozens of short film comedies at the Vitagraph Studios, located at Avenue M, two short stops away on the Brighton line. When Bunny died a year later, the New York Times headline read: "John Bunny, Movie Funmaker: Fat, Big, Round-Faced Actor Who Made Millions Laugh Succumbs at 52."

116 Year Old Smokestack

The Vitagraph smokestack still stands at Locust Ave & E 15th St as an enduring reminder of the film studio that once thrived from 1906 to 1939. Alas, Ben’s misfortune continued. On Friday evening, November 1st, 1918, he was on his way from the Kinsies’ Washington Heights apartment to join Phoebe and the Williams on Glenwood Road for the weekend. But his Brighton-bound train derailed near the Prospect Park station, killing Ben and 92 other Brooklynites (four from West Midwood) in what became known as the Malbone Street Wreck, resulting in the renaming of Malbone Street as Empire Boulevard and the bankruptcy of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, replaced by the BMT. 

1918 Nov 1 Malbone Street Wreck

Ben was waked in the Williams house. A heartbroken Phoebe would die there a year later. Although the family was Episcopal, Rabbi Nathan Krauss presided at both wakes. Over the years, the Williams clan had attended the Rabbi’s sermons at Brooklyn and Manhattan Synagogues, bonding over his support for Florence’s Suffragette activities. By 1919, in recognition of her organizational skills, Florence became the district captain for the Republican Party in Flatbush. 

In May of 1930 Oscar died in his home following a short bout with pneumonia. A year later Florence sold the house to Levin Melson, a 57-year-old mortgage lawyer, then renting 794 Argyle Road. Among Melson’s large dysfunctional household, a 10-year-old grandson, Henry Stommel, was his favorite. 

1932 Henry Stommel Outside 1410 Glenwood 

Levin, who had struggled with alcohol most of his life, nevertheless managed to instill in the boy an avid interest in science, aided by a subscription to Popular Mechanics magazine. Henry was also fortunate to be attending public schools at a time when many highly educated, inspirational Brooklynites had sought security during the Depression as teachers. Henry Stommel went on to become the most important oceanographer of the 20th Century. Most obituaries would cite his ground-breaking study of the Gulf Stream on Cape Cod and its impact on understanding global climate. More on him later. 

When Henry’s grandfather died, the house was sold in November of 1935 to Marie Kearney and John Cottle who turned it into The Glenwood Convalescent Home. 

Weekly ads in Brooklyn newspapers advertised the house as “ideal for aged chronic convalescents, rates reasonable,” until February of 1937 when the Home moved west a block to 1312 Glenwood Road. 

1936 Jan 13 Photo of cozy spot at convalescent home (Brooklyn Eagle ad).
(The "Results!" were more customers, thanks to the ads, not better health.)

1940 NYC "Tax Photo" of 1410 Glenwood Road. 

1948: Mrs Landau on 1st floor 

 The house then passed to Aaron Klein, a  Poland-born real estate broker, and his extended family. As World War II ended, an accountant, Louis Landau, and his wife, Francis, bought the house.

 When their two sons moved out to raise their own families, the Landaus sold the home to a WWII vet, a liquor company executive, Joseph Borreca, and his Bensonhurst sweetheart, Anne. But business assignments forced Borreca to relocate and in 1965 he sold the house to Harold and Irma Asen. 

1978 Joseph Borreca

Harold Asen and his brother Milton were real estate developers in Mill Basin. Harold became President of the New York City Builders Association and a founding member of Mayor John Lindsey’s Building Industry Council, advising the City on housing issues. He and Milton also partnered with Brooklyn Union Gas to create their “Cinderella Projects,” renovating old buildings to showcase the use of gas for fireplaces, lighting, and cooking. 

1974: Mrs Evelyn Goodwin Potter 

In 1974 the Asens sold the house to Neil and Evelyn Goodwin Potter. Not much is known about Neil but Evelyn, like Florence fifty years before, was a glass-ceiling buster. At Downstate Medical Center she rose from a file clerk in 1954 to Assistant to the President in 1967. Months after her move to Glenwood Road (inspired by the spirit of Florence?), she created a new position for herself as Director of Public Affairs and then formed a professional organization for press secretaries. Following the death of her husband, Evelyn sold the home to Ron and Diane Russo in February of 1981. 

1983 NYC "Tax Photo" (Contrast with 2022's greener photo below).

Diane was a NYC school teacher and a reading specialist. Upon retirement, she became the Treasurer of the Flatbush Development Corp and graciously made her house available for West Midwood Progressive Dinners and community gatherings for many years. Ron served as an Assistant US Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, working on official corruption cases before moving on to become First Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Investigation during the Koch administration. Upon leaving government, he went into private practice and has practiced criminal defense, primarily in federal courts. 

Ron & Diane

Among Ron's many accomplishments, Broadway fans will appreciate this one. In 2012, a much-anticipated major musical called “Rebecca” collapsed on the eve of rehearsals when millions of dollars promised by European investors never materialized. Ron investigated on behalf of the producers and found that a flim-flam man had painstakingly concocted every one of the foreign investors in order to collect $60,000 in fees. The FBI, with whom Ron worked on this caper, put it this way: “A convincing portrayal on stage can earn you a Tony, but a convincing act that fleeces a Broadway production can earn you a prison term.” 

Diane and Ron have many fond memories of their home, particularly watching their son, Ron W, grow up in a wonderful neighborhood that survived the City’s decline and a bout with red lining to remain an urban oasis. Ron W. is a proud graduate of P.S. 217, Poly Prep, and Colby College in Maine. He is now the COO and the General Partner for a number of companies. 

1992

One of their most vivid recollections occurred on a cold winter’s day in 1992 when they noticed an old-timer snapping photos of their house from the street. His name was Robert Law, a childhood friend of a former resident, Henry. The Russos gave him a tour of their home and in the third-floor bedroom he remembered a puppet theatre “right over in that corner!” He said that Henry was dying in Massachusetts and wanted one last look at his childhood home. When Ron asked who Henry was, Law replied, “Why he’s the guy who discovered the Gulf Stream!” Soon thereafter the Russos chanced upon Henry Stommel’s obituary in the New York Times where Henry’s extraordinary scientific achievements were recounted. Upon calling Law to express his condolences, Ron learned that Henry got the photos of his old home just before he passed away. "They made him very happy."

2022: Home Sweet Home