#WhereinAlbany Bleecker Place, Mansion Historic District

Last week’s #WhereinAlbany was two tremendous twins located on Bleecker Place (not to be confused with Bleecker Street located in the Pastures).

The houses on this street were built 1849-51, and there are 15 properties of a similar, simplistic style with touches and nods to Greek Revival & Italianate architecture; both popular in the country at the time.

Some of the homes feature eyebrow dormers (“small arched window that projects into the roof to allow light into an upper story”) as well as simple wooden cornices and pitched roofs. They are 3 bay, frame houses.

Did you know?

This street is part of the Mansion Historic District which was designated in 1982 in the south of the city, so-called due to proximity to the New York State Executive Mansion, the official home of Governors since 1875. This neighborhood was originally known for being the first suburban area in the city, with many wealthy families choosing to build their homes here during the last 18th Century. It borders the South End Historic District.

From Wikipedia: Bleecker is a Dutch-language occupational surname. Bleecker is an old spelling of (linnen)bleker ("linen bleacher"). Most if not all people listed below are descendants of Jan Jansen Bleecker/Bleeker, who came to New Amsterdam in 1658