CDV of a Church of some Sort... NY

Another look, and it definitely says 'Christian'... Book? Referring to the Christian book of the Dead, perhaps? I hope this isn't all a red herring! I'll keep looking - hate to give up!

I took the liberty of converting Ladybranch's image to B&W:

 

I recently posted a photo on Facebook where I thought the handwritten person's surname on the back was Book, but it turned out to be Boak. Any chance of that on this one?

 

I showed this to my husband he immediately interpreted it as 'By Christian Rook of... ', meaning a person's name. So could easily be Boak, as in a surname.

 

Trying to catch-up on the forums since getting home. I was hoping someone had nailed this building by now. I haven't anything to add except to say in my reply #18 when I said:

Mr. Br. or R. Ck/l-j/g/y---- Roo-/Boo- in ---many/Germany

I should have said:

Mr. Br./R. Ck/l-j/g/y---- Roo-/Boo- in ---many/Germany

I really think I see at least "MR" before the Br/By/?. As to the "C" word it could be Christian or whatever to me. After the "C" word I do think I see a short 2 letter word that could be "in."

--- Susan

 

I also see the Mr. I think you are correct! So odd! Wish it was clear so we could easily have some information! Thank you all so much for the help!

 

This could be Russian Orthodox - the Finials on the building look like they could be russian orthodox crosses. But it is probably not a church - could be a parish house, parsonage, convent, etc. Does anyone know enough about the streetlights in brooklyn in this era? they could help date it.

 

>Does anyone know enough about the streetlights in brooklyn in this era?<

I had thought of that earlier, but really couldn't pin them down. These streetlights/streetlamps are not clear enough for a distinct comparison. Following is a NYC 1900 street scene showing a streetlight that looks similar, but can't tell for certain. The real reason I'm including the pic is how "disturbing" the picture is. The pic caption is "Close of a Career."
2nd pic of boys and dead horse:
http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2010/07/cable-cars-trolleys-and-monorails.html

Link directly to the pic:
http://www.boweryboyshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/1900-close-of-a-career.jpg

I also thought about the condition of the road. The road in the CDV looks unpaved with neither brick or cobblestone. In the mid 1800s most streets of NYC were not paved, but I would have thought by c1900 the streets of NYC, Brooklyn, would have been paved with something like brick, cobblestone, etc.
http://forgotten-ny.com/1998/08/bri...oklyn-jamaica-bay-ridge-and-the-west-village/

I also noted the doors on the building. They are plain unadorned paneled doors that seem to have gone out-of-their-way to not included any Christian symbolism. Most plain unadorned doors relating to a Christian institution are some type of "Cross & Bible door" AKA Christian door. The C & B doors are paneled doors with cross(es) on the top and open bibles on the bottom or the other way around.
http://historichouseblog.com/2009/01/29/the-christian-or-cross-bible-historic-door/

The each side of the doors on this building have 2 long narrow rectangle panels on the top and 2 shorted panels on the bottom. To me these narrow panels look like symbols for the Torah.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/c3/b9/33c3b94e607d2767509dfb678839635c.jpg

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/the-jewish-thinker/.premium-1.550377
Directly to pic:
http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/..._gen/derivatives/landscape_640/4189787574.jpg

Scroll about 1/2 way down the page to the pic of "Torah ark from Tekkumbhagam" - 3rd pic down:
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full...ife-all-but-vanished-indian-jewish-community/
http://www.jweekly.com/images/uploads/v_photos_2013/o9_13_13/Aglobal_india_ark_normal_size.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Door_of_the_Great_Synagogue,_Gibraltar.jpg

Also lack of anything Christian on the building as a whole. Those finials on the roof are not crosses. Most fraternal orders such as Masonic, Knights of Columbus, etc. seem to have some sort of Christian symbol.

--- Susan

 

I can perhaps add something. The streetlight is a variant of a Welsbach lamp. Unfortunately, they are all over the place -- even today.

 

I have sent a pic to the New York Historical Society, maybe they can help. But not sure how long it will take.

Update you with any info!