Quarters A, also known as the Commandant's House, is a historic house on Evans Street in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. Built beginning in 1805, it remains a prominent example of Federal architecture in New York City. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974 for its association with Matthew C. Perry, who served as commandant of the adjacent Brooklyn Navy Yard from 1841 to 1843. Perry is credited with improving the Navy's steamship navigation, the education of enlisted men and commissioned officers, and the nation's lighthouse service.
The house was built as the quarters for the commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Perry led an expedition to Japan in 1854, compelling the nation to open its borders to the West. The house is situated on a bluff overlooking the western side of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and is accessed via a gated drive at the junction of Little and Evans Streets. It is a three and a half stories wood-frame building finished in wooden clapboards.
The interior's original main block retains Federal period architectural details, including leaded front entry sidelight windows and carved wooden paneling. The original block was built in 1805-06, supposedly designed by Charles Bulfinch and John McComb, Jr. While the house has undergone various additions in 1860, 1904, and 1936, the interior also contains wooden floorboards that have been covered by other flooring.
The property was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974 while the Navy Yard was still active. It was privately purchased by Charles Gilbert and Jennifer Jones in 1997. The house stands today as a significant historical site in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Kyle McLonely
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