From Brownstoner:We are in the midst of a renovation of our brownstone in Ft. Greene and made a fascinating discovery in our backyard. The contractors were digging a hole to pour the footings for an extension and new deck and they stumbled across the opening of an old well. The well is approximately 8 to 10 feet deep and is made of stone. I'd like to get readers' opinions about the use of and history of wells in Brownstone Brooklyn. Also, I'd like to get readers' suggestions about what I should do with it...I am interested in hearing ideas about preserving the well or maybe some creative way of incorporating it into our backyard or renovation. I'd hate to just cover it up because it's a pretty cool discovery.
12 comments:
Give us an address and we can look it up on old maps.
This could be an old water well or former privy - if a privy then you would see lots of glass, old cerermics etc. If this is a water well see if you can restore the area to attach a pump to pull out water for your garden. Otherwise build a secure enclosure so that no one falls in the opening.
Wonder where the water table is in that area (no address).
8 feet is kind of shallow for a well.
I think its an old outhouse or water storage
My Grandfather found one of these in the yard in Ridgewood.(1920's Stire house)
He had been digging a trench to extend the houses gas line outside for a stove in the yard.
My uncle and he had 100's of tomato plants and liked to make and can vats of tomato sauce during peak summer (also wiskeys and Grappa). I still have some big old pots and coils out in Mattituck.
Anyway there was nothing but clam shells, nails and remains of old garbage in the hole.
Turn it into a sauna or hot tub.
these places are valuable archological sites - a history of the community is found at the bottom of this.
i am serious. people used to throw into these wells all sorts of garbage.
it should be researched if possible.
If it were on my property, I would consider building one of those roofed wells with bucket, rope and hand crank.
Plus a stone wall around the well, 3 or so feet high. Even if there were no more well water, it would make an attractive garden ornament.
Its probably a dry well, water is redirect from the roof of a house to the dry well. check if there are any piped leading from the house into it.
Your brownstone renovation is so fascinating. I hope you're getting one of those professional ranges. Please keep us posted about everything you do and think.
fill it back up and don't tell anyone else about it, otherwise some city agency will get involved and mess your life up...
It's not a WATER well . It's an old Dry well u stupid idiots. For the back yard to keep it dry.
ew-3 said...
fill it back up and don't tell anyone else about it, otherwise some city agency will get involved and mess your life up...
Friday, May 15, 2009
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Once again, knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
some people just need to learn the value of sarcasm...
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