Lefferts-Laidlaw House
Why it's listed
Set on a small rise on the west side of Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn's Wallabout area, this two-story frame house is fronted by a pedimented portico in the manner of a Greek temple. A one-story ell and a rear extension, which incorporates remnants of an earlier small house, complete the building. Rem Lefferts and John Laidlaw bought the lot in 1836, and directories suggest the house was built around 1840. It later served several members of Brooklyn's merchant and professional class. Its design follows patterns popularized by period builders' guides, with corner pilasters, a decorated entrance surround, carved rosettes, acanthus moldings and marble mantels. A semi-circular bluestone walk and part of the original iron fence survive in the front yard. The nomination calls it possibly the only temple-fronted Greek Revival residence left in Kings County, and a reminder of Brooklyn's shift from Dutch farmland to dense urban neighborhoods near the Navy Yard. Restoration work is under way, guided by early photographs.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare surviving freestanding, temple-fronted Greek Revival residence in Brooklyn and possibly the only one left in Kings County. It carries sophisticated Greek-inspired ornament inside and out and retains a bluestone walk and part of an original fence. It also recalls Wallabout's growth after the Brooklyn Navy Yard was established.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85002279, listed September 12, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 136 Clinton St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | September 12, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002279 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates c. 1840-1855) |
| Architect / builder | Rem Lefferts & John Laidlaw |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; undergoing a complete restoration, with synthetic siding being removed and missing ornament replicated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.69376, -73.96908 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85002279.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6516651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.