In the late 19th and early 20th century, Clinton Hill attracted many wealthy industrialists and merchants. The stately homes built by the Pratts, the Pfizers, and the Bedfords during this period included Underwood’s red brick and brownstone house, with a glass-enclosed greenhouse.
The original Underwood home and property were donated to Parks in four parcels between 1951 and 1953, at which time the mansion and greenhouse were demolished to make room for the neighborhood park. The park was named for its donors and was opened to the public on May 30, 1956.
Always been a fan of this quaint little park as it bears Suzy’s family name. Her grandfather was the son of a Polish immigrant who embarked on a business needing a more gentrified name - he took note of the name of his trusty typewriter and kept it as his own. This brought her a sense of nostalgia and a serendipitous hint that she had chosen a great neighborhood to call her own.
Please take a look at the house next to the park on Washington Avenue as it has rich history as well. Built in 1851 as the home of the Brooklyn Society for the Relief of Respectable Aged Indigent Females, this 4 story home saw many incarnations over the years. However, by the 1960s, there was another kind of lady residing in the building, which by then had become a notorious hot-pillow joint, the Bull Shippers Plaza Motor Inn. It remained a seedy establishment until shutting down in 1985.
When Sam moved to town, the home was boarded up, painted black and remained empty through the 1990s, and its original charm as an Italianate brick building was long obscured by dilapidation. While it stood abandoned, the building appeared to be something of a haunted house to neighbors and it also became a large canvas for graffiti artists. In the early 2000’s this home was turned into condos and the exterior restored to its original grandeur that can be seen today.
The cache is located inside the park so please use stealth as it is a popular spot for nannies and kids during the day and while the park officially closes at dusk, the gates remain unlatched. Camouflaged micro a la Sam & Suzy. unscrew only the lid. FTF gets gold!