I guess it's fitting at this time of the year (Halloween) to talk about some of the houses in Brooklyn. Growing up I just knew they were old. I felt for sure some were haunted. All houses have history - many have mysteries as well. I may have to put that in another post.
All the house were connected, so you could walk across the roofs. We never called them row houses. The front steps is a stoop. To enter the house from outside to the second floor required a flight of steps leading up to the front door, known
as the stoop. Because this is the predominant architectural style in Brooklyn, there are a lot of stoops. It was the place to hang out, especially during warm weather. We waited for the Good Humor ice cream truck in the evening. Waited for the crew to show up, before heading to the park, playing "stoop ball" or having a game of 
stickball in the middle of the street. There were not that many cars driving through the block. The stoop also served as one of the bases. Wasn't usual to hear the older people in the hood yelling such expressions as "Fugheddaboudit", "Oy Vey!" and "Schmuck" at the kids who seem to be in their way during these games.
These same old buildings are worth millions today. Many of the people living in the brownstones are there by choice, not born in Brooklyn. Houses are being renovated to be more "green." There even walking tours of neighborhoods.
FREE EVENT- 2008 Street Games
Brownstone owners often find themselves stumped as to the 'what and why' of a house feature. First the yard had no grass, front or back. If there was a tree out front, there may have been a little grass around the tree. Probably not! Growing up, I didn't realize the gate and fence surrounding the front yard was antique iron. The gate was something to swing on.
All the house were connected, so you could walk across the roofs. We never called them row houses. The front steps is a stoop. To enter the house from outside to the second floor required a flight of steps leading up to the front door, known
as the stoop. Because this is the predominant architectural style in Brooklyn, there are a lot of stoops. It was the place to hang out, especially during warm weather. We waited for the Good Humor ice cream truck in the evening. Waited for the crew to show up, before heading to the park, playing "stoop ball" or having a game of 
stickball in the middle of the street. There were not that many cars driving through the block. The stoop also served as one of the bases. Wasn't usual to hear the older people in the hood yelling such expressions as "Fugheddaboudit", "Oy Vey!" and "Schmuck" at the kids who seem to be in their way during these games.These same old buildings are worth millions today. Many of the people living in the brownstones are there by choice, not born in Brooklyn. Houses are being renovated to be more "green." There even walking tours of neighborhoods.
FREE EVENT- 2008 Street Games
Kids, teens, and parents, take advantage of this chance to learn and play “old school” games like:
Stick Ball
Stick Ball
Stoop Ball
Box Ball
Box Ball
Skully
Hopscotch
Hopscotch
Jacks
Double-Dutch
Red Light, Green Light
Double-Dutch
Red Light, Green Light
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