Class _fc Book FS £ Gop)Tight N°_ CA L_ M2 -**>U COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. "JS^ i-ATtsX. JLATBUSH, properly the 29th Ward of the Borough of Brooklyn has been justly called Brooklyn's Garden. The old Dutch farms, that have been so carefully tilled for over 250 years, have at last given way to beautiful gardens and level lawns surrounding palatial homes, the abode of some of Brooklyn's worthiest men. With interest we trace the links that bind the past and the present, leading forward to even better and greater things. Flatbush was endowed with virgin forests, fertile plains, a healthful climate and the best water to be found anywhere. To these, man has added nearness to the greatest city this side the sea, a perfect sewerage, all conveniences of gas and electricity, together with transportation, parks and schools unexcelled. The old Dutch Boers, who founded a community here in 1634 on the old Indian trail which led from New Amersfoort, later Flatlands, over the hills to a place not far from the present foot of Joralemon street, could not have realized the importance of the undertaking, that some day that trail would become the important Flatbush Avenue of our time. Asphalted, lighted by electricity, traversed by trolley, and a part of it at least by subway, and lined with three and four story buildings. This little settlement contains to-day more churches than all America, North and South combined, contained at that time. You can go among her inhabitants and you will find descendants of these same men, who lived here 250 years ago, occupying places of prominence in the community. Lying adjacent to Prospect Park the people of Flatbush have been benefited by one of the finest parks in the world. The educational facilities too are unsurpassed. Erasmus Hall, one of the best High Schools in Greater New York, was formerly a private academy organized in 1787, and has always kept to a high standard. To-day a beautiful building in Gothic architecture partly houses the school, but the old building is still retained to help accommodate the 1600 young men and women who attend. A fine Public Library occupies a beautiful building erected on Linden avenue, just to the rear of the Flatbush Trust Company's magnificent home. Their grounds join and are kept similar to a park. This building was erected through the generosity of Mr. Andrew Carnegie and the library was originally collected by some of Flatbush's patriotic women. Two institutes of finance are required to attend to the banking business of the community. The Flatbush Trust Company is the older and its assets reach nearly four million. Mr. John Z. Lott is the able and active President of this Company. The Prospect Park Bank is several years younger and has also had a remarkable growth under the Presidency of William E. Harmon, a noted real estate operator. The club life of Flatbush has always taken a social course rather than a literary trend, although societies for this : , purpose abound. The Knickerbocker Field Club has a fine house, an active organization and a talented dramatic corp. :.: The Midwood Club preserves for posterity in a pleasant social way the grand old Clarkson Mansion. The Cortelyou Club, the youngest of the three, owns its own house on Bedford avenue. The old Association of Volunteer Firemen is now preserved in a social organization on Church avenue. These with many more of less prominence keep up a series of social events during the winter. In fact, there is some social event every night, and those to whom this means much feel that there is more in Flatbush for the average man than in the great cities. Civic Associations keep up the fight for improvements and Flatbush owes much to their good work. This is specially true of the Flatbush Taxpayers' Association, one of the largest associations in the city. Other associations have done good work but this one is the leader of all. Flatbush real estate has been the cause of much prosperity. A wonderful advance in values has taken place and dealers claim that the future advances will be greater than those that have occurred in the past. This is no doubt true, for in time and distance Flatbush land is held far below land on Manhattan Island. The day is fast approaching when Flatbush will be not only the geographical center of Kings County, but the center of population as well. The real estate valuation of Flatbush has swelled from $368,657 in 1817 to $45,300,390 in 1906. It has since increased at enormous strides every year. One farm sold some eight or nine years ago for the total valuation of 18 17. Flatbush has sent her sons to occupy positions in all branches of public life and they have been an honor to her. They have stood the test, and having stood the test, Flatbush has fittingly rewarded them. BlIBHID AND COPVAIOHTtD, 1 BOB, I CHARLES ANDREW D1TMAS Brooklyn - New Yon* THM AIBKkTYrB Cu., thUOKLvN, /T"i« ST. MARK'S M. E. CHURCH. ERASMUS HALL HIGH SCHOOL. OLD DITMAS— GREEN HOUSE. ■£&<•-■*+.& :7: DITMAS AVENUE. 8UQ8Y ROAD. fW''; ( J< S--VT '» ■ RUGBY ROAD SEAR CHURCH AVENUE 3EVERLEY ROAD. OCEAN AVENUE ENTRANCE TO PROSPECT PARK. 5 W8 , COPY. DEL. TO CAT. OIV. DEC 5 1908 BUflflfluouwwf?ftftnnnnp oooooQOQOQOBooooQoo« WHiiKiftfinfWwwiw