in Brooklyn

Edmund Vincent Gillon’s Brooklyn: Capturing Architectural Details of the 1970s

The 1970s were a turbulent time for New York City. Facing economic hardship and social unrest, many saw the city as a symbol of urban decay. Yet, amidst the challenges, a vibrant spirit persisted, particularly in the borough of Brooklyn. Photographer Edmund Vincent Gillon, with his keen eye and dedication to documenting architectural details, captured this era in a series of striking black and white photographs. His work offers a fascinating glimpse into a Brooklyn that was both gritty and full of life, a borough on the brink of transformation.

He documented the brownstones with their peeling paint, the storefronts with their faded signs, the streets bustling with activity. He captured the essence of a working-class borough, a place where life was lived out in the open, on stoops and sidewalks, in parks and playgrounds.

One of the most striking aspects of Gillon’s work is his attention to architectural detail. He had a deep appreciation for the history and craftsmanship of Brooklyn’s buildings. He photographed ornate cornices, intricate ironwork, and grand entryways, preserving these details for future generations. He captured the beauty of old churches, synagogues, and public buildings, often juxtaposing them with the surrounding urban landscape. This contrast highlighted the borough’s rich architectural heritage, even as it faced challenges.

While Gillon’s photographs often focused on the built environment, he also captured the natural beauty of Brooklyn. He photographed the borough’s parks and green spaces, showcasing the trees, flowers, and waterways that offered respite from the urban hustle. He documented the changing seasons, from the snow-covered streets of winter to the leafy green canopies of summer. These images remind us that even in a densely populated urban environment, nature finds a way to thrive.

#3 Looking east on Broadway from Bedford Avenue and South 6th Street, 1975

Looking east on Broadway from Bedford Avenue and South 6th Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#4 Looking north from beneath the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society walkway to the Brooklyn Bridge, 1975

Looking north from beneath the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society walkway to the Brooklyn Bridge, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#5 Looking east toward the corner of Old Fulton and Water Streets from the edge of the East River, 1975

Looking east toward the corner of Old Fulton and Water Streets from the edge of the East River, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#6 Long Island Safe Deposit Company building and Bankside Boon Dock bar and restaurant, 1974

Long Island Safe Deposit Company building and Bankside Boon Dock bar and restaurant, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#7 Looking west across the grounds of the Empire Stores, 53-83 Water Street, 1975

Looking west across the grounds of the Empire Stores, 53-83 Water Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#11 Looking north on Clinton Street from Schermerhorn Street to Packer Collegiate Institute Middle School, 1978

Looking north on Clinton Street from Schermerhorn Street to Packer Collegiate Institute Middle School, 1978

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#13 Looking north on Monroe Place toward Cadman Towers at 101 Clark Street, 1978

Looking north on Monroe Place toward Cadman Towers at 101 Clark Street, 1978

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#14 Looking south on Clinton Street from Schermerhorn Street, 1977

Looking south on Clinton Street from Schermerhorn Street, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#18 Eastern Parkway façade of the Brooklyn Museum, 1970

Eastern Parkway façade of the Brooklyn Museum, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#20 Beach and boardwalk on Coney Island in the vicinity of West 12th-22nd Streets, 1975

Beach and boardwalk on Coney Island in the vicinity of West 12th-22nd Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#21 Beach and boardwalk on Coney Island in the vicinity of West 12th-22nd Streets, 1975

Beach and boardwalk on Coney Island in the vicinity of West 12th-22nd Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#23 Hicks Street façade of 36 Pierrepont Street, 1970

Hicks Street façade of 36 Pierrepont Street, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#24 East side of Hicks Street between Pineapple and Clark Streets, 1970

East side of Hicks Street between Pineapple and Clark Streets, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#25 166 Montague Street seen from Clinton Street, 1978

166 Montague Street seen from Clinton Street, 1978

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#29 Long Island Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, 1977

Long Island Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#30 South side of Remsen Street between Henry and Clinton Streets, 1978

South side of Remsen Street between Henry and Clinton Streets, 1978

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#31 North side of Remsen Street between Hicks Street and Montague Terrace, 1970

North side of Remsen Street between Hicks Street and Montague Terrace, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#33 Looking west from Brooklyn Bridge Park to the houses on Montague Terrace, 1970

Looking west from Brooklyn Bridge Park to the houses on Montague Terrace, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#38 Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 55 Cranberry Street, 1979

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 55 Cranberry Street, 1979

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#43 North side of State Street between Clinton and Court Streets, 1977

North side of State Street between Clinton and Court Streets, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#52 Looking west over the East River from Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, 1975

Looking west over the East River from Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#55 Columbia Heights between Clark and Pierrepont Streets, 1975

Columbia Heights between Clark and Pierrepont Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#56 Statue of Henry Ward Beecher in front of the Downtown Brooklyn post office, 1976

Statue of Henry Ward Beecher in front of the Downtown Brooklyn post office, 1976

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#65 State Street between Clinton and Court Streets, 1975

State Street between Clinton and Court Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#66 Michael Vanderhoef house, 40 Hicks Street, and Joseph Bennett house, 38 Hicks Street, 1975

Michael Vanderhoef house, 40 Hicks Street, and Joseph Bennett house, 38 Hicks Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#68 West side of Columbia Heights between Pierrepont and Clark Streets, 1970

West side of Columbia Heights between Pierrepont and Clark Streets, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#69 Long Island Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, 1977

Long Island Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#70 Statue of Henry Ward Beecher near the Downtown Brooklyn post office, 1976

Statue of Henry Ward Beecher near the Downtown Brooklyn post office, 1976

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#72 St. Ann’s and the Holy Trinity Church, 157 Montague Street, 1975

St. Ann's and the Holy Trinity Church, 157 Montague Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#73 Looking north on Clinton Street from between Livingston and Schermerhorn Streets, 1975

Looking north on Clinton Street from between Livingston and Schermerhorn Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#76 Brick houses at 155, 157, and 159 Willow Street, 1975

Brick houses at 155, 157, and 159 Willow Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#78 Brooklyn Bar Association, 123 Remsen Street, 1977

Brooklyn Bar Association, 123 Remsen Street, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#79 North side of Remsen Street between Hicks Street and Montague Terrace, 1970

North side of Remsen Street between Hicks Street and Montague Terrace, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#84 Brooklyn Historical Society and Saint Ann’s School, 1975

Brooklyn Historical Society and Saint Ann's School, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#87 The Berkeley, 111-113 Montague Street, and the Grosvenor, 115-117 Montague Street, 1975

The Berkeley, 111-113 Montague Street, and the Grosvenor, 115-117 Montague Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#89 Looking northeast toward the rooftop of the Empire Stores and the Manhattan Bridge, 1975

Looking northeast toward the rooftop of the Empire Stores and the Manhattan Bridge, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#91 Looking west down Old Fulton Street to the Long Island Safe Deposit Company building and Bankside Boon Dock bar and restaurant, 1974

Looking west down Old Fulton Street to the Long Island Safe Deposit Company building and Bankside Boon Dock bar and restaurant, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#92 View of Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights Promenade, 1970s

View of Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights Promenade, 1970s

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#94 Federal-style wood frame house and garden wall, 24 Middagh Street, 1970

Federal-style wood frame house and garden wall, 24 Middagh Street, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#95 West side of Hicks Street between Clark and Pineapple Streets, 1970

West side of Hicks Street between Clark and Pineapple Streets, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#98 First Presbyterian Church, 124 Henry Street, 1975

First Presbyterian Church, 124 Henry Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#103 North side of Broadway between Berry Street and Bedford Avenue, 1975

North side of Broadway between Berry Street and Bedford Avenue, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#105 Eagle Warehouse & Storage Co., 28 Old Fulton Street, 1975

Eagle Warehouse & Storage Co., 28 Old Fulton Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#106 Looking west over the East River from Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, 1970

Looking west over the East River from Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#107 View looking west over the East River toward Lower Manhattan from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1979

View looking west over the East River toward Lower Manhattan from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1979

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#108 Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, 1979

Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, 1979

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#110 Walentas Building, Sweeney Building and Empire Stores seen from the East River, 1974

Walentas Building, Sweeney Building and Empire Stores seen from the East River, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#111 Looking north on Everit Street toward the Waterfront Restaurant and McCann’s Bar & Grill, 1975

Looking north on Everit Street toward the Waterfront Restaurant and McCann's Bar & Grill, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#112 Waterfront Restaurant, Water Street and Old Fulton Street, 1975

Waterfront Restaurant, Water Street and Old Fulton Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#113 View looking north over the East River from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1975

View looking north over the East River from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#114 South side of Pierrepont Street between Hicks and Henry Streets, 1975

South side of Pierrepont Street between Hicks and Henry Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#118 Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Citibank and American Bank & Trust Company, 1976

Manufacturers Hanover Trust, Citibank and American Bank & Trust Company, 1976

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#119 Bedford Avenue façade of the Smith Building, 123 South 8th Street, 1977

Bedford Avenue façade of the Smith Building, 123 South 8th Street, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#122 Statue of Henry Ward Beecher near the Downtown Brooklyn post office, 1976

Statue of Henry Ward Beecher near the Downtown Brooklyn post office, 1976

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#123 Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 55 Cranberry Street, 1979

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 55 Cranberry Street, 1979

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#127 Shuttered warehouse windows of the Empire Stores, 53-83 Water Street, 1975

Shuttered warehouse windows of the Empire Stores, 53-83 Water Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#128 Looking southeast toward Old Fulton and Water Streets from the edge of the East River, 1975

Looking southeast toward Old Fulton and Water Streets from the edge of the East River, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#129 Looking northwest along Old Fulton Street to Waterfront Restaurant, 1975

Looking northwest along Old Fulton Street to Waterfront Restaurant, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#130 Looking west on Old Fulton Street across the East River to Lower Manhattan, 1975

Looking west on Old Fulton Street across the East River to Lower Manhattan, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#131 Old Fulton Street between Front and Water Streets, 1975

Old Fulton Street between Front and Water Streets, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#132 Long Island Safe Deposit Company building and Whitehouse Bar & Grill, 1974

Long Island Safe Deposit Company building and Whitehouse Bar & Grill, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#135 4 Water Street and 2 Water Street, originally Franklin House hotel, 1975

4 Water Street and 2 Water Street, originally Franklin House hotel, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#136 Looking northeast over the East River from a warehouse window of Empire Stores to Manhattan’s Lower East Side, 1974

Looking northeast over the East River from a warehouse window of Empire Stores to Manhattan's Lower East Side, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#137 Empire Stores, 53-83 Water Street, with the clock tower of the Walentas Building in the background, 1974

Empire Stores, 53-83 Water Street, with the clock tower of the Walentas Building in the background, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#138 View of Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights Promenade, 1972

View of Lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights Promenade, 1972

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#141 Looking west over the East River from Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, 1970

Looking west over the East River from Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, 1970

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#143 “Manhattan” granite statue on the Eastern Parkway façade of the Brooklyn Museum, 1976

"Manhattan" granite statue on the Eastern Parkway façade of the Brooklyn Museum, 1976

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#144 Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1977

Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1977

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#146 Jehovah’s Witnesses dormitory and library facility, 119 Columbia Heights, 1975

Jehovah's Witnesses dormitory and library facility, 119 Columbia Heights, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#147 First Presbyterian Church, 124 Henry Street, 1973

First Presbyterian Church, 124 Henry Street, 1973

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#148 Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Cathedral, 113 Remsen Street, 1980

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Cathedral, 113 Remsen Street, 1980

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#152 Long Island Safe Deposit Company building, 1 Front Street, 1974

Long Island Safe Deposit Company building, 1 Front Street, 1974

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#154 Three brick carriage houses at 280, 282, and 284 Hicks Street, 1975

Three brick carriage houses at 280, 282, and 284 Hicks Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#157 View looking west over the East River toward Lower Manhattan from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1979

View looking west over the East River toward Lower Manhattan from what is now Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, 1979

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#159 Parish house, arcade, and gardens of the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, 75 Hicks Street, 1975

Parish house, arcade, and gardens of the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, 75 Hicks Street, 1975

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

Written by Adriana Palmer

Blogger, Editor and Environmentalist. A writer by day and an enthusiastic reader by night. Following the Jim Roh's prophecy “Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.”

Leave a Reply

Comment using name and email. Or Register an account

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings