Hotel Bossert
Encyclopedia
Hotel Bossert was once known as "the Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn
". It was the site of the celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World Series championship.
, at 98 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. It had an Italian Renaissance Revival-style exterior. It was designed as an apartment hotel. The design work was by Palmer & Hornbostel.
During the 1920s, the Hotel Bossert was known for its Marine Roof, a two-level restaurant on the roof of the 14-story building that provided diners with a commanding view of Manhattan. The hotel drew some attention in 1945, when Charles Armijo Woodruff
, the 11th Governor of American Samoa, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room there.
In the 1950s, the Bossert was the home of several Brooklyn Dodger players. Following the Brooklyn Dodgers' win over the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, Dodgers fans gathered in the Bossert lobby and serenaded Dodgers' manager Walter Alston
with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
".
began leasing space in the Bossert for use by Jehovah's Witnesses
. The Society bought the hotel in 1988. It required extensive restoration according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission standards for the historic district. The famed Marine Roof had collapsed, and a new roof had to be built. Also, the lobby was in poor condition, and over 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) of the marble had to be replaced. Watchtower went to the original quarry to replace it. That effort garnered praise and awards.
In late January 2008, the Society announced it would sell the building. The sale will be conducted through a private-bidding process, which could take months. One local realtor (Arlene Waye of Awaye Realty) estimated that the building would sell for about $100 million. Judi Stanton, the president of the Brooklyn Heights Association, remarked that “The Witnesses have done an exquisite job in maintaining the building." Timothy King, a senior partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services Brooklyn, agreed calling the hotel "one of the most unique and most well-maintained trophy assets in Brooklyn." He continued, "The Watchtower organization is well known for impeccable maintenance standards and the Bossert reflects this level of care. It will be a challenge for a new owner to run the building with the same level of care and attention to detail."
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
". It was the site of the celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World Series championship.
Early history
The hotel was built in 1909 by Louis Bossert, a Brooklyn lumber magnateBusiness magnate
A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
, at 98 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. It had an Italian Renaissance Revival-style exterior. It was designed as an apartment hotel. The design work was by Palmer & Hornbostel.
During the 1920s, the Hotel Bossert was known for its Marine Roof, a two-level restaurant on the roof of the 14-story building that provided diners with a commanding view of Manhattan. The hotel drew some attention in 1945, when Charles Armijo Woodruff
Charles Armijo Woodruff
Charles Armijo Woodruff was a United States Navy officer and the 11th Governor of American Samoa from December 6, 1914 to March 1, 1915. He captained multiple ships in both the Navy and the United States Merchant Marines. He served only briefly as governor, for a few months before ceding the...
, the 11th Governor of American Samoa, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room there.
In the 1950s, the Bossert was the home of several Brooklyn Dodger players. Following the Brooklyn Dodgers' win over the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, Dodgers fans gathered in the Bossert lobby and serenaded Dodgers' manager Walter Alston
Walter Alston
Walter Emmons Alston , nicknamed "Smokey," was an American baseball player and manager. He was born in Venice, Ohio but grew up in Darrtown. He is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he lettered three years in both basketball and baseball and is a member of the University's Hall...
with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
"For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" is a song which is sung to congratulate a person on a significant event, such as, a promotion, a birthday, the birth of a child, or the winning of a championship sporting event. The melody originates from that of the French song "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre...
".
Purchase by Watchtower and restoration
In 1983, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New YorkCorporations of Jehovah's Witnesses
A number of corporations are in use by Jehovah's Witnesses. They publish literature and perform other operational and administrative functions, representing the interests of the religious organization...
began leasing space in the Bossert for use by Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
. The Society bought the hotel in 1988. It required extensive restoration according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission standards for the historic district. The famed Marine Roof had collapsed, and a new roof had to be built. Also, the lobby was in poor condition, and over 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) of the marble had to be replaced. Watchtower went to the original quarry to replace it. That effort garnered praise and awards.
In late January 2008, the Society announced it would sell the building. The sale will be conducted through a private-bidding process, which could take months. One local realtor (Arlene Waye of Awaye Realty) estimated that the building would sell for about $100 million. Judi Stanton, the president of the Brooklyn Heights Association, remarked that “The Witnesses have done an exquisite job in maintaining the building." Timothy King, a senior partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services Brooklyn, agreed calling the hotel "one of the most unique and most well-maintained trophy assets in Brooklyn." He continued, "The Watchtower organization is well known for impeccable maintenance standards and the Bossert reflects this level of care. It will be a challenge for a new owner to run the building with the same level of care and attention to detail."