The former Brooklyn Heights home of American Express founder Henry Wells asks $6.6M
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The former Brooklyn Heights home of American Express founder Henry Wells asks $6.6M

June 7, 2022

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

This Greek Revival townhouse at 158 Clinton Street in historic Brooklyn Heights, once home to American Express and Wells Fargo founder Henry Wells, is now on the market for $6,595,000. Built in 1847, the 25.5-foot-by-42-foot home presents a facade of red brick with brownstone sills and lintels, with five bedrooms, a parlor-floor deck and backyard, and a separate garden apartment.

Brownstone steps ascend to a front door of stained glass. The parlor floor is framed by 12-foot ceilings, oversized windows, plaster crown and picture moldings, marble mantels, operational shutters, wainscoting, and a wood-burning fireplace. Hand-nailed white oak flooring features inlaid mahogany borders.

The formal parlor living room opens into a dining room with built-in cabinetry and doors leading to the back deck. Both rooms have matching decorative fireplace mantles. Also on this floor are a windowed kitchen and a powder room.

Both the deck and the paved and planted backyard represent coveted urban outdoor space. The tranquil yard is surrounded by mature trees. A 107-foot-long lot means there’s plenty of room for lounging and entertaining.

Up an oval staircase lit by a circular skylight, the home’s second floor begins with a large casual family room at the front. The primary bedroom features an executive-worthy walk-in closet and equally spacious vintage en-suite bath.

On the third floor are three bedrooms (one with an en-suite bath) a half-bath and a laundry room. Above is a full attic. (Historic extra credit: Wells etched his name into the glass of a third-floor window in October of 1861.)

On the home’s garden floor is a charming two-bedroom apartment with hand-nailed floors, a spacious open kitchen with a pantry, two bathrooms, and backyard access. Both units have access to a full unfinished basement that houses the building’s mechanicals.

[At Brown Harris Stevens by Marc Schaeffer, Ari Harkov, and Warner Lewis]

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Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

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All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions are approximate. For exact dimensions, you must hire your own architect or engineer and for no listing shall the number of bedrooms listed be considered a legal conclusion.

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