ACCORDING to a Facebook post by the Tuffet Wine Bar on Graham Avenue north of Grand in Williamsburg, realtor Jacob M. Aufrecht walked the planet from 12/12/1903-2/7/1961. (Thus, I’ve now outlasted him.) When I began photography for Forgotten New York in 1998, two reminders of his existence could be found in Brooklyn, decades after his passing. The title shot is in glorious Kodachrome as I was still using film cameras. I was waiting for some friends at Union and Metropolitan Avenues at the Kellogg Diner, and I spotted these glorious painted ads on the opposite building, the bigger one for Harry’s Department Store. Unfortunately the house number on the ad was too faded to make out; but it was located on Graham Avenue, several blocks away.
Update: Harry’s was located at #356 Graham, north of Metropolitan; here’s a 1940 tax photo.
The other ad is for our friend Jacob Aufrecht, whose real estate business was at #286 Graham Avenue, just north of Grand, also several blocks away, now the location of the Tuffet Wine Bar. Why does the bar preserve the long ago tenant’s memory? Stay tuned.
In any case I’m glad I had the camera at the ready since just a few years later, all trace of the ads had vanished. However, the ghost of the plastic lettered Liquor sign remains, even after the letters have fallen off.
Here’s the Aufrecht office in 1940. At the time he was partnered with an individual named Westervelt Prentice. They don’t name people like that anymore. Many years ago, I was slumped in a bus trundling south on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, and when I was jarred awake for a second, I spied a window with the name “Preston Hazlewood” on it. Like I said, they don’t name people the way they used to.
By the way, Jacob Aufrecht’s name appears in the wedding notices of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 20, 1929.
I fired this shot at 286 Graham some years before the Tuffet wine bar occupied the space; however, a recent Street View avers that the metallic Jacob. M. Aufrecht name is still there. Apparently it would be expensive to dislodge it. Aufrecht hasn’t occupied the storefront since at least 1961, and the Tuffet apparently intends to keep the letters right where they are.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/25/25