The Ditmas Park Word: Scott & Samantha Anderson On Building A Life Together, A Century Of History In Their Home & More
From new transplants hailing from places across the city, country and globe to residents who have lived in our area for decades, our neighborhood is home to an amazingly diverse collection of people. This interview is part of our “The Ditmas Park Word” series, in which we’ll get to know some of our wonderful neighbors who make our community what it is today. For our latest addition, we interviewed Scott and Samantha Anderson, who moved to Ditmas Park about a year ago to build their lives together after getting married.
How long have you lived in the neighborhood? Scott: It is a year in July.
Where did you live prior to living here? Scott: I’ve lived in Brooklyn off and on since 1982, and in many different neighborhoods — Carroll Gardens, Bay Ridge, Cobble Hill, and Park Slope. I’ve moved around a lot and have lived in Europe; Manhattan; Hoboken, New Jersey; Cleveland, Ohio; Garrison, New York; Anchorage, Alaska; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the last 30 years, but I always seem to come back to Brooklyn. I’m originally from Providence, Rhode Island. Samantha: I moved to Brooklyn in late 2009 after returning to the U.S. from London, and I’m originally from Englewood, New Jersey.
What prompted the move to this neighborhood? Scott: Samantha and I had both been married before and each have three kids from our previous marriages. We moved to Ditmas Park from Park Slope after we married and blended our families. We have six kids between us, three boys and three girls, ranging from 19 to 11 years old — and, yes, we’ve heard all the Brady Bunch references.
We bought our house in Ditmas Park because we loved the neighborhood and needed a place big enough for our big, blended family when we are all together. Ours is a blended family in many ways — Samantha’s kids are Jewish and mine are Catholic — and, although the kids are all together only once a month, they really enjoy it when they are. We had very interesting holiday seasons this year!
What do you like about this neighborhood? Samantha: On the very first day we moved in a neighbor came over with a basket filled with a bounty of vegetables from her garden. Everyone is so welcoming. We love the diversity; the neighborhood feels like what New York should feel like.
Scott: There are diverse groups that make this neighborhood very special, very unique—Orthodox Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, there’s even a Cambodian Buddhist Temple. When I’m in the garden, people stop and say hello. We love that we live on a tree-lined street that is walking distance from Prospect Park and fairly easy to get into Manhattan when we need to.
[pullquote]Everyone is so welcoming. We love the diversity; the neighborhood feels like what New York should feel like.[/pullquote]
What is missing in our neighborhood? Scott: We need a stop sign on Newkirk Avenue and Marlborough Road, which is right where people exit from the subway and cars are speeding down the street. It is very dangerous. Traffic control and speeding are a real problem.
Do you feel this is a good neighborhood to raise your children? Scott: It is a great neighborhood to raise children. There is a lot of space and it is filled with nature. The kids can walk up to the corner deli. I feel that neighbors are constantly watching out for each other, whereas in Park Slope I felt that everyone kept to themselves.
Samantha: I went to Park Slope recently to do some errands, and I felt it was very congested. Here there is more room to breathe.
Your house is from 1905; do you know anything about the previous residents? Scott: I learned that the original owners, Marcus D. & Nellie B. Fairchild, moved here in 1906. Marcus was one of two brothers who were the sons in the Fairchild Sons Funeral Home that used to be on Fulton Street. They also started a business making furniture for society events. The family funeral business still exists, but is now located on Long Island. We also discovered that Mrs. Fairchild’s travels and social engagements were covered extensively in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper. Samantha: It was the Facebook status update of the day.
Finish this sentence: Ditmas Park is… Scott: Home. That is the way I feel when I’m here. I feel that at last I’ve come home.
What is the neighborhood’s best kept secret? Scott: The fact that it is here in Brooklyn and 35 minutes from the city by subway. I would not have known about this neighborhood if my friend Ross hadn’t told me about it.
Samantha: Third Root is a phenomenal community offering which I don’t think most people are aware of. I do the community acupuncture there.
Do you have a favorite store in the neighborhood? Samantha: The S & S 99 Cents store!
Do you have a favorite restaurant in the neighborhood? Scott & Samantha: Our favorite is Ox Cart Tavern but we also enjoy Lea, Bashi Channel, The Farm, and Castello Plan.
[pullquote]I like to be surrounded by people from all different backgrounds. It makes life richer; it makes you a better person, more tolerant, engaged and interested in the world.[/pullquote]
We live in a very diverse neighborhood, how meaningful is that to you? Scott: I don’t want to live in a homogenous place with the same kind of people. I like to be surrounded by people from all different backgrounds. It makes life richer; it makes you a better person, more tolerant, engaged and interested in the world.
What do you think of Brooklyn’s newfound popularity? Scott & Samantha: When we were on our honeymoon, we saw Brooklyn T-shirts in Greece and Scotland. And we saw them on another trip we took to Israel. Brooklyn has become a brand, and it should be popular because it is a great place.
You have a new addition to your family, can you tell me how you acquired your new dog? Scott: Our new dog who has been with us for a week now was found on Beverley Road and 16th Street by a neighbor, Lauren Spieller, and she publicized it on the Ditmas Park Corner. She took her to the vet and found that the dog had a microchip, so they were able to contact the owner. The owner was not in a position to keep her so she was available for adoption. We wanted a dog and we were about to go to Sean Casey Animal Rescue to look for one, but she seemed to be just what we were looking for. And because she was found on Beverley Road, we named her Beverley. Now we feel our house is complete.
What is your profession? Samantha: I’m the Senior Director of Member Services for the Jewish Funders Network, a membership organization comprised of 1,500 Jewish philanthropists all over the world who want to connect and learn more from one another. We provide resources and programming to allow our members to be smart and strategic philanthropists.
Scott: I work for Ernst & Young’s Power & Utilities group, advising utilities in developing countries on smart technologies to help them better provide and manage electricity in their communities and municipalities.
What do you like about your work? Scott: My work is connected to making the world a better place. Working in countries to help them get better access to electricity improves their economy and helps alleviate poverty.
Samantha: Every day, I meet and speak with philanthropists who want to use their resources for good — they see problems in the world, and they want to solve them. My work is incredibly rewarding because by sharing educational resources and finding meaningful points of connection, we provide the platform that can help catalyze the changes they want to see in the world. When that magic happens, it is a delight!
What do you like to do in your free time? Scott: I like to cook and hike. I also write poetry. I studied poetry with Gary Snyder and Robert Hass and published a book of poems in 2013 called “Fallow Field.” My poems are inspired by my interaction with the natural world and travels to other countries. I worked for the Nature Conservancy for a long time and traveled extensively around the world. Some of my favorite places are Indonesia, Ecuador, India, and South Africa. I belong to a group called Brooklyn Poets, which hosts monthly readings and workshops in Boerum Hill.
How have you become involved in the community since your arrival? Samantha: I was fortunate to be invited to join a lovely book group that meets once a month. I believe the women in the group have been meeting for more than 10 years.
Scott: We also attended the Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Association’s progressive dinner last fall where we went to one house for cocktails, another house for dinner, and a third house for dessert. We met some wonderful neighbors that evening. I’m hoping to get more involved with the association in the future.
Do you have a favorite quote? One of our favorite quotes is from John Lennon, “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.” That was the theme of our wedding. All our children were in our wedding party.
How did you and Samantha meet? A mutual friend introduced us. The friend emailed us and said, “You two should know each other.” I still have that email.
If you know someone you’d love to see featured in this series, let us know! You can email us at editor@ditmaspark.com.