This unprepossessing building is only a short walk from the house. It doesn’t look much and it’s been empty for as long as I can remember – and we moved to this area in 1998.

But it has an interesting history: it once housed the second largest detective agency in the United States.

According to Briarcliff Manor Scarborough Historical Society (BMSHS):

During the early 1900s, Briarcliff was home to one of America’s most famous detectives. His friend, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle called him “America’s Sherlock Holmes” and The New York Times called him “The greatest detective America has produced.” He was asked to investigate federal corruption by President Theodore Roosevelt and served as Director of the Bureau of Investigation, forerunner to the FBI, under President Warren Harding. He was involved in many of the “high profile” cases of his time and his investigations made headlines. His career in government service and as a private investigator was marked by both public praise and scandal. “Burns became a star detective known equally for his ability to hunt down a clue and his penchant for chasing after the limelight.” During the early 1900s, Briarcliff was home to one of America’s most famous detectives. His friend, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle called him “America’s Sherlock Holmes” and The New York Times called him “The greatest detective America has produced.” He was asked to investigate federal corruption by President Theodore Roosevelt and served as Director of the Bureau of Investigation, forerunner to the FBI, under President Warren Harding. He was involved in many of the “high profile” cases of his time and his investigations made headlines. His career in government service and as a private investigator was marked by both public praise and scandal. “Burns became a star detective known equally for his ability to hunt down a clue and his penchant for chasing after the limelight.” (William J. Burns, America’s Sherlock Holmes Vol 3.3, By Bob Fetonti, Trustee, BMSHS).

Taken with an Olympus OM-D EM-10 and Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42 f3.5-4.6 II