Substation #401, Brooklyn, New York
historic place
Substation #401, also known as the Essex Sub-station, is located in Brooklyn, New York. This historic electrical substation was built in 1901. It was designed by architect Thomas E. Murray in the Beaux Arts style. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company constructed Substation #401 to power the Cypress Hills extension of the BMT Lexington Avenue Line. The facility is situated on Fulton Street, between Essex Street and Shepherd Avenue, in the Cypress Hills neighborhood. It stands adjacent to the BMT Jamaica Line. Over time, ownership transferred through various transit entities, eventually becoming part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Substation #401 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. This site is significant for its role in the early development of Brooklyn's subway system and its Beaux Arts architecture.