Hill Hero: Richard Burlage Mayor of Adelphi Street

by DK Holland

THE FIRST PERSON I met when I bought my home on Adelphi between Lafayette and DeKalb in 1986 was undoubtedly Richard Burlage. He was probably sweeping the street: not the sidewalk, the street. Or joyfully climbing a street tree to prune it (a tree he planted in case the Parks Department is reading this).

Richard moved to Brooklyn from Iowa in 1966 and met his life partner, Fritz Duteau. About his rural Iowa roots, Richard says he had to leave. "I wasn't of the same hue as most Iowans. I was gay and I didn't see a future for me there."

Richard worked in computers in the 1960s - American Stock Exchange (SIAC) and then human resources for welfare for Cof NY for 33 years until he retired a few years ago.

He and Fritz settled on Adelphi in Fort Greene in 1969, buying their first house at the suggestion of friends who said "It's good to own." Richard says, "Gayness was never a problem in Fort Greene. We live a very open lifestyle: you can walk right by our house and look into the garden floor windows and see exactly what we are doing." I walk by and wave at Richard and Fritz at their dining table all the time.

Several neighbors and Richard started the block association. They planted all the Japanese Sophora on the block: there had been only 2 trees on our side of the block when we moved in. Japanese Sophora produces "summer snow" (zillions of little yellow flowers covering the street and sidewalk) every other year. As I said, Richard is quite a sweeper.

He chaired the block association for 22 years and got very involved with the kids who were generally from families without many resources. So he used to go on hikes with them up the Hudson, to a Mets or Yankees game, a real treat. I observed there don't seem to be any kids in need on the block these days. He responded that there are almost no kids period.

"Way back - in 1973 - when I got involved in the Fort Greene Association. I got roped into chairing the group." But it wasn't for Richard. He bartered with Barbara Wingate whose husband was the minster of music at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian (where the FGA still meets). He says, "Barbara said she would take over being chair, if I would sing in the choir and I've been there ever since." Thirty people of all races and backgrounds sing there now and sing every Sunday except the second. The Gospel group sings every second Sunday. Richard is in that group too. Richard did remain very involved in the early house tours put on by the FGA. "We'd have to sweep the streets before each tour to make the place presentable."

I asked Richard how he felt about the neighborhood, with all the changes we've experienced. He says, "I'm happy to see considerably cleaner streets and there is a lot less noise. But since we don't seem to have kids on the block. That's kinda sad. When Keri Russell rented here [who had an adorable baby named River. They were often out on the street] - paparazzi would stand around and take pictures. That's how I found out who Keri Russell was. She's really a nice lady."

Since the beginning Richard has walked his dog in Ft Greene Park at night. A neighbor on the block warned him, "Someone's gonna get you." Richard says, "Guess what. They never did. I've always had big dogs. They wrap me around their paw and I let them do whatever they like. We use Shoko (our Akita) as an excuse not to go out."

--DK Holland is the editor of The Hill and one of its founders. She picks up trash on the street, as do several other neighbors because Richard Burlage does. She however, really hates the yellow snow and sweeping in general.