Friday, October 5, 2018

Familiar before and after






This picture is from 1996. Let me point out some of the 'details'. Notice the missing porch columns. Somewhere in the past the porch roof was extended and the columns on the original short overhang were removed. A huge support bracket was fabricated and bolted to the wall. The railing was replaced with a flimsy metal 'wrought iron' type of ugliness. The middle post between the twins gives a clue as to what once was.


The second floor porch enclosure is the real wonderment here; what was the purpose of this room? the porch is about 2ft wide; what actual use could this room have provided? Fortunately, the original window sashes for the inside windows were saved, found in the basement, and restored. One of the windows, however, was a floor to ceiling version and this was replaced with a custom built multipane door to provide access to the porch.


Saturday, June 25, 2016

South 6th

I've always liked this building. I think there was a facade removed some time ago; the brick was cleaned up and left bare. The trim was restored and painted, but allowed to fall into disrepair again. Just needs some attention.
This one just up from the other one is nice, but somehow lacking. Somewhat unadorned, could use some detailing.

This block is better than it used to be. Even when Weyerbacher was on this block, there were a lot of run down buildings. It's much better now that Dykes is here.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

A Little Off The Top?

These twins SHOULD have dormers, perhaps two each. But I imagine sometimes in the distant past, they were removed. Maybe a fire? Roof rotted beyond repair? Whichever, the contractor took the easy route and just removed them. 
Notice too the shorter Windows on the right side. Very common to replace older tall windows with cheaper shorter windows that are in stock. Ridiculous.

N 8th non-fraternal twins

Now, I know lots of twin homes don't 'match', but the color contrast between these two is glaring. The green one was painted recently, and the misaligned gutters really stand out.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Asymmetry in Wilson

This house is huge. I didn't get up too close to it, but to be honest it's not obvious if it was just once a twin. I can't figure out what's going on with the sided enclosure on the right side of the balcony; is it a bedroom? Why no window?
This is another example of poorly executed apartment conversions on grand old homes. The owners had no vision, at a time when it was just another 'old house'.
Anyway, it's ugly.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Busted window

I think this was on Ferry St. The house looks solid enough, but the concrete porch and wrought iron railing is pretty ugly. Just so barren looking. 
I imagine sometimes what so many of these homes looked like with their original porches, before they rotted away and were replaced with more durable concrete and metal.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Tiny house living on Ferry

I've been on this block of Ferry many times, but never noticed this little house before. The bigger house, though with many updates, is the older of the pair. Is assume the smaller one was built as a garage? And then sometime converted into its own residence? 
There's a movement in 'tiny homes'; I think this one was ahead of the trend.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Sassafras Alley Life

Sometimes when you get out of your car and walk, you notice things you just don't see out of a car window. I would say most everyone in Easton wouldn't have opportunities to cruise our numerous alleyways, but there is much to see.
This one is interesting, especially when you notice the outline of the original garage. Could be a former carriage house? Could be an awesome loft apartment now if someone tried.
This one too has lots of potential. 
I don't understand how people who have garage space on the alley don't use them more, especially since street parking is tight. If I had a garage I wouldn't just be storing junk in it for sure. Well, some junk maybe.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Windows and ladders

I just liked this view, Butler St. The brickwork is in good shape, as are the windows. I like the angles and shapes, pretty cool.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Missing Crowns

S 11th St, four singles in a row. These are real nice homes for the area, much wider than typical. Its interesting how different owners over the years have changed things, perhaps for fashion, perhaps out of necessity. The built in gutters require a lot of maintenance so the second one from the right removed theirs some time ago. Only the last one still has the ornate crown and window trim.