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architectural feature |
Know that which lurks among theeConsidering renovations? Help maintain the valuable historic character of Northeast’s neighborhoods by learning about its architecture. This series discusses the history of our homes in Northeast, to develop an appreciation for their features and how to enhance them. With a century or more behind them, the homes of Historic Northeast deserve preservation.I was at a community meeting a few days ago when someone asked me something on the order of, “Hey, didn’t you used to write for The Northeast News?” I didn’t realize I’d slipped into the past tense. So I figured I’d better remedy that situation. Auspiciously, there are some odd things I’ve wanted to share with you. Unless it has something to do with Major League Soccer, we don’t hear about local, Kansas City-based news in my house. I blame that on the resident clichéd remote-control-clutcher who keeps us focused on the sport. So it was this way that we missed the Feb. 15 launch of Google Street View in Kansas City — a Web site that gives you a virtual driving tour of Kansas City. Still, we found it on our own accord in short order and practiced “driving” down our street a few times. It’s just the coolest thing! Although I don’t have enough self-insight to tell you why I think so. When you’re done reading this article, set down your coffee cup and check it out on Google.com under its already popular map section. If you live in Northeast and north of Independence Avenue, your home is probably there. If it isn’t, check out the 100 block of South Chelsea and you can ascertain the veracity of what I want to tell you next. The little bungalows on the first block of South Chelsea, I have determined, are Sears Model No.147. Let me tell you why I think so. Homes familiar to our Northeast neighborhood are of particular interest to me. That’s convenient, since I write this column. With my toddler I don’t get to the library much, but I find this Internet contraption to be quite handy. I was looking at Web sites showcasing mail-order homes when I found these pictures that reminded me of the houses next door to where I used to live. The principal features of the houses are their windowed front gable supported by a column on either end of the porch that runs the full width of the narrow front. You probably know that once upon a time, people could order homes by mail. Some of these old mail-order catalogs are now found on the Internet. Usually, the homes had romantic names like The Ashton, The Mayview, The Drake, The Hazelton. But this particular Sears home is spiffily named Model No. 147. Sears Model No. 147 was advertised for as low as $683 in catalogs between 1908 and 1914 and could be built on lots 27 feet wide. Millwork, sash weights, siding, flooring, ceiling, finishing lumber, building paper, pipe, gutter, hardware, painting material, lath and shingles were all included. This particular model was advertised with a pass-through cupboard from kitchen to dining room with art glass on the dining room side. The birch front door also contained art glass — probably a large pane with beveled edges — and the inside doors, also made of birch, were two paneled. The floors were to be of clear yellow pine, with the framing timbers also of yellow pine. Although this photo here of a home on the 100 block of Chelsea has brick cladding on the bottom, it still has what are probably cedar shingles on the upper part of the exterior. Buyers had the option of purchasing a coal or steam heating plant. Cement, brick and plaster were not provided and the catalog speculated that the finished cost would be about $1,530. The homes were advertised as a six-room bungalow including two bedrooms, with 924 square feet of living space. If you look up homes on that block on Zillow.com (another cyberspace avenue for voyeurism) you will see the site, indeed, reports those homes as having two bedrooms and 900 square feet. The particular home pictured here has the ribbon of three windows in the upper gable with dentil trim underneath and exposed rafter tails, just as in the catalog illustration. This model can be found elsewhere in Northeast, but there is probably no other street exhibiting so many of this particular model, where there are five in a row. You now know more of the nature of those things that lurk among us. Now, put down your coffee cup and go check out Google Street Views and Zillow.com. Jean Van Booven-Shook has lived in the Northeast for over 12 years with her husband and three children. During that time her projects have included conducting an architectural survey for the St. John Corridor Plan, faux painting, hardwood floor restoration and repair, stained glass work, stonework, and research on the history of Northeast and its housing styles.2007 Archives: |
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