One of my favorite occurrences when out and about somewhere in the city: chancing upon an unexpected architectural gem. I can’t remember how many years ago I first passed this beauty on North Street (a block off Mass Ave), I was dumbfounded. It’s a stunner and even more so due to context–it’s behind the lofts formerly known as the Real Silk Factory, and between a defunct church and a building
““` Magnificent, classic, clean Indiana limestone exterior. I like the cornice. From the reflections in the photos, it looks like someone has invested in replacement glass; the generous panes appear to be modern float-plate, if not “Low-E.” (Sometimes it’s easy to forget that glass used to be EXPENSIVE.) The fence appears to be a modern, modest replacement. I can picture an original, from 1888 or so, of cast iron painted black with hints of guilding on particuilarly impressive bits. It would have been at least as ornate as the stone carvings. Is that style called “Italianate”? That’s the name persistantly pushing itself forward in my head…I might not know all that much about architecture, but I know what I like, and I like this. And it makes me happy to see that the current owners discernably cherish it, too; what a shame it would be if this little jewel ever fell into disrepair.
I love the swags under the eaves!
Me too! My house had swags on it at one time, but they were removed in the 80’s, and evidently no one noticed or reported it, because I’m in an IHPC district and the person shouldn’t have been allowed to!
This is the former rectory (parish priest’s house) for the original Saint Joseph Parish. (The “defunct” church – built in 1879-80).
For a time, it housed Catholic Charities. The Church (and I think) the rectory were sold a long time ago.