We have a mystery at the house, and today we may have solved it. For some time, we believed the window next to the front door was shortened by previous owners for no apparent reason. However, thanks to some investigative work and help from a friend in construction, we have a new theory. In the circa 1895 photograph below, the house boasted a grand, seven foot door with a large window next to it.
Front Door and Window Circa 1895
We know the house was converted into apartments during the twentieth century, and the interior front staircase was enclosed with plaster and drywall. The original balustrade was removed, and some of the current stair treads and risers have different dimensions. Here is where our theory comes to life. We believe the original large window was transformed into an entrance door for the upstairs apartment.
In the photograph below, notice the identical trim and house number at the top of the current window. This is encouraging evidence that a door was put in place to complement the original front door. Also, there is no evidence of floor to ceiling trim seen in the historic photograph above. The window, siding, and skirt board were restored when the house transitioned back into a single family home.
Current Front Door and Window
Mystery solved? Not yet. In the coming weeks, we will explore the interior front staircase to see if there is evidence of the original landing and bottom stair being altered. What do you think of this new theory? Let us know in the comments below!
Your Glenn House Detective,
Britton