Category Archives: West End Walks
West End Walks. 4 Orchard Street
Update 6.24.16: Having found a new resource on architects practicing in Portland, I can now state the architect of this house was James P Thomas. Thomas was a grandson of the noted William Widgery Thomas and a graduate of Harvard University. Thomas played a big role in public and residential architecture in Portland during the turn of the 19th/20th centuries.
Having highlighted the entry in the first Portals post, I think it’s time to take a closer look at this house. A product of a booming era, the home has some wonderful architectural details combined with a bit of interesting history.
West End Walks. 15-17 Winter Street
The Winter Street neighborhood characterized by brick Federal buildings such as the Danforth Inn along with Victorian-era single and multi-family homes. The biggest neighbors are Mercy Hospital and The Irish Heritage Center in the former St Dominic’s Church. Nestled among these buildings is 15-17 Winter Street also known as 52-54 Gray Street. A rather small wooden home that shows an incredible amount of preservation both in the building and the lot on which it stands.
West End Walks. 2 interesting little places.
94 Pine Street & 137 Emery Street
A wonderful pair of Queen Anne homes tucked into the corner of Pine & Emery Streets. These are some of the unsung heroes of the West End
West End Walks. 75 Vaughan Street
75 Vaughan Street. A Gothic mashup with some truly wonderful features.
West End Walks. 387 Spring Street
387 Spring Street. A ‘moving’ story.
Nestled on a tree-lined lot at the far western end of Spring Street, this little gem is a voice from a much earlier time. Continue reading
Portals. May 31 Edition.
West End Walks. 387 Danforth Street
387 Danforth Street. A home from the deeper past.
387 Danforth Street. The William Vaughan house. This is from a much earlier era than it’s neighbors. The tighter, symmetrical, massing along with matched chimneys, first-floor windows that are much taller than the second floor, and the strongly detailed entryway with arched window above place it squarely in the Federal Style. Continue reading
West End Walks. 370 Danforth Street
370 Danforth Street. An aesthetic disaster with a historical precedent.
This is one I have wondered about for some time. What is going on here? Is it a house or just a garage? Who would put such an ugly structure on such a beautiful street?
Continue reading
West End Walks. 380 Danforth Street
380 Danforth Street. The Stick Style refined.
Just up the street from 394 Danforth we find another Stick Style home that displays a more refined vision. Whereas 394 is positively dripping with details, 380 shows restraint and more developed details. Continue reading








