Tag Archives: strolling

West End Walks. 15-17 Winter Street

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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.

Do red doors still mean the mortgage is paid?

Do red doors still mean the mortgage is paid?

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20 South Street

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South Street runs from Pleasant Street to a concrete wall on the edge of Spring Street in Portland’s Gorham’s Corner neighborhood. South Street originally ran from Spring to Free Streets with the current section being laid out around 1830. This is the same time frame that our subject was built. The earliest parts of South Street were removed during the era of Urban Renewal and now lie under the Cross Arena.

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West End Walks. 380 Danforth Street

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380 Danforth Street. The Stick Style refined.

wpid-20150425_103322.jpgJust 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 →

West End Walks. 394 Danforth Street

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394 Danforth Street.

At the far west end of Danforth Street, just before it dives back down to the water, sit 2 of Portland’s best examples of Stick Style architecture. 394 Danforth is, without doubt, the most exuberant of the pair. Continue reading →

West End Walks. 107 Vaughan Street. A modern vision.

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Another house I had failed to notice for 30 years. On my last stroll, I turned the corner of Carroll Street and Vaughan and headed south towards Bowdoin Street. From the corner of my eye, I saw the sight above.

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West End Walks. 161 Pine Street. A family compound?

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West End Walks. 161 Pine Street. A family compound.

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This home is from the office of Francis Fassett & John Calvin Stevens. Built in 1882 for Elizabeth M McDonald. This home was built at the same time and for the same person as 171 Vaughan Street. Continue reading →

West End Walks. Vaughan Street Jewel Box

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171 Vaughan Street.
In all my years of walking, biking, and driving around the West End, I had never paid this little gem much attention. That all changed about a week ago.

wpid-20150402_180239.jpgSeductively small but lavish, the Elizabeth M McDonald Cottage is an unexpected sight in a neighborhood of large mansions. At 1800 sq ft, it is downright tiny by today’s new home standards. Continue reading →

West End Walks: Thomas Street begininngs

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Welcome to West End Walks.
From an architectural history standpoint, the West End of Portland is a fine place to see the various style that were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mostly expressed in residential architecture for the professional, the building stock ranges from 3 story row houses built in the ‘brownstone’ style to high end mansions of incredible grandeur. Add in tree lined streets and mostly level terrain, it gives itself to some wonderful strolling for the lover of buildings
Let’s go for a stroll and see what we may encounter. Shall we? Continue reading →