07 Oct workers cottage on leavitt street demolished this week

a single story diminutive brick workers cottage, built between 1875-1885, has found its fate surrounded by the all-too-common green fence. this barrier from prying eyes serves as a visual indication that the wrecking machine will soon be arriving to smash the structure into oblivion. i haven’t had the time to look over insurance maps and the like to determine what this residential neighborhood looked like during its heyday, and what outbuildings may have existed on or around the cottage facing imminent death. while documenting the cottage’s exterior (with emphasis on the facade’s ornament) and floorplan, i noticed its “twin” next door exhibiting identical characteristics – both in style and scale. sadly, i’m sure that one will be the next to go, likely within a year.

with the exception of the heavily modified entrance (likely built with double door over plain glass transom), the facade remains largely intact.

both the stoop and rear addition were added much later in time.

its twin retains the original arched clear glass transom and paneled pine wood door jamb.

the double arch top window accentuated with limestone keystone and fret-sawn pane is the most defining characteristic.

detail of the fret-sawn panel surrounded by deeply incised border.