Old house built of rusticated concrete block in Stanwood, Mecosta County, Michigan, USA [No release; editorial licensing only]
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Old house built of rusticated concrete block in Stanwood, Mecosta County, Michigan, USA [No release; editorial licensing only]
For a collection of pictures of shrunken windows with vinyl siding infills.
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In downtown Norwalk, Ohio, on June 16th, 2024, was a view of the backside of an apartment building at 12 N Foster St, at the southeast corner of North Foster Street and East Monroe Street.
The building's record in the Huron County government's property database says it was built in 1920, but the building does not appear on this 1922 fire insurance map. I am choosing to assume it was built sometime in the 1920s.
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Library of Congress Subject Headings:
• Apartment houses—Ohio (sh99002604)
• Concrete masonry (sh85030722)
This is 121 W Water St in Piqua, Ohio. Here is my research:
• The county auditor's website sez the building is from 1903.
• BUT! Because I have found obvious errors in the county auditor's records, I decided I'd try to confirm that date by checking Sanborn fire insurance maps at the Library of Congress website, and old city directories at AncestryLibrary.com.
• The relevant fire insurance maps are from November 1905 and February 1911. The 1905 map doesn't show this building. It shows a brick building, identified as a livery.
• The 1911 map shows the building, identified as a garage built of concrete blocks.
• The relevant city directories are from 1907 and 1909. In the 1907 directory, this address is shown in the business listings under "Livery, feed and sale stables," with George H. Wammes as the proprietor. This appears to match the 1905 map.
• In the 1909 directory, it is instead shown under "Automobiles and Automobile Repairs," with Edwin H. Meinders as the proprietor. This appears to match the 1911 map.
Therefore I hereby assert that the building is probably from circa 1907-1909, not 1903. Was the journey worth it!
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In downtown Piqua, Ohio, on November 18th, 2023, on the south side of West Water Street, east of North Wayne Street.
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Library of Congress Subject Headings:
• Concrete masonry (sh85030722)
The Wood County auditor says it is a one-family residence. Good!, I want it, or something like it, for my family.
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In Parkersburg, West Virginia, on December 23rd, 2018, in an alley north of 16th Street between St. Marys Avenue and Lynn Street.
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Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names terms:
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Library of Congress Subject Headings:
• Concrete masonry (sh85030722)
• Dwellings—West Virginia (sh89004849)
At first I thought the mortar was polyurethane insulation foam, haha can you imagine, but no, it is a weird orange mortar, applied in the famously sloppy-looking "extruded" style. We laugh at Altoonans for their funny ideas.
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In the Juniata neighborhood of Altoona, Pennsylvania, on June 28th, 2019, off the east side of North 4th Avenue, south of North 8th Street.
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Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names terms:
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Library of Congress Subject Headings:
• Concrete masonry (sh85030722)
See the EVIDENCE OF FORMER STAIRS: A handrail!, mounted onto that wall of rusticated concrete blocks.
Google Streetview shows the ENCLOSED PORCH that used to be here, prior to PORCH REMOVAL.
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In downtown Elyria, Ohio, on July 7th, 2018, two commercial buildings on the north side of 2nd Street between Chestnut Street and West Avenue.
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In my opinion it ought to dramatically change paintcolor every few years. Entertain us!
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In downtown Keyser, West Virginia, on June 29th, 2019, Keyser City Hall (erected circa 1920) at the southwest corner of Armstrong Street (West Virginia Route 46) and North Davis Street.
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Library of Congress Subject Headings:
• Concrete masonry (sh85030722)
Q: Are the employees at "A Touch of Heaven" aware that the tree outside their door (an Ailanthus altissima) is known as "tree of heaven."
A: I hope so. I am too shy to call and find out.
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In downtown Keyser, West Virginia, on June 29th, 2018, on the west side of Apple Alley, south of Armstrong Street.
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Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names terms:
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In downtown Keyser, West Virginia, on June 29th, 2019, Haywood's Storage Warehouse at the northwest corner of North Water Street and Armstrong Street (West Virginia Route 46).
The building is said to have been erected circa 1930.
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Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names terms:
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To know what they are called is to like them: rusticated concrete blocks.
Ailanthus altissima is an invasive noxious weed and we North Americans are supposed to be unhappy when we see it.
The building is inadequately protected from auto traffic.
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In downtown Keyser, West Virginia, on June 29th, 2019, a building (said to have been built circa 1930) at the southwest corner of Patrick Street and North Water Street.
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Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names terms:
• Keyser (2118817)
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In Huntington, West Virginia, on December 24th, 2018, a house (built 1939) on the north side of Adams Avenue (U.S. Route 60), east of 12th Street West.
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The Durham House, dating to around 1900, is an unusual house in that it is constructed of rusticated concrete block, has a gambrel gable on its side and has eyebrow windows on each end of the front gable. A law office now occupies the house.
