The Former Home of the Crambitts, 2010 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland

We show an early twentieth century image of a typical working to lower middle class row house in the dense urban street scape of a then burgeoning and vibrant, yet prosperous and safe Baltimore, Maryland. The wife of Arthur Crambitt, a carpenter, Molly Moore Crambitt poses with her newly born daughter Hilda in the open window of their family home. Before the open front door are the older Crambitt children—Walter, Leonard, and Robert, upon the classic slabs of marble that comprise(ed) the typical entrance to a row house in Baltimore City. Like many “Anglos” of the period, city life meant opportunity and prosperity. And like many others, the Crambits were obviously very proud of their house. While part of row of flat, semi-identical brick houses, the Crambitts house has an Italianate façade with ornamental wood brackets that define the decorative cornice. The one-over-one, double-hung wood windows are topped by lintels of brick segmented arches and the windows all feature interior wood louver shutters that most likely folded into the wall.

The Improved Property of Today, 2010 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland

Molly Moore Crambitt died shortly after this image was taken. However, the Crambitts remained living in this house for several years and even long in Baltimore City. The house itself has undergone numerous changes that have led to its current slatternly appearance. The brick façade has been refaced in form stone—a common trend in Baltimore in the mid to third quarter of the twentieth century. The wood shutters no longer appear to be used. The lower part of the decorative cornice has been scraped off and replaced by form stone. The windows have been replaced and, in fact, the new units were so economically efficient that the once semi-large apertures have been filled at the top to make way for “over-the-counter” versions, actually doubling the amount of apertures susceptible to energy loss. The windows that currently appear within the apertures and the infill are no doubt even more leaky than the originals. The transom window over the door, once bearing the address, no doubt written in gold leaf, has been covered and/or replaced with plywood. The address is now featured in sticker version, applied to an unpainted replacement, metal door. The basement windows, once featuring wire glass have recently been replaced—or, who knows, re-replaced. A black metal mailbox accents the door, and the former stone front walk, now in concrete, features the broken marble steps of the house next door.

All of these changes cost money. And the result of our progress in building and maintenance is evident before you now. Oh, and it also appears that removal of the interior wood shutters were part of the improvements, perhaps during the window down-sizing/replacement. Drapes and inexpensive metal blinds replace the former custom fitted, wood shutters.

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The Widener Mansion, NW Corner of Broad Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See more at  http://www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2009/03/the-widener-mansion/.

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Among crimes committed in Callowhill and North Philadelphia, this building is definitely eligible for Architectural Turds of America on a local level. Clad entirely in dryvit, from head to toe, this building, no doubt started life as a load bearing brick masonry building with a slate-clad mansard roof, fourth floor. Why and how anyone could do this to the built environment is beyond our feeble comprehension.

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Perhaps the oldest building on Spring Garden Street, this 1848-49 brownstone and copper Catholic Church (formerly), the Church of the Annunciation, is facing the wrecking ball. Siloam, a not-for-profit, recently sold the complex to a developer–John Wei, who purports that there is no way to reuse the building, thus making demolition imperative. Naturally, this is contrary to the numerous examples of reused churches as apartment houses, clubs, restaurants, shops, etc.  The Philadelphia Historic Commission had previously approved demolition of the building based on Siloam’s inability to reuse the building for under $5 or $6 million. The new owner also claims that the building is unusable. The Callowhill Neighborhood Association is fighting the good fight and their lawyer–Sam Stratton, has won a stay on execution from the L&I Review Board. Outcome to be determined. Of course, the Mayor of Philadelphia prefers any development project to saving a historic landmark–since, you know, the two are mutually exclusive.

And while they act like its so expensive to revitalize this complex, what’s $5 or $6 million these days anyhow? Meanwhile, there are vacant lots and ugly new buildings galore!

Spring Garden Street Facade of the Church of the Assumption and its former Convent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Copper Spires of the Church of the Assumption are said to memorialize the spot and elevation where Dr. Benjamin Franklin flew his kite in the 18th century.

The Original Front Doors and Gothic Arches of the Church of the Assumption, Spring Garden Street, Philadephia, Pennsylvania

Side Elevation of the Church of the Assumption, Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Note the original windows and early skylights, also copper.

Rear Elevation of the Church of the Assumption, Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Note, the building on the left was part of the complex and served as a school.

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The Beautiful New House and Garden, Longport, New Jersey
While most modern buildings leave something to be desired, this house and its garden is stunning. The scale of everything, including the front corner porch and the materials/cladding are in harmony with one another. The color choices also set off the house, as does the simple, but attractive cornice-awning. And the garden, even in winter, is of an elegant modern feeling and style. Overall, this house is incredible.

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New Brownstone & Brick Mansion, Longport, New Jersey
While not completely 19th century in quality and scale, its hard not to like this low slung brick and brown stone pile, if you’re at all into handsome, impressive, and things that smell of money in an old wordly sort of fashion. Longport is home to a newish developer building and experimenting with all sorts of historic forms and styles and we commend this entity that is taking a step away from the anti-septic modern designs that tend not to age too well nor lend to additions and the natural clutter of human life.

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Once a beautiful house, this revival period house has been overhauled to the point of utter futility. Note, all of the changes to the poor thing cost money. For example, the new siding is a horrible vertical paneling; the windows do not match, three are modern casement or sliders, while two are faux colonial; and the front door is probably the worst with its fanlight within the door rather than above us. We remember once a contractor who applied such a door to a house we knew and he was not paid until the thing was removed from the premises. Please help this house, its few elegant details are exposed near the roofline, perhaps they should hurry and cover them up!

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Members of the Mandolin Orchestra of Damon & Phintias Lodge No. 17 G.A.P.A. of Akron, Ohio’s Once Thriving Greek Community, Circa 1920s. Top left: Dimitrios Nicolaou Fotiades (Δημήζοιϩ Φωτιάδης), known in Akron as Jim Harris with his beauitful Gibson Mandolin. Fotiades/Harris was the Right Cantor at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio for 50 years, after emigrating from Constantinople, Turkey where he had been trained in chanting in the finest Byzantine tradition. The remaing orchestra members are unknown to the author.

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Self-Portrait of Anton Frank in Mobile, Alabama, April 1897. Note the equipment on the table in the foreground and also on the desk in the background. The equipment most likely relates to his photography, perhaps his profession.  There is also a shower or tub surround and curtain in the background on left. The transom above the painted door is slightly open and there is a small device above the door knob, perhaps this was his office, maybe an office bell? Papers appear on the desk as well. The photographer was handsome.

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