History

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It’s easy to miss the amazing history in Jamaica Plain. It’s like an onion – you have to peel back the layers. Some amazing architecture is hidden beneath decades of siding and paint. Giant old estates have been parceled out to armies of three families and of course there’s the Old Stony Brook, now hidden under ground. JP must have been a sight to see at the turn-of-the-century.

 

Free history lesson in Jamaica Plain – walking tours have started!

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Last Saturday, May 8 began the annual walking tour season of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.

Horse-drawn wagon on Centre St.

Horse-drawn wagon on Centre St in Jamaica Plain

2010 Historic Walking Tours
All tours are free and open to the public and are offered on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. sharp. Tours last approximately one hour except for the Jamaica Pond tour which lasts 90 minutes due to the longer distance covered. Tours are canceled in case of rain. No reservations are required. Please join us and bring along a friend!

Tour Date Location Tour Date Location
May 8 Monument Sq. July 24 Green Street
May 15 Sumner Hill July 31 Woodbourne
May 22 Stony Brook August 7 Jamaica Pond
May 29 Hyde Square August 14 Monument Sq.
June 5 Green Street August 21 Sumner Hill
June 12 Woodbourne August 28 Stony Brook
June 19 Jamaica Pond Sept 4 Hyde Square
June 26 Monument Sq. Sept 11 Green Street
July 3 Sumner Hill Sept 18 Woodbourne
July 10 Stony Brook Sept 25 Jamaica Pond
July 17 Hyde Square

Mystery House in Cambridge

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Okay, my pick for Home of the Week isn’t even in Jamaica Plain. I know, I know, I’m not following the rules, but hey I’m the boss right? Whose blog is this anyway?

I was on a tour today through Cambridge, Somerville and Jamaica Plain. About midway we had a look at a condo on Elm Street near Inman Square. This home was across the street. It captivated me. It’s right next to the well known restaurant Oleana, but from that side it’s not quite as dramatic. However if you swing around to the Elm Street side you’ll see it’s real character.

The original structure is clearly mid 1800s but a garage of sorts with a greenhouse has been added to the top. It has an amazing door on the garage, but also a sort or Hobbit door under the front porch that must access the basement.

I’d give my left leg to see the inside. I’ll do some more research and let you know what I find out. If anyone has a historic tidbit they’d like to share about this house or others -chime in…

A Sweetheart Deal on Valentine's Day

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Gorgeous Sumner Hill Mansard Victorian

Gorgeous Sumner Hill Mansard Victorian

Are you in the dog house? Have you besmirched your good name? I have an opportunity for you to redeem yourselves. At the base of beautiful and historic Sumner Hill, across from the old Congregational Church,  you will find this gorgeous Mansard Victorian. Bring your sweetie and give the Valentine’s Day gift of a lifetime! We’ll be having an open house for neighbors only from 11a-11:30a, and then a public open house from 11:30a-1p.

Unique architecture

Unique architecture

A landmark property to anyone who travels the streets of Jamaica Plain – the unique overhang is thought to be an architect’s sneak. There’s about 70SF hanging out over the sidewalk. Don’t quote me on that little historic tidbit – I’m not sure where I heard/read it anymore. I’ve got a request into a local historian to find out what I can on this lovely manse.

Fully one-third of this home resides out of view from the street. There is another unit that is roughly half the size of the upstairs, that opens on three sides the the pretty back yard. It’s really neat to see the massive, rough hewn granite blocks that form the foundation under the sidewalk. You can see it from within the fence at yard level.

This stately home got a serious facelift less than 10 years ago. The entire Mansard “hip” was replaced with architectural shingles, new windows and soffits were added as well as copper gutters and downspouts. Quite a bit of old siding was replaced at this time as well. Generally, the exterior is in perfect condition. The current owners have done a smashing job with the interior as well. Josh & Julie have added their own brand of sophisticated, modern charm. There’s definitely more than a hint of the Orient in the decor – including a very tasteful bamboo wall treatment in the master bedroom.

Giant master suite

Giant master suite

There are three bedrooms that are  small, medium and large and have a gentle slope to the wall from the roof line. It adds a lot of charm and character without adversely effecting the layout or space whatsoever.

If you’re used to New England bedroom sizes, you’ll find the master suite to be a pleasant surprise.  It’s spacious and light with views out over the neighbor’s roofs to Green Street and the grand architecture of The Bowditch School. The bedroom opens to the bath by passing through a custom closet outfitted with a very well thought out organizational system. Someone with lots of clothes and an analytical mind clearly designed it. The bathroom is large for a Victorian. I doubt this room always served as a bathroom, but it certainly should have. There’s an old clawfoot tub and some bath fixtures that are reminiscent of the period, but in reality everything is new.

There is another full bath on the second level for the other two bedrooms. All the rooms open off a landing flooded with natural light from a skylight opening above the exposed rafters. Downstairs, the first floor flows just as well. The kitchen, dining and living rooms are large and perfect for entertaining – although, make everyone take off their shoes because the floors are truly luminous and it would be a crime to mar them.

The kitchen isn’t so easy to pin down to a specific style. Although the Bosch stainless steel appliances and white cabinets give it a decidedly modern look, the counters are darkly stained wooden butcher block that have a warmer feel than the typical granite counters that are so common of late.

There is a laundry cabinet that doubles as a pantry adjacent to the kitchen – and an ample deck through sliding glass doors, leads down to a beautifully landscaped yard.

The dining room is probably my favorite room in this house. One wall is covered with books, and the others are practically all windows – looking out over the yard, deck and Green Street. There’s a large closet as well, so if you put the table in the kitchen this could actually be a fourth bedroom or an office – but I think it’s configured best as it is.

The location doesn’t really get any better. When I write that this home is steps from everything – I mean it. Maybe 127 steps to the subway? (Give or take 10.) There are shops, boutiques, restaurants, pubs, etc. just a few blocks away on Centre as well as the Mosaic school across the street in the Congregational Church, and Hollow Reed up on Sumner Hill.  There’s a playground around the corner with water sprinklers in the summer and a great play structure. Further up Lamartine Street there’s a baseball field, basketball courts, the list goes on and on.

Check out our website at www.TheBostonHomeTeam.com for more information on this home and other property in and around Jamaica Plain as well as  the virtual tour at www.84Seaverns.com.