I've been wanting to show you this building for a long time. As interesting as it is, it's hard to photograph. I finally gave up on "good" and just went for "expository." See the very odd angles of the front section? Note the interesting eaves brackets. It's not the only place in Astoria that has this type of ornate eaves bracket, but the other buildings don't have simiar "things" on the front. Is this a cross between a turret and a portico? Maybe someone can help me out. Also note the cement arch behind the power pole. Just for the record, this building is on Exchange near 16th.
This time it's not the angles are not the digital camera doing its thing, it really is a building with strange lines. Is this an odd blend between Victorian and Craftsman? Again, I have not taken time to do the research, but I always enjoy looking at this place and wondering about it. I would also like to rip off the electrical wiring and conduits and plunk it down into an idyllic rural setting. It makes me think of a lodge from around 1910.
This arch also intrigues me. Going with the idea of a turret, maybe the arch is a secret entrance to a fortress camouflaged as an apartment building.
About 10 feet deep in the recess of the arch is a door, apparently locked. The door is for people, not for vehicles, so thisi not one of the built-into-the-hillside garages one sees locally. In any event, I consider this odd place one of Astoria's man-made wonders.
I've been wanting to show you this building for a long time. As interesting as it is, it's hard to photograph. I finally gave up on "good" and just went for "expository." See the very odd angles of the front section? Note the interesting eaves brackets. It's not the only place in Astoria that has this type of ornate eaves bracket, but the other buildings don't have simiar "things" on the front. Is this a cross between a turret and a portico? Maybe someone can help me out. Also note the cement arch behind the power pole. Just for the record, this building is on Exchange near 16th.
This time it's not the angles are not the digital camera doing its thing, it really is a building with strange lines. Is this an odd blend between Victorian and Craftsman? Again, I have not taken time to do the research, but I always enjoy looking at this place and wondering about it. I would also like to rip off the electrical wiring and conduits and plunk it down into an idyllic rural setting. It makes me think of a lodge from around 1910.
This arch also intrigues me. Going with the idea of a turret, maybe the arch is a secret entrance to a fortress camouflaged as an apartment building.
About 10 feet deep in the recess of the arch is a door, apparently locked. The door is for people, not for vehicles, so thisi not one of the built-into-the-hillside garages one sees locally. In any event, I consider this odd place one of Astoria's man-made wonders.
11 comments:
Mortuary
Ever read a very old novel, the Hatter's Castle by A.J. Cronin? I read it many, many years ago, but it was the first thing that came to mind looking at this.
It's a bit ramshackle and if it really is a mortuary then I'm not too surprised.
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Sorry, I didnn't mean to imply it was currently a mortuary, but from what I recall about that structure it was built and used as funeral home then converted to appartment dwellings.
Great architecture home / castle...
Probably built by some goofy Scandinavia relative of mine in times past!
Very interesting building that raises a lot more questions than it answers.
So, you're a photographer with a license ... go knock on the door, and find out first of all what the arch and the door are all about!
I'll sit down here in Florida awaiting chapter 2 of this little adventure!
Heh, heh!
This building has driven me nuts for awhile, because I think the front part is part of some 1970s "upgrade or remodel". This is what happens when people don't respect the historical integrity of the building. At least that's what I've always assumed. I feel like the siding was added, and the porch was modified, later in it's life, because the back portion seems Italianate in nature, don't you think? I can only hope that in the future someone finds an older photo and puts it back.
Unfortunately, people continue to butcher some of the historic homes in town. Have you seen the one across from the baptist church on Irving? They're slapping some horrible vinyl windows on it and have totally destroyed the front of the home.
I remember being told that the place was built as a common 4-plex early in the 1900s, and the structure in front was added later, maybe the 1950s.
The street level tunnel is where they wheeled the corpses into the bowels of building. Then all kinds of bizarre business would go down.
Whatever it is but very beautiful and old !! I loiked it !
I remember reading or seeing pix somewhere about it. something happened in the spirit of your grandmother's house. Find John Goodenberger. he'll tell you.
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