Where Else but Black Rock....

can you get home from work, take the dog for a swim, run three miles with her, then take her for another swim -- all before dinner?

Not a lot of cities can offer a perk like this.

Buffalo Brick Beauties on the Register

Check these out:

1 North Pearl Street
17 North Pearl Street
18 North Pearl Street
34 North Pearl Street
47 North Pearl Street
56 North Pearl Street
74 North Pearl Street
120 North Pearl Street


Brick Eye Candy to be sure!!!

More Canal History

Sometimes an old house is all we have left of a forgotten part of the past.  In the case of the structure I am showing today, the forgotten piece of history is a canal.  And of course you can often find old early 19th century Georgians near a canal.  In the case of this instance, the city is Dundas, Ontario in Canada.

In this case, the old Georgian was not a residence, it was a customs house.  Along with a walking trail (which used to be the canal), this structure is part of an old and troubled canal that most people probably don't know about.  Here's a jumble of historic information....

Southern Ontario, near the Niagara was heavily populated on purpose. After the Revolutionary war, Britain wanted to populate the border near the United States as densely as possible.  Lots of incentives were offered for settlers to move there.  When you see Georgian structures they are often more elaborate in style keeping with homage to the mighty King George for whom the style was named.  You'll see more Georgians in Niagara on the Lake that conform to the more formal English style, and the more vernacular styles on the American side.

But on to canals....  When taking the train to Toronto, you'll pass over a bay/inlet in Burlington.  This is a sandy/loamy part of the lake that was never easily navigable.  Back in the early 1800's a gentleman by the name of Desjardin had the idea to build a canal.  He figured this would be a profitable way to help ships bring goods inlad through the bay in a less difficult fashion.  It was not easy for Desjardin to line up financing.  The Welland Canal was a competitor.  Investors were not easy to find.  But the canal was built.

The Desjardin canal was not a rousing success.  In fact, when it's creator died, he was found in a basement, killed by unknown means and his cause of death was said to be "by God's actions" or some such nonesense.  Some speculate he was trying to collect on debts owned to him.  Even though his venture failed in the end and he died broke, he was still in need of funds from his investors.

The custom house is on a very busy intersection in the City of Dundas. It is being used as a Physical Therapy offce.  It's never been a residence and although it is build of limestone and not brick, it still shares a very similar aesthetic to the Dayton House.  It also shares a canal history.

These isolated structures are often all that survive today when it comes to forgotten pieces of the past.

Historic Georgians in NY State

There are only about 5 houses listed on the Historic Register in NY State that are of brick construction in the Georgian style dating back to the same era as our Dayton House.  To add to the rarity of the house, only three of those structures are three-bay designs.  The Dayton House has characteristics that are shared between the three buildings but it is unique.

Hunting down information on the three buildings was not too easy.  The one house that has the best chance of being similar is located near Lake Champlain in Essex County, NY.  True to what I’ve posted before, the house was predictably found one block from a major body of water.  That’s good support for the theory that if you want to find a brick house like Old Man Dayton, look a block from the water!  In the early 19th century, Lake Champlain was one of the busiest ports in the country.

The Abraham Aiken House can be found at 22 Lakeshore Rd, Willsboro, NY

 Willsboro, NY:

Although I did a lot of searching, I could not find an image to compare it.  But I was able to find that it is a three bay Georgian.  Of the five or six homes on the registry in New York State, many of the Georgian homes are five bay with a center entrance.  That rules them out in my mind for being in the same category.  The Dayton house is more of a "vernacular" version of the style and I am guessing the Aiken house is too.   If I get a chance (which is not likely any time soon) to get to Lake Champlain I’ll try to see this house.  Unlike the Lewis P. Dayton House, this was an agricultural/farm home so it will probably be a little different – but my guess is that it will also share many similarities.

The Dayton's Corners School is a one-room school building in the town of Penfield, New York erected in 1857.  It’s not a house, but the style is very similar to our Dayton House – and another coincidence as far as the name goes (see the post about the Dayton House in Lima, NY).

I have not seen this structure in person but during the summer drive in close enough proximity to it on the way to our camp at Sodus Bay.  Driving through the Lake Ontario country-side gives us an opportunity to see many old brick structures that are similar to the Italianate period of our house.  But we have yet to see one old enough and in the same Georgian style as ours.  We have seen many beautiful brick homes in Lyons near the canal and there is one that comes close.

The Smith-Ripley House, which is now The Ripley House Museum, is a historic home located in Adams in Jefferson County, New York.  This might be compared to our Dayton House on steroids.  It’s a grander example of the three bay Georgian style:



What I am finding is that the Dayton house really is turning out to be an unique and a rare surviving example of a style and period of building.  This one reason we were successful in gaining registry status.   I'm going to continue to look for more and post about them when I find them. Happy Hunting!

Milling

This house is on the Western side of the Welland Canal in Port Colborne.  It is on the South end of King Street before the road becomes commercial.  It is a short distance from the ADM mill.  I find more of these old brick houses near at the ends of the canals.  As is usually the case, I find one -- but rarely more.

Milling likely played a key role in the construction of these types of brick houses.  Mill and factory owners would have been the ones to build grand homes, while the other lots were used to house workers.

The ADM mill in Port Colborne is part of a large conglomerate (Archer Daniel Midland) that also owns a mill in Buffalo.  At one time, Buffalo was the grain center of America (c. 1925).  Mills in Black Rock were productive and important in the early part of the 19^th century but ultimately failed to succeed because they could not compete with the facilities that were built on the harbor in Buffalo.  The mills in Black Rock never fully harnessed water power – rather than relying on the current of the Niagara River and instead used a small water fall that was created between the canal and the river.

The mills in Black Rock burned down and that form of industry died out.  The earliest mills were the Globe and North Buffalo Mills.  Managers from the Globe mill ended up opening the Thornton and Chester Milling Company.  From tracing the title of the Dayton House while researching for the registry application, we found that one occupant was the manager/CEO of the Chester Milling Company.

People always think of the mills downtown as the only evidence of the predominance of Buffalo in the grain industry.    There are really no vestiges of the industry as it once existed in Black Rock, other than the few remaining homes that housed the residents connected to the mills.

Port Colborne

Port Colburne is a town in situated at the South end of the Welland Canal.  It shares a few similarities with Black Rock.  The town was founded in 1832 and like Black Rock, life revolved around a canal.  The Welland Canal connects Lakes Erie and Ontario.  Today's canal was not the original -- there was an earlier version that opened in 1829.  It took five years to build the 26 mile waterway.

The main source of industry in the early days of the Welland Canal were nickel mining.  That industry benefited from the hydro power of Niagara Falls.  The town was prosperous enough to have a healthy start, but like Buffalo, the prosperity did not continue.  Unlike Buffalo, Port Colborne's canal never went out of use and is well used today.  The first ship to pass through the canal did go to Buffalo.

Like Black Rock, Port Colburne has a few old brick  houses that are similar in style to the Dayton House.  This once again proves the theory that you can find these old structures within close proximity of a canal.  Unfortunately, these houses have not fared well.  I have looked and looked along the canal for a surviving old brick example of domestic building for the early canal period, but come up empty  handed.  Here's what's left:

The first house I found is located on the aerial photo in the area I've circled.  This is closer to the terminus of the canal and is probably the oldest of the three structures I found.

The house is no longer occupied as a Residential structure.  Is is part of an industrial property -- a recycling/scrap facility.  The first picture faces South and is the front of the building.  This is a five bay Georgian style.  The addition seems to be a later addition and looks as if it is a separate area.  The second picture is a side view.  As you can tell, this house is a gonner in so many ways.  I don't think it will ever serve as a home again.  Sad!

Further down the road, you have two brick homes that are side by side and both constructed during the same period.  These resemble the Dayton House but there are a few differences as well.  These were also converted from residential to commercial use.  The integrity of the structures have been greatly compromised.  They are obviously in a serious state of deterioration. 

These examples are another example of how rare it is for these canal era brick residences to survive intact.  The ones that I find are always in a very sad state.  That in turn makes me sad.  But it also makes me feel very fortunate for being blessed with the house.  The old brick man is a survivor and I think he still has many strong years ahead of him.  In fact, bearing any great tragedy, I see no reason why the Dayton House won't survive long into the future.  The house has beat the odds for sure!

A Distant Cousin

The Dayton House has a cousin in Bern, NC.  Gary Rogers found it and sent me pictures.  This house is in much rougher shape than the Dayton House -- but it's also for sale so if you want a fixer-upper, this one is 150K.  It's a smaller house -- this is just what the original section of the Dayton House was built like.  But other than the door being on the opposite side, these could be considered doppelgangers!  Thanks to Gary for sharing.... his wife would not let him buy it.

I work with appraisers and assessors and one gentlemen gave me a tip that if I want to find houses like mine, to look in similar areas -- in our case a block from a river.  He said if I went on these old brick house hunts near rivers, I'd find more examples.  As it turns out, the 218 Front Street is one block from the river!

Here is a more frontal view of the house.  You'll see that only two of the chimneys remain and the roof isn't as steeply pitched as Old Man Dayton's is -- that's the work of the Italianate update. You can see scorch marks on the bricks in the attic of the Dayton House which show where the original roof line fell.  The Italianate update probably came as a result of a fire.

I just love these old piles of brick and will continue to hunt for them!

Those Green Recycling Totes and Squaw Island

The Dayton House is now using the big green recycling tote distributed by the City.  Prior to that, the blue bin was regularly overflowing with recyclables.  Recycling has become an important part of life in Buffalo and its evolution is linked to Squaw Island – thus giving it a tie in to Black Rock and the Dayton House.

It’s probably been almost a decade since the old incinerator was taken down.  That polluting monstrosity was located on Squaw Island, an abandoned eye-sore.  The island has always had a hill used by neighborhood kids for sledding.  Back in the days of the incinerator, it was not a cheery Currier and Ives sort of past time either.  The island was a dumping ground and not worth spending much time on.

Things have changed and we have, among other things, the city’s recycling program to thank for it.  Recycling has cut down on the amount of waste the city must dispose of.  Activists and scientists have succeeded in convincing civic leaders that burning trash is a costly method of trash disposal – both fiscally and environmentally.  That the incinerator on Squaw Island had to come down was evident to all.  The positive result of its removal and the improvements made to the island is indisputable.

I only hiked over to the island with my dog once in the pre-park days.  The experience left me disgusted.  My dog wanted to swim in the pond, but there was garbage, clumps of weeds and other murky stuff in it.  We returned home disgusted. I was afraid she might have picked up a leach or tics, or who knows what other sort of parasite lurking in the muck.

Now the pond is cleaned up.  The area is clear and grassy.  The ballasted area at the end of the island is a haven for birds – and can make a decent swimming spot for a dog (though truthfully, I feel the constantly flowing river is safer because it can’t gather parasites).  The paths along the park are great for walking, running, riding and just relaxing.

The first year the incinerator was down, we had an influx of bats and rodents.  The new trash bins and having a dog in residence helped with that a lot.  Back in those days, our house was one of the few who religiously filled their blue totes to overflowing.  Now it’s just the way things are done.  Recycling initiatives have led to the beautification of Squaw Island, though not very many people realize this.  Were it not for alternative ways to process trash, it may very likely have been necessary to keep that horrid dump open.

Black Rock Sunset

Rushed home tonight in hopes of catching the sunset at the river.  We just made it!  The sun was dipping below the horizon at 5:53PM.  It was cold and windy but it was also a great opportunity for me to get the dog out for a serious 20 minute round of fetch.  In the winter, we jog around Delaware Park but if I can get in any amount of daylight, then it's the neighborhood for us; Tow Path Park at the foot of Hertel for our first choice.

This is a great way to end the day!  And a tired dog will always be happy  -- doubly so her people.  Black Rock might need to be renamed "Bark Rock" from her perspective...

Eat Local -- Emily's

There is a side bar to this blog if you scroll down a bit listing some great places to eat in Black Rock.  Here's a picture of tonight's fish fry from Emily's.  The restaurant is up on Hertel and Tonawanda.  It's one of our favorite local spots.  A nice couple owns it and they make all of the food on the premises.  You'll always run into someone you know there -- or someone who knows someone you know!

One thing that might not immediately stand out is the tartar sauce.  It's not served in a plastic container sealed in foil.  It's because they really do make everything they serve.  Nothing is food service.  It's all prepared fresh.  This makes everything you order extra delicious.  If you drive by at any time and don't see a lot of patrons, it doesn't mean they aren't busy.  They are cooking and baking all of the time.

A fish fry is $8.99.  We had New England clam chowder as our started and then a side of fries.  Dinner for two with pop came to $24.00 (that includes tax) -- making the place affordable on top of it all.  It makes sense to eat local and support local businesses -- but if you don't live in Black Rock, come down here and try the place.   You won't be sorry!

A Blast -- and Twin from the Past!

This is the very first incarnation of Millard Fillmore hospital.  It’s pretty cool because it looks just like what the Dayton House would have looked like prior to the Italianate update.  What’s even more of a coincidence, I guess, is that Lewis P. Dayton was a doctor.

Back at that time, the practices of medicine were pretty barbaric and unsuccessful.  Most doctors weren’t formally educated and did not have medical degrees or licenses.  Dr. Augustus Hoxsie developed what is known today as “Homeopathic Medicine.”  The principles are much like our modern science of immunology.  Needing a place to practice this form of medicine, his wife raised funds to build a hospital.  The first building that served as the hospital was a modest three story house at the corner of Washington and North Division Streets. It was rented in 1872 , equipment purchased, and the Buffalo Homeopathic Hospital opened in October of that same year. The staff included six physicians, a nurse, a janitor and house cleaning staff. In the beginning, the hospital could accommodate only three patients.

The hospital quickly expanded and is now operating at Gates Circle (although soon to close and relocate).  M&T Plaza now occupies the site where this home once stood.  Homeopathy has never fallen out of practice and that its birth in the US as a modern form of medicine can be traced to Buffalo is one more thing for our city to be proud of.

And it’s pretty cool that the first hospital looks a lot like the Dayton House!

Great Opportunities!

There is a lot of good news for owners of historic properties like the Dayton House.  The tax credits available as a result of the historic status of these houses means that energy efficient repairs and upgrades are potentially eligible for a 20% credit (i.e. refund) on your income tax.  The amount spent must be at least five thousand dollars.  This amount may be daunting for those who don’t have the cash to put into the house to begin with.

Well, there is a new program offered by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority which may make the cash part of the idea doable for those in historic homes with good credit but not a lot of cash on hand.  It is the On-Bill Recovery Loan program which was announced this week.

Eligible homeowners can finance approved improvements with a low interest loan.  The payments are figured in as part of your monthly utility bill. The interest rate is fixed at just below three percent.  There is a processing fee of $150 and you can borrow up to 13K.  Your monthly installment is not supposed to exceed the amount of savings you will realize by making the repair or upgrade.  You can also pay the loan off early if you’d like. For details on the program, click here.

Things that would qualify for the loan would be air sealing, insulation, boilers, water heaters, air conditioners, light fixtures and some appliances.  Not all of these things would qualify for the historic tax credit but many would.  The work must be done by an Energy Star certified contractor.

One thing we had always wanted to do was put in an exhaust fan in the attic.  That would likely qualify for both the loan program and the historic tax credit.  So might gas inserts for the fireplaces.  Another nice thing about the loan is that it is transferable to the next owner.

Given that the historic tax credit is 20%, you would still come out ahead by taking out the loan – in fact, the credit basically pays for the interest!  And best of all, you’d be helping the house and the environment.

Squaw Island – The Black Rock Channel

Squaw Island is an important component of Black Rock.  Historically and environmentally, its impact cannot be underestimated.  In posting about it, I’m including Rich’s Marina and boat yard along with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Black Rock channel.  These are integrated components that figure very much into life and history in the neighborhood.  The marina is a great place to walk and the Army Corps basically controls the river.

Squaw Island actually contains two park areas; one on the North end which is noted on this map along with Broderick Park, which is on the Southern end and falls outside of Black Rock.  I have already posted about the International Railroad Bridge so there’s no reason to revisit that – but its worth to note it on the map because it is there. 

When I posted about gulling and the Atlantic Flyway as it cuts through the neighborhood, I mention the jetty where the birds congregate.  There is a jetty on the South end of the Island which is known as the Bird Island pier – this should not be confused with the small jetty up in Black Rock.  “In the old days” the section of the city that contains what remains today of the Bird Island pier was considered “Upper Black Rock” but today it’s more or less part of the “West Side.”  The Dayton House is located North of the creek, which was considered “Lower Black Rock.” Head on over to Delish or the Black Rock Kitchen and Bar on Amherst St. and you'll be in what was considered "Downtown Black Rock."

The Black Rock Channel was an integral part of the old Erie Canal system and thus very important to the development of the village.  While the Erie Canal is now defunct as a shipping lane, the lock in Black Rock is still in use.  It is operated by the Army Corps.   The water level is raised and lowered for ships and the International Bridge span over the creek is turned for that purpose as well.

There will be mornings where you will hear a ship/tankers fog horn in the early morning hours.  If you drive on the 190 on your way to work, you’ll most likely see the tanker that is soon to be or may have just passed through the lock.  The big question might be where they are going to or from.  After all, the canal system is shut down.  And the only other path up North passes through Niagara Falls! 

Actually, most tankers that pass through are either destined for the fuel storage tank lines near the Grand Island Bridge or else they are delivering coal to the Huntley Power Station.  Sometimes you will see a garbage barge as well. It is very interesting to see the water level in the lock raise and lower in order to facilitate navigation.

Recreational boaters use the channel too.  There are specific hours of operation and a seasonal schedule that must be adhered to.  The channel is also a popular route for kayakers.  It is protected from the stronger current of the river and there are great opportunities to observe nature.  In the winter, ice fishing is a popular (if not perplexing) past time too.

One unfortunate aspect of the channel is that it receives run-off from the creek.  The creek is highly polluted.  For that reason, it is not advisable to swim in the channel.  While it is fun to take the dog for a swim in the river, this is one area we avoid.  After last year’s big fire on Chandler Street, the EPA put up warning signs about swimming.  Riverkeeper and local neighborhood groups are doing a lot to clean up the creek and take care of the area.  The conditions improve from year to year. 

The importance of the channel from an historic standpoint can’t be ignored, but even more importantly, the recreational aspects of it and it’s close proximity to the Dayton House plays a part in the quality of life for those who live there.



The Other Dayton House

243 is not the only “Dayton House” listed in the National Register.  There is a Dayton House in Lima, NY which was certified 8/31/1989.  It is a structure of local significance which I have not had any real time to research but I am curious about it.

Lewis P. Dayton owned his home in Black Rock in the 1860’s.  Prior to moving to Buffalo/Black Rock, he went to medical school in Geneva, NY.  Lima, NY is not very far from Geneva by today’s standards, but it would probably have been a bit of a trek back in Dayton’s day.  However, maybe it is possible that the same family was involved in both historic structures?  If so, it would be pretty cool!

Here’s a map of where to find the house in Lima:

The house shares many similarities. It was built about 1844 and expanded and upgraded in 1850s / 1860s. It is a two story, three bay dwelling with Greek Revival form and an overlay of Italianate and Gothic Revival design elements.  The Black Rock Dayton House doesn’t contain Gothic Revival touches but it certainly is Greek Revival with a later addition of Italianate.

Here’s a picture of the house from Google Streetview:

The structure is not brick but it carries somewhat similar design components.  The architect/builder is listed as David Dayton.   It is likely that the original roof of the Black Rock Dayton House was the same pitch and configuration as this one.  The three bay first story design is the same too, except for the door being on the right instead of the left.

I would be interesting to get a hold of this homes application to find out if there is any relationship between the Lewis P. Dayton who owned 243 Dearborn and the Dayton’s who lived in Lima.  History is interesting, intriguing and often a bit of a puzzle!



ps. as a curious side/end note... we are moving to a smaller home (The Dayton House will have a new owner soon).  The house we are moving to is a curious combination of features that make it look as if it were a hybrid cross between our Dayton House and this Dayton house!

Atlantic Flyway

Buffalo gets a bad rap environmentally.  We are maligned for our snow and our industry among other things.  But one thing most people don’t know about; is that the region is an important part of the migratory path for birds known as The Atlantic Flyway. Birds heading north to Canada pass through territory encompassing Buffalo and out as far as Rochester.  The Niagara River is an important route on this path.

The Dayton House is located in the flyway and is just a short walk away from a spot that many gull watchers consider a hot spot for “Gulling.”  That is watching for Gulls, Terns and other migratory birds. 

In November, you can walk down to Rich marina and hear a cacophony of calls.  It is loud!  The Northern tip of Squaw Island is so full of birds that it almost looks like a coating of snow.  It is like that for about a month or so, then the flocks move on.

When you sit in the side yard sipping cocktails on a summer night, you can always see and hear gulls flying overhead.  As a person who grew up on an island, it’s a very comforting sound.  Once fall hits, the sound of geese starts in too.  A very nice aspect of the Dayton House and its location is that although we are in the city proper, many elements of nature are still close at hand.  Squaw Island and the Atlantic Flyway is one excellent example of this.

And it’s also pretty cool to watch bats circling the St. Francis bell tower!

John Esser at the Dayton House

One owner of the Datyon House that was of some consequence in the latter half of the 19^th century; was John Esser.  Esser was one of the partners who built the Banner Mill in Black Rock in the 1880’s.  He was also part of The Black Rock Land Company: The earliest developer of the area, the Black Rock Land Company, formed in 1888 as the first development company in the city. Comprised of John Hertel, John Esser, Frank Angus, Louis Roesch and Frederick Ullman, they sold the current site of RiversidePark, the former Germania Park to the city, for inclusion in the Buffalo Parks System. The names of many streets in the area reflect their influence here.

Esser Avenue is in Riverside, running between Tonawanda and Skillen Streets:

Along with ownership of the Dayton House, I have been told Esser also owned 87 Amherst Street:



It’s not always easy to determine which owners of the house actually occupied it because the title shows multiple names for certain periods.  At the time where Esser appears on the title, the only names are his and his wife’s.  It may have been that Esser owned and lived in the house either before or during the time 81 Amherst Street was being built. 

John Esser did not hold the same place in history as Mayor Dayton and as a result, it’s not easy to find information about him.  However, he had enough influence to have a street named after him.  He was also an important figure in the development of Black Rock and Riverside.  The Dayton House, as stated in previous posts, was not a home built or occupied by laborers.  It was the type of home that belonged to plant owners, managers or other positions of standing.  John Esser is another example of the type and stature of occupants who held title to the house.

It’s a Boiler, not a Furnace!

The Gas Breathing Dragons were serviced in October - A yearly committment

The cellar of the Dayton House is home to two gas breathing dragons; Dunkirk1 and Dunkirk2.  These are gas boilers and are the source of heat for the lower and upper floors, respectively.  People often refer to the permanently installed major heat providing appliance of a home as a “furnace,” but there is a difference between a furnace and a boiler.  A boiler differs from a furnace in that a boiler supplies heat via intermediary fluid movement – water or steam through a radiator.  In the case of the Dunkirks, they are residential gas boilers that feed water through a number of beautiful radiators throughout the house. 

Unlike a boiler, a furnace distributes heat through a blower.  To make it simple; Boiler = Water, Furnace = Air.  In a conventional boiler, fuel is burned and the hot gases produced are passed through a heat exchanger where much of their heat is transferred to water, thus raising the water's temperature.  This is highly effective form of heating and is ideal for allergy suffers as dust and mold are not blown through the house every time the heat kicks in.

These old-style boilers are not to everyone’s taste; however once you live with them you come to appreciate them as a steady type of heat that is attractive not only to humans, but small furry four-legged animals who like to curl up on or next to them for warmth.  They are easy to service and require a yearly check-up and a periodic twist of a key to let excess air out of each radiator.  We keep a collection of keys, which we’ll pass on to future caretakers.  The radiators work best when they are periodically bled of air.

While technology has made advancements and improvements on this form of heating, the standard form of hot water boilers are still in use in the Dayton House.  New high efficiency condensing boilers are now becoming popular in Europe but have not taken on wide-spread use in the US.  This is likely because their high prices don’t offer a very attractive return on investment as compared to the standard boiler like the Dunkirks in the cellar.  Dunkirk does make high efficiency condenser-type boilers and they, like their standard-style counterparts are well-made and dependable, with one of the best warranties in the business.  But at this point, it’s moot – the two gas breathing dragons in the basement are young and have many years of life ahead of them.

One note in regard to the two previous dragons that met the end of their days in the cellar; boilers use to be completely made of cast iron.  They were heavy.  It took two large men and a lot of effort to remove their carcasses for disposal.  The bottom two steps of the cellar were completely destroyed in the effort of transporting the old gas-breathers to their final resting place.  Anyone who has and old house that might still have an ancient cast-iron boiler needs to be advised; when you get a replacement, make sure installation includes removal of the old monster.  It’s not a job you want to do yourself!

Repoint or Remove?

The second/unused chimney has recently been repointed.   Since it is not used to vent anything, it would not have been worth it to rebuild it.  It was in good enough shape that replacing missing mortar did the job.  The chimney at the front of the house vents two boilers and a hot water heater.  That was completely rebuilt six or seven years ago.  That was a major job and cost a pretty penny.

The Dayton House gets a tax break because of its designation and also because it falls within a census tract.  It is harder for lower-income home owners to spend money on repairs that keep a house intact.  A chimney that is not used would very rarely if ever be repaired.  Because this house is historic and the chimney is a visually interesting element, it just seems  better to have it there.  The original section of the house had other chimneys that were removed -- most likely at the time of the Italianate update.

This house is across the street.  The second chimney here was just removed.

This one is two houses over.  The chimney wasn't repointed -- it was just covered with mud. 

Neither looks are very attractive.  We care a lot about this house, which is why we have chosen to preserve what we can.  The chimney is no exception!

It's a Cellar -- Not a Basement

This is a picture of an old-style cellar door, often referred to as a bulk-head.   In earlier days, the Dayton House almost certanly had a trap-door like this.  Eventually it was covered by what is now the side porch and the access is covered with a trap-door that is not unlike the one shown above, except that it is flush to the floor and covered with linoleum.  Old exterior basement doors are/were susceptible to rotting and rusting, and many of the old wood doors that still remained exposed to the elements end up ultimately being replaced by steel doors.   Keeping the doors in good condition is a crucial part of protecting a cellar from moisture, cold air and debris.   Luckily, the doors in the Dayton House are protected by a porch.

Modern steel doors look more like this:

Here’s an example of a bulkhead on a home near Delaware Park (66 Agassiz Circle, near the entrance to Medaille).  I picked this one as an example because it’s attached to a brick house and it is likely a configuration that existed on the Dayton House at some point.

Aside from the style, the type of foundation stone (cut and structure) along with the raised elevation marks this as home built much later than the Dayton House.

The trap door on the Dayton House is a very rudimentary form of access to a very rudimentary cellar.  The below-grade area of the house is not finished and never could be.  Aside from the fact that the foundation is a stone water table which is designed to attract moisture from the ground, finishing the basement and improving the access would make no sense.  Modern/current building code requires that furnished basements have two points of egress, which would mean either serious excavation, or a loss of living area to provide access directly through another point in the house.

In short, there is no reason to consider the type of entrance to the cellar as a problem.  The style and configuration is about the best that can be done for the style of cellar under the front portion of the house.  The below grade area of the home is the ideal place to locate the boilers and hot water tank and perhaps a stash of fine wine.  But other than that, its access is best left as is.

Black Rock Ingredients for New Year's Eve....

Lobster Ravioli from Gondola Pasta.  Big Chocolate Brownies from Carriage Trade Pastries.

In 2012, please support your local Black Rock merchants!!!