Phyllis's House
A home, argues Clare Cooper Marcus, is a mirror of our selves. Its architecture, detailing, and bric-a-brac reflect the desire of its resident to represent themselves and their identity. Built in 1929 by John D. Erb, this small duplex has served as a home to many tenants and has poignantly and symbolically served to represent their personalities. In keeping with the sense of the past, the house itself remains mostly unchanged, with preserved woodwork and an early sunroom add-on.
The plan of the house is divided into two sides, with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the right side and the kitchen, dining, and living rooms on the left. There is also a sunroom, that matches the style and finish of the house, in the rear that is accessed through the back bedroom. The only other transformations that have been made to the plan are adjusted door swings, indicating different room uses and security desires over time. This house is thoroughly finished with wood trim in every room, a false fireplace, coved ceilings in the dining room and entryway, built-in cabinets in the dining room, and an arched entryway into the living room. Ornamental forced air grates are placed throughout the home, giving a sense of the past industrial era. This careful ornamentation and finish is important because it reflects the original homebuilder and owner’s intentions. The detailing, extravagant ornaments, and even the false fireplace, create an illusion of wealth, refinement and social status that masks the small size of this house. The building continues be personalized by the current owner who has displayed awards, certificates, photos, paintings, and other meaningful items on the walls, giving a sense of identity throughout the house. Occupancy timeline:
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