Endangered Houses: 725 Exchange

I have a terrible affliction.

I want to save every old, endangered house I come across.

The affliction is powerful and debilitating.

When I was in high school, I was riding my bike along Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, Florida, and stopped dead in my tracks in front of a lovely 1920s bungalow. It looked immaculate, but all its window sashes were missing. This was an ominous sign.

The front door was also gone, so I walked right in.

And gasped. The living room floor had the most stunning and intricate wood parquet I had ever seen.

In the dining room was another wholly different pattern of dazzling, intricate parquet.

So, too, the bedroom hall. And in the two bedrooms.

Such floors are unusual even in mansions, so what were they doing in this sweet bungalow? And why all the rooms, when even in a mansion such floors would only be in the main rooms?

And why were the windows and front door missing?

Some research discovered that this fine home, which until just recently had obviously been deeply beloved (based on its immaculate condition, the missing bits notwithstanding), was being knocked to the ground to make way for Interstate I-95.

THIS fabulous home with THESE world-class floors was being bulldozed?

I could not get my head around the concept.

Had the world gone totally insane?

Many decades later I still think of the bungalow, and looking back realize that it had either been built as a showroom for a parquet company, or, as I suspect, was built by a parquet floor installer. This was his work. And he was proud. I would have been honored to have met the man.

Sigh.

So, as you can see, my affliction is of long standing.

 

725 Exchange, Emporia, Kansas

As I wander around Emporia I cannot help but notice houses which look endangered.

Two blocks due north from the Cross House is 725 Union. It has been condemned by the city. At a glance it does not look like much, and I have no doubt that very few people would see what I see. To my eyes, the house is a worthy restoration candidate, and, once restored, I have no doubt that buyers would flock to it — if I could get my hands on it.

The house is one of the oldest in the city, and may date as early as the 1860s. It is no later than the 1870s.

The house is petite, and I would make it more so by lopping off the rear, non-original addition.

 

The original front porch would have been more delicate in appearance.

The original front porch would have been more delicate in appearance.

 

I love the tall, thin windows. The shutters are, obviously, not original.

I love the tall, thin windows. The shutters are, obviously, not original.

 

The house sits on a corner lot. This is the rear extension, which is original. Over to the right is an addition. I would lop it off. The porch communes may be original. There have lost their decorative bits, and the bottoms have been girdled (due to rotted ends).

The house sits on a corner lot. This is the rear extension, which is original. Over to the right is an addition. I would lop it off. The porch columns may be original. They have lost their decorative bits, and the bottoms have been girdled (due to rotted ends).

 

Oh. Dear.

Oh. Dear.

 

One of my favorite things about the house is the first-floor windows. They are thin and LONG. The windows all seem in situ, and retain their distinctive, beefy trim. Yum.

One of my favorite things about the house are its first-floor windows. They are thin and LONG. The windows all seem in situ, and retain their distinctive, beefy trim. Yum.

 

Now, THIS just makes me go crazy. The windows beautifully rest right atop the high base molding. Delicious.

Now, THIS just makes me crazy. The windows beautifully rest right atop the high base molding. Delicious.

 

There is a beautiful south-facing bay. The perfect place for a small dining table.

There is a wonderful south-facing bay. The perfect place for a small dining table.

 

Outside the bay are lovely details.

Outside the bay are lovely details.

 

The upstairs hall. Yes, I agree, a fright, but is is spatially quite remarkable. I LOVE IT.

The upstairs hall. Yes, I agree, a fright, but it is spatially quite remarkable. I LOVE IT. There are three bedrooms upstairs, and each is charmingly tucked under the eaves. Each has a delightful very low window, and the two gable-end bedrooms each has a normal-sized window as well.

 

It is hard to appreciate this image due to the mess, but look close. See the remarkable paneled door with the angled top? Wow.

It is hard to appreciate this image due to the mess, but look close. See the remarkable paneled door with the angled top? Wow.

 

Luckily, the surrounding houses are all in much better shape, and the house right next door is quite sweet.

Luckily, the surrounding houses are all in much better shape, and the house right next door is quite sweet.

 

I fear that there is zero hope for 725 Exchange but that will not stop me from making some calls to see if anything can be done to save the house. I fully appreciate that in its current condition almost nobody would agree that the house might have value. But the house does have value. Not only for its historical associations, but having an empty lot on the corner does not actually make the neighborhood better. An empty lot also reduces the tax rolls, so everybody else’s property tax will get a bit higher. And having one less family in the city is not good.

If the population of Emporia were in decline, as is not uncommon, then, no, this house just could not be saved. It would make no sense. But Emporia is not in decline.

And, I bet that this home, restored, would be a lot more attractive than any new home built on site. Morever, having the home restored is MORE a likelihood than anybody building on the site. New home builders tend to want more land.

Sigh.

4 Comments

  1. Nate Bayless on September 14, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    Ross, I feel ya. After living in old brownstone houses in Chicago and experiencing true craft houses, then moving to New Orleans where wrought iron rails, slate roofs and brick streets 150 years old ADD to the appeal of the city…I returned to the new construction of KC…suburbs built in South Johnson county where cheap labor builds copycat homes out of particle board and paints them in such bland colors that there is now a name for it….Johnson County Beige. I am intrigued that you mention Emporias population is not in decline and glad to hear it! It strikes me that ESU is the key (as education almost always is) to a growing and expanding community. I hope that you find the perfect handy family to rebuild the cool little house, I hate to see good stuff go to waste!!!

    • Ross on September 15, 2014 at 2:54 am

      Hi Nate!

      Nice to meet you!

      I double checked, and in 1950 the Emporia population was about 15,000. This increased steadily to the year 2000 when the population hit about 25,000. This then dipped by 2,000 people, but the census estimates indicate a subsequent increase.

      So, I am crossing my fingers that the population is stable!

  2. Becky DeJesus on January 4, 2015 at 4:35 am

    It is gone now. 🙁

    • Ross on January 4, 2015 at 4:38 am

      I know. Thanks. I am sad, too.

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