Lizzie's Neighborhood -Painted Ladies

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:09 pm

Driving around today, I always enjoy looking at some of the mammoth Victorians up "on the hill". Many are multi-family now, just imagine only one family having all of these rooms in 1892. I suspect if and when Lizzie called at one of these mansions or went to social meetings for the church in one of these parlors, she must have longed for something as grand. I would! This one is just a stone's throw from Maplecroft, on Belmont St .

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:11 pm

Here's a beauty on the corner of High St. and Lincoln- just needs a little fresh paint and powder.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:13 pm

A little further south on Belmont-

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:15 pm

Just for contrast- these are in the south end of town, one of the famous Triple Deckers inhabited by millworkers and their families. This is taken on the front lawn of Lizzie's Morgan Street school.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:17 pm

Now at least people on the third floor have an exit in case of fire.

Smudgeman · Post by **Smudgeman** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:32 pm

Great photos Shelley! I simply love old Victorian houses! The 1st and second pictures are my favorites. Me and my dad built a Victorian dollhouse for my sister one year for christmas, complete with hardwood floors , wallpaper, fireplaces, pianos, etc. It was alot of fun.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:00 pm

Beautiful, beautiful pictures Shelley. THANK YOU for posting them !

Tracy...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:33 pm

Great pics, Shelley! Thanks for sharing them with us! Nothing more elegant than a well cared for Victorian home.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:36 pm

I love these old houses too. I grew up in one -not as grand though. I thought maybe I would try to photograph a few every week in Lizzie's immediate neighborhood. There is such a contrast between The Hill and the commercial and mill areas of the south end. There is even a beauty for sale on Rock street about 4 doors up the street from the Historical Society. I think the Lizzie B Forum needs a headquarters Stef!

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 3:15 pm

I, too, love old Victorian houses. I think I would have wanted one of those houses if I was Lizzie. I can see where she would be alittle depressed seeing all these people she going to church with and things living in one of those houses, and Andy dearest is too cheap to get one. I guess Andrew was too tight with his money to buy anything like that. A penny saved is a penny earned. I am almost surpriesed he didnt make LIzzie and Emma go to work somewhere, like a bookstore or something. Just so they could learn the value of a dollar.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:27 pm

#1 Oct 21
It was perfect weather for viewing the Painted Ladies after the storm. Here's the recently renovated FRHS tea house which will feature a special Christmas tea in December. This may be the last weekend for the magnificent foliage which could make a Yankee out of anyone!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:31 pm

#2 The front of the teahouse with its fiery tree.

The interiors are spectacular with rescued Fall River landmark fixtures including one from the old Durfee theatre.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:35 pm

#3
Walking up French Street- a beautiful sunny yellow Colonial revival home-

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:45 pm

#4 A great Halloweeny tree on French St.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:48 pm

#5
McWhirr House on French St.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:55 pm

#6 A view down French with the Taunton River in the distance

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:59 pm

#7 Another view of the McWhirr-Hathaway house on French, built in 1897

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:02 pm

#8 The front pediment McWhirr-Hathaway house.
Lizzie could look right out her window and see this one being built.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:07 pm

#9 Corner of High and French

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:09 pm

#10

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:14 pm

#11 Maplecroft's famous front maple all but bare.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:18 pm

#12
Looking across the street from Maplecroft, this Painted Lady had massive additions put on about 2 years ago.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:32 pm

#13

A peek through the Morning Glories over Maplecroft's neighbor's fence. In the distance can be seen Lizzie's bedroom and chimney of stone.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:38 pm

#14
Last rose of summer on the way down the hill to the river.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:41 pm

#15 Corner of Rock and Prospect- two beauties in wonderful condition.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:45 pm

#16 in series Oct 21 (1-15 previous page)
Workman laying a new roof at the corner of Prospect and Rock across from the houses last on the previous page. They stopped and watched and wondered no doubt why anybody wanted a photo!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:55 pm

#17 My favorite at the corner of French and Rock, a maroon and gray confection worthy of The Hill.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:59 pm

#18 A luscious plum-colored door on French.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:02 am

#19
And the house to go with the door- Corner of Belmont and French.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:49 am

Wow, the painted ladies are fantastic. Great photos! Makes me feel like I'm there.

I hope you told the roofers not to leave a hatchet up there. Can't start that story again.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:24 am

Actually it was their shingling hatchets which got my attention!

Only in Fall River. . . . .

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:36 pm

Thanks for the beatiful pictures Shelley!! When you see some of what Lizzie could have bought she really didn't really go hog wild with the money. She was rather concervative.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:38 am

Yes, I agree- conservative and even a little modern for the times! As high Victorian excesses faded away to cleaner Edwardian lines in clothing and architecture, Lizzie was very avant garde! The great beauty of Maplecroft lies inside, with lovely moldings, woodwork and built-in window seats and storage, stained glass, Tiffany glass scones, modern plumbing,and gracious proportions. I expect after living with Andrew's heavy old 1850's Renaissance Revival walnut, dark colors and chamber pots Lizzie got the fresh new decorating ideas and furnishings. Her library with its carved mantle, eastern exposure with morning sun streaming in, french doors leading into her bookroom, and stained glass must have been a real fairyland to a lady who loved books.

A delicate B is on the frosted glass door going into the back porch kitchen door, and I picture her in her breakfast nook on the west side of the house off the kitchen, having toast and marmalade, and pots of tea in her own monogrammed silver service, bending down to feed her beloved Boston Bull terrier a bit of crust . I would bet she kept right up with changing styles, too.

shakiboo · Post by **shakiboo** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:13 pm

I know at first it was Lizzie and Emma's house, they bought it and lived in it, but I just can't picture Emma having anything to do with it. She somehow always fades to the background. Nothing at Maplecroft even says she had been there....

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:02 pm

Shelley, here's a possible subject for a painted lady. This is an early 1900's shot of Lincoln Ave. in FR. Mr. Dube's son, Mike, who used to post once in a while to this forum, said that the house on the left was still there. He said it was smaller than Maplecroft. Perhaps if you are in that area you can take a photo. It would be nice to be able to compare photos.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:13 pm

Shelley, never mind. Just found it on the FR property values site. It's 218 Lincoln. It does look smaller than Maplecroft.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:04 pm

She is a real beauty- I think we should open a B&B!
Dare I ask the price? In the words of that old song, "I'll do the cookin', honey- you pay the rent!"

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 3:06 pm

I wonder, Harry- the McWhirr-Hathaway house on French, do you suppose it is the McWhirr department store folks? It might be in the street directory.Oh boy, I love those telephone poles with the glass insulators- and what's scarier- I remember them!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:58 am

In the 1946 City Directory, I find:
Hathaway, Jos H. (Margt McWhirr) h 243 French

Under "McWhirr" there was no listing other than the store.

Harry, does that mean "Margt" died- because she is in parenthesis?

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:26 am

Shelley @ Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:06 pm wrote:I wonder, Harry- the McWhirr-Hathaway house on French, do you suppose it is the McWhirr department store folks? It might be in the street directory.Oh boy, I love those telephone poles with the glass insulators- and what's scarier- I remember them!

Apparently the McWhirrs lived on High St. The 1896 city directory lists the following for the only McWhirr:

McWhirr, Elizabeth, widow of Robert A., house 772 High.

The store is listed as R. A. McWhirr & Co., dry and fancy goods, carpets and millinery, 175 South Main.

I checked the current Patriot Property listings for 772 High St. There is no entry for that address. There is a possibility it could have been renumbered again since 1896.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:30 am

Kat @ Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:58 am wrote:In the 1946 City Directory, I find:
Hathaway, Jos H. (Margt McWhirr) h 243 French

Under "McWhirr" there was no listing other than the store.

Harry, does that mean "Margt" died- because she is in parenthesis?

I've never seen that type of entry before. The ones I have seen for deceased persons usually have said "Smith, John died blah, blah blah" giving the date.

I've only seen the 1892 and 1896 directories so maybe by 1946 they changed the method of showing information.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:53 pm

Here's a question - this is the John Blaisdell house circa 1858- any relation to our Blaisdell?

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:59 pm

Scary Painted Lady! Not many Halloween decorations on the Hill- Love the crime scene tape on the door on this grand old gal.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:00 pm

One of Judge Blaisdell's sons was named John E. He died in 1903. Len told me he is buried in the Blaisdell plot in Oak Grove.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:01 pm

Here's everyone's favorite on Rock just after the Historical Society. Looks like Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs might pop out.

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:25 pm

Lady in Distress

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:50 pm

772 High Street in the rain-no orbs- just raindrops!
It really is an enormous house-fit for a McWhirr.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:37 pm

Wow, beautiful house, I would love to see it picked out in true Victorian fashion. Right now it kind of looks like a woman with her foundation make-up on but no blush or mascara or lipstick.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:52 pm

Yes it does, actually. I'm beginning to sure appreciate "White" tho as a color. Using white primer indoors and boy does it make everything look clean and new!

Shelley · Post by **Shelley** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:21 pm

Oh- no make-up! I love it. An Unpainted Lady!