Shades of the 1850s haunt Bentley Street

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Such is the case with the wonderful home at 159 Bentley Street in Tottenville, which took quite a circuitous route to its current appearance.
   
Built before 1855 as a store-fronted building, most probably with living quarters in back and/or above, the land on which it sits was owned by — who else when one is discussing Tottenville? — an oysterman. This one’s name is Daniel Butler.
   
Walling’s Map of 1859 shows the large parcel with a building already standing shortly before the lot was divided into numbers 159 and 161 Bentley Street.
   
Number 159 was purchased from Daniel Butler and his wife, Catharine, Esther Johnson, Elizabeth Totten, Henry and Margaret Butler, Susan Ann Dod, Daniel B. and Eliza of Dissosway of New York City, Mary Shea and Mary M. Johnson of Middlesex County, by Clarissa Skidmore, “of the town of Westfield for $514.59.”
   
It is not known why so many people owned the property at the time of the sale, but it is fairly safe to assume they all inherited a portion of it at the time of the previous owner’s demise.
   
On May 15, 1900, Daniel B. Skidmore of Tottenville took possession of the property in lieu of a payment of $1,375 from James H. and Mary L. Skidmore, Frank W. and Sarah Skidmore, William B. and Rahel Skidmore and Eva M. Strayer, “wife of George O. Strayer. All those listed above, again, inherited the property, this time from Clarissa Skidmore. This particular deed included both 159 and 161 Bentley Street.
   
By 1926, Kenneth B. Strayer, residing at 159 Bentley Street, bought the southern portion of the property, probably 161 Bentley.

TWIN CHIMNEYS

The vintage dwelling at 159 Bentley originally was built with two chimneys on its right and left exterior walls. Constructed as it was before central heating, these most definitely would have meant there were fireplaces on both the first and second floors, all sharing the pair of chimneys. The home is three bays-wide and originally included a full-front porch.
    
A Works Progress Administration (WPA) photo taken circa 1940 reveals that sometime around the 1890s, Queen Anne turned porch posts had replaced the original classical columns built at the time of the home’s construction.

Porch Posts Columns - News


Shades of the 1850s haunt Bentley Street
Shades of the 1850s haunt Bentley Street

A Works Progress Administration (WPA) photo taken circa 1940 reveals that sometime around the 1890s, Queen Anne turned porch posts had replaced the original classical columns built at the time of the home's construction. The photo also reveals cedar



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“A porch is the place where we go to escape the stress of daily life and take the time to sit back, relax, and enjoy life. It is also a great way to showcase your home and increase its value. The last thing you want to worry about is the work required to keep your porch beautiful,” said Tim Bobo, Marketing Manager of HB&G Building Products, manufacturers of PermaWrap™ . “Exterior column wraps offer a quick and easy solution of a lifetime. They maintain the appearance of the elegant high-end columns while remaining modestly priced.”

So remember, if you’re looking for a dramatic way to dress up your home for the holidays, consider exterior columns wraps. You’ll be amazed at the stunning difference they can make in turning a ho-hum home into a holiday standout.


Porch Posts Columns - Bookshelf

Old House Interiors

Old House Interiors

... mccoymillwork.com Turned posts, columns, brackets, synthetic porch parts ... tumcraft.com Wood and synthetic columns, turned porch posts ■ VINTAGE ...

Old House Interiors

Old House Interiors

Period detail on historic houses, including structural elements like porch posts , railings, and columns; easily seen decorative elements like first-storey ...

The Building estimator's reference book

The Building estimator's reference book

Labor Handling and Placing Porch Columns or Posts. — When handling and placing columns or posts for porches where their diameter does not exceed 14 inches ...

Wood Frame House Construction

Wood Frame House Construction

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Old-House Journal

Old-House Journal

CUSTOM TURNINGS - Newel posts, porch posts, column bases, fluting, spiral rope twists, and more. Catalog, $5.75. Custom Wood Turnings. 652. ...

Everyday Knowledge Directory


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