Limited Edition Houses

Though you can build a new house to look like an old house, you can't build in history. Most Old Town houses were built before World War II. The way that they're arranged on the block, the attention to style and ornamentation, and the frequency of front porches all point toward a time when walking was a common form of transportation. People strolled the neighborhoods chatting with friends and enjoying the pleasant feel of the community -- the trees, the scrollwork along rooflines and porches, and the neighborliness of a town where people's social events were reported in the newspaper (because everyone knew everyone else and wanted to keep up on what everyone else was up to).

One of the attributes that many Old Town residents still refer to when praising their neighborhood is that same feeling of community that continues on today. The trees have continued to grow and add ambiance to the streets. Many of the houses still remain today, with the same beauty and charm. And the front porches continue to work their magic, drawing people in to talk with one another.

These Old Town houses are classics. Most are one-of-a-kinds that might be similar to their neighbors, yet each has its own variations that mark it as distinct from the surrounding houses. The similarities between the houses offer a sense of regularity, pattern, and connection. The differences add interest and individuality. And the sum total creates an actual, physical context in which our history as a city is stored and can be relived simply by walking down the street.


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