The historic Colonial at Fifty Abbott Street nestles into the side of Summit Hill on Providence's East Side just down from Knowles Street and just up from North Main Street as North Main runs northward along the ancient North Burial Ground.
The front door of 50 Abbott catches the morning sun as it faces southeast and presents a warm, friendly face to passersby.
And what's behind the friendly face of 50 Abbott? That may surprise a great many people, for 50 Abbott St. very recently underwent a complete, stunning renovation & restoration.
More about that later.
But did you know that Abbott Street is one of the oldest streets in Providence? Did you know that one of the oldest buildings in Providence, the Rodger Mowry Tavern, circa 1653, sat on
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| Rodger Mowry Tavern |
Abbott Street until it's very controversial demolition in 1900. In it's place they built a triple decker, but alas that efficient use of property is now no longer with us, burnt I suppose or worse, demoed for another use -- in fact it did go from bad to worse: in the spot where once sat one of the oldest buildings left from urban, colonial New England, the Rodger Mowry Tavern, lies an asphalt parking lot for a building housing medical practises.
But from the ashes of debacle some good did arise: the birth of the Providence Historical preservation movement, a movement dedicated to preserving our historical architectural record.
But I'm trying to sell a house, here, so let's get back to the topic at hand.
- 50 Abbott Street: For Sale -
$199,900
Call John or Irene at 401-273-4864
One would be hard put to find an East Side property of this quality at this price within walking distance to both Whole Foods Market as well as to the Hope Village shopping district on Hope Street that runs from Rochambeau toward East Av in Pawtucket.
Go ahead, search the listings for an East Side single family of three bedrooms and a property totaling over 6,700 sq ft. Look in the MLs or in RILiving and see what is available for under $300,000. The East Side is about location.
Do you want to visit the Library? Walk up to the Rochambeau/Hope branch. You want to go to Stop & Shop? It's just a short walk. The same for Whole Foods Market. You want to jump on Rt. 95 to shoot up to Boston or down to New York? Rt. 95 is 60 seconds away.
But let's take a look around the property. The property boasts a very large yard for Providence, checking in at 6700 sq ft, most of it a private, fenced backyard.
- A Brand New Old Classic Colonial -
We love old houses, don't we? But we love modern amenities too, don't we. Fifty Abbott Street combines the best of both worlds: old world charm with the current designer amenities that post-moderns have come to expect. It was not always thus.
Well, this old house was a dark, dingy abomination mutilated and mistreated for generations. The City of Providence lists it as circa 1900 but whenever they list a house as circa 1900 it means they don't know: any restoration expert with historical expertise would place 50 Abbott circa mid 1800's with an addition circa 1900.
It was a much more challenging project than I initially thought and it took me three times as much time as I initially estimated to renovate and restore.
But what I did was bring in the light. The house was incredibly dark with tiny rooms and tiny windows. I opened up the rooms, and I installed new windows that brought in the incredibly beautiful, bountiful, natural light. Specifically I installed a large picture window in the front double parlour that brings in so much beautiful light that electricity is not needed during daytime hours, and I installed a large sliding glass door, six feet by 7 feet in the eat in kitchen that lets in so much light it spill into the front parlours.
Light is precious. In my opinion you can't have too much natural light in a home.
The other simple thing I did was to incorporate colour into the light. I am not afraid of colour, I embrace colour -- beige is not a colour to me -- neutral is a dirty word to me. Beige and neutral remain the mantra for people who have never studied colour theory and have little or no understanding of colour or how it affects our psyche. Conventional wisdom? It's colour is beige and it's worth is nigh nil. That's ole colonial for BS.
Light and colour -- Come on in!
Well, this old house was a dark, dingy abomination mutilated and mistreated for generations. The City of Providence lists it as circa 1900 but whenever they list a house as circa 1900 it means they don't know: any restoration expert with historical expertise would place 50 Abbott circa mid 1800's with an addition circa 1900.
It was a much more challenging project than I initially thought and it took me three times as much time as I initially estimated to renovate and restore.
But what I did was bring in the light. The house was incredibly dark with tiny rooms and tiny windows. I opened up the rooms, and I installed new windows that brought in the incredibly beautiful, bountiful, natural light. Specifically I installed a large picture window in the front double parlour that brings in so much beautiful light that electricity is not needed during daytime hours, and I installed a large sliding glass door, six feet by 7 feet in the eat in kitchen that lets in so much light it spill into the front parlours.
Light is precious. In my opinion you can't have too much natural light in a home.
The other simple thing I did was to incorporate colour into the light. I am not afraid of colour, I embrace colour -- beige is not a colour to me -- neutral is a dirty word to me. Beige and neutral remain the mantra for people who have never studied colour theory and have little or no understanding of colour or how it affects our psyche. Conventional wisdom? It's colour is beige and it's worth is nigh nil. That's ole colonial for BS.
Light and colour -- Come on in!
Hard wood floors of antique Maple and close grained fir along with newly laid Ash -- all freshly refinished, sparkling with character. An open, welcoming double parlour. Designer colours from Sherwin Williams. Light filled, open rooms, a grand picture window, a decorative fireplace.
We like our kitchens too, especially granite countertops, an old school white ceramic sink, and stainless steel appliances including a spacious Kenmore Elite fridge with French Doors and bottom freezer drawer, stainless gas range, track lighting.
Who wouldn't like to cook, serve, and eat in this combined kitchen/dining room. Prep and cook in the efficient galley and then turn and serve in the elegant, red dining room off the kitchen, a room that lets outdoor light pour in through the seven foot, floor to ceiling, glass sliding doors to the brick patio.
The brick patio measures 200 square feet extending the indoor living space out & bringing the outdoors in. The kitchen/dining room floors are beautiful antique fir of the highest quality.
The kitchen includes all stainless appliances, the gas range, the dishwasher, and the Kenmore Elite fridge. Brand new cabinetry in the Shaker style. Ceramic tile back splash.
The kitchen view from the left and the view from the right.
The view from the backyard patio.
Pallets of pavers, pallets of pavers, tons of sand & gravel -- a labour of love -- I think not. But what a space, what a patio.
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