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Dawson Street House
25802 Dawson Street
Bellevue, Maryland Talbot County
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| In its original location the Dawson Street House was located
on the north side of Dawson Street, northeast of the Dawson Street
Store. The house has not been in use for some time. At the time
of documentation it was stripped of all interior walls, finish
and partition walls, and missing several windows. |
| The Dawson Street House is a two-story, three-bay, gable-roofed,
frame building measuring approximately 16 feet deep by 26 feet
wide. Horizontal lapped siding sheathes the exterior walls. Fenestration
varies between the elevations. The southwest elevation has three
symmetrically-spaced bays on each floor -- a central door with
a window on either side on the first floor, and three windows
on the second floor. The northeast elevation has a similar pattern
on the first floor, but only two windows on the second floor,
in the two outermost bays. |
| The northwest gable elevation exhibits only one
opening - a door at the western side - and the southeast gable
is blank. |
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| The interior of the building has been stripped down to the
framing. Many of the partition walls are missing, but evidence
survives in the form of ghost marks on the floor and joists,
revealing a central-hall, single pile plan. |
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| Evidence of ghost marks from the plaster indicate that the
partition walls were covered with lath and plaster. |
| Chimneys once stood at each gable end. |
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| The overall construction technique used was a variation of
balloon framing with diagonal braces providing extra support
to the frame. |
| The second floor plan is also gutted of partition walls, but
there is evidence to suggest that it followed a plan similar
to the first floor. |
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| The most decorative feature of this floor would be the
banister and newel post for the stair. The banister is no
longer in place, but was found leaning against one of the
walls |
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The turned newel post and banister are still in
place on the first floor level. One square baluster per tread
graces the open
string stair. Each baluster, or vertical piece, is squared. The
handrail is flat with slightly rounded edges. |
| Cory T. and Barbara H. Oliver donated both buildings, the Dawson
Street house and store, to Habitat for Humanity, who will
continue to pursue the course of action
the Olivers began: restoration of the house and store. Victor
McSorley of Bay Hundred Historical Association has been hired
to begin the preservation process of the house and he will be
assisted in his endeavors by the volunteers of Habitat for Humanity.
The house will retain its basic architectural form, but to meet
housing codes, a rear addition will be added. The final result,
will be a modernized dwelling with three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms,
a livingroom, and eat-in kitchen. Upon its completion, the Habitat
house will be sold to a desrving family. |
| Contact Person: Lucretia Krantz (410) 820-6186 |
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