The 4300 block of Lexington has some surprises, such as this rich, almost black brick front apartment building. It is abandoned, but it still has wonderful details such as these stained glass windows on the side elevation.
But there are also occupied apartment buildings, which are well-maintained and in good condition.
I find these slender apartments interesting; they sit on the equivalent of a one-family house lot but manage to fit six small apartments on them. It’s such a great illustration of how dense the city was at one point, but unfortunately they are not very desirable today.
Could you explain what the round “openings” in the foundation of the building are in picture #3? Thanks
Elsie, I know that at least some of those holes are for the loading of coal for furnaces. I know that one of my readers can help us out (without revealing their ages!). I have also heard that ice for ice boxes was dropped into cellars via hatches, as well.
I’ll have to drive by it. I’d love to buy an old building. Love your posts.
I guess a look from inside the basement would help too.
Coal was loaded through the square red doors at the basement. I have the exact same door in my 1940 house.
The rectangular red openings higher up were for a protruding “box” which would have contained ice for perishables. They also denote the location of the kitchen. When I moved into a four-family on McCausland in 1964, I asked my parents the purpose of the blanked-off hole in the wall and they explained it to me. OT, but that was right across the street from where I was born in 1940!
As to the round “openings” – you got me!
You were born on Lexington Avenue in the Greater Ville, Tom? I didn’t know that!
Uhh, no – I was born at Deaconess in ’40, but Mom and Dad moved to McCausland when married in 1939. We stayed there until late -’42 when sis was born (also at Deaconess) and then we moved to Kwd.
The round openings were for cleaning the fireplace.
Ah, thank you, Susan! The chimney sweeps would push their cleaning tools up through them?
Yes. My aunt had a house with one. It was a metal covering with a hinge on it and it swung to the side . There was a small crawl space alongside the chimney, and another small opening covered with a metal plate that also swung to the side for access.