Marine Avenue is most likely named thus because the old Marine Hospital was on the east side of the street. It is long gone, but the beautiful housing stock is largely preserved on the west side of the street.
I’ve looked at this corner storefront before, once back in July of 2014 and then again in July of 2018 (second photo). It has not changed much in that time.
There’s a wealth of Second Empire houses, many of which are unique in their form, such as the one below, which has no front door, an odd number of bays, and sits back on its lot.
But there are some vacant lots as well, including ones where there were houses only a decade or so ago.
Then there is in-fill, some of which was on land that was occupied by breweries such as the Home Brewery, which was to the west.
I’ve been drawn back to this house numerous times, such as in February of 2011 (last photo) and in July of 2018 (fifth photo).
I have lived in Marine Villa for 43 years, soon to be 44.
I often describe it with something I plagiarized from Garrison Keillor, that being “the land that time forgot and the decades shall not improve”. I know that is not exactly PC to mention him, but that quote is spot on.
Marine Villa continues to be a shortcut to nowhere.
When I arrived in ’80, we had two doctors, a pharmacy, several fraternal organizations, two churches, small businesses such as sewing machine repair, a fabric store, two grocery stores, a basic clothing/shoe store, a home for abused children run very well by the Salvation Army, two public grade schools and a large, tight knit group of neighbors.
Once upon a time, one could accumulate the basic necessities of life on foot walking no farther than Cherokee Street.
Everything I mentioned above, with the exception of one grade school is now gone and I mourn that loss!