Tell me about this architecture (South End)

[ghostmonkey]

Dartmouth Place (there may be other examples) is made up entirely of these flat front rowhouses with oriel windows, that differ from most of the bow front buildings in the surrounding neighborhood. Are these an example of a particular style of architecture? Can anyone tell me anything about the history of this street? Thanks!

 

[JonFrum]

Good question. The city street atlas doesn't pick Dartmouth place up until 1873, probably from the Sanborn map that shows the whole district already built out. Nancy S. Seasholes' book Gaining Ground - A History of Landmaking in Boston might at least tell you when that district was built. Why they chose to build right on the street when they had property in back is an interesting question. It looks closer to the Bay Village architecture than the South End. The South End Historical Society might be able to help.

 

[bbfen]

Charlestown has patches of homes like this, too especially between Bunker Hill and Medford on the back side of the town.