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The house, 7 feet wide, about 25 feet deep and a whopping 325 square feet in two stories, is a tiny landmark on Queen Street in the Old Town district in Alexandria, Va., just across the Potomac from Washington. Structurally, it’s more of an enclosed alley than a house — the brick walls of older houses on either side form the painted brick walls in the living room. It’s called the Spite House by some because John Hollensbury, the owner of one of the adjacent houses, built it in 1830 to keep horse-drawn wagons and loiterers out of his alley. Indeed, the brick walls of the living room have gouges from wagon-wheel hubs.
Northend Spite House Boston Exterior
His frustration at the City’s actions led him to build the most out of place house he could envision on the piece of land that still belonged to him. Tyler discovered a local law that prevented the building of a road if work was in progress on a substantial building in the path of a proposed road. So he found a contractor who could begin work immediately and the night before the road crew was set to begin work the foundation was dug. The road crew arrived in the morning to find the foundation already under way on the new house and the road (which dead ends at Tyler’s Spite House) was abandoned. In 1994 the residence, which was located above a then-Birkenstock shoe store, was a total of four rooms, including the bathroom and a kitchen, didn't have space for a washing machine. There are three other houses in Alexandria similar to the Spite House — they were built in alleys.
WATCH: Come and explore Old Town Alexandria’s most miniature mansion — built purely out of spite
Replica Playhouse of Alexandria's Famous 'Spite House' to Go to a Lucky Winner - The Zebra
Replica Playhouse of Alexandria's Famous 'Spite House' to Go to a Lucky Winner.
Posted: Sat, 30 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Once you’ve visited Alexandria’s famous cobblestone street, head to its most iconic—and tiniest—home. A private residence located at 523 Queen Street, Spite House is the skinniest historic house in America at a mere 7 feet wide and 325 square feet. The house earned its name in 1830 when an irked John Hollensbury built it to keep horse-drawn wagons and loiterers out of his alley. After taking in this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it blue home, set out to find Alexandria’s other hidden spite houses. The Hollensbury Spite House, 7.5 feet wide and 25 feet deep and 325 square feet in two stories, is located at 523 Queen Street in Old Town. The lot measures 356 square feet, which includes the 350 square-foot, two-story house and a walled rear garden and patio area, measuring 7-feet wide and 12-feet deep.
These 5 Alexandria Architectural Gems Will Make You Swoon
By 1830 the side of his home was pockmarked from all the collisions with wagons and Hollensbury decided he’d had enough. Spend a weekend learning about Texas history, strolling the scenic Riverwalk, and gabbing over a big bowl of queso at one of San Antonio's many well-loved Tex-Mex restaurants. In the winter, the south-central Texas city shines especially bright with thousands of colorful Christmas lights dressing up the Riverwalk where events like holiday boat caroling take place. You can spend hours wandering throughout the charming historic downtown district that is packed with local shops and restaurants. Warm up at Grassroots Coffee Company, do some shopping at Firefly, Relish, and The Bookshelf, and enjoy long, leisurely meals at Liam's, Jonah's, and Sweetgrass Cheese Shop.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spite Houses
Alexandria's Spite House is Small, But It Has a Big History - Northern Virginia Magazine
Alexandria's Spite House is Small, But It Has a Big History.
Posted: Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The focus of the renovation aimed at accentuating original details such as wooden floors and brick walls, while relocating heating and cooling systems. Edgar Allen Poe actually wrote about spite homes in his short story, “The Business Man,” published in 1840. Located in Alameda, California, this home was built as a way for the original owner to get back at the city. His fury started when the City of Alameda took part of his land away without his permission to expand city property. In September 2021, The Skinny House sold for $1.25 million dollars despite being barely over 1,000 square feet.
First Lot Sold At Auction Marker
Hop ahead a century or so to Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Pope-Leighey House, located 10 miles south of Old Town. The Mid-century modern home blends simplicity with intricacy, from a modest kitchen to complex window silhouettes yielding intricate shapes of sunlight. Immerse yourself in Wright’s design during tours offered Friday through Monday. Located at the 100 block of Prince Street, past and present intersect on Captain’s Row, Alexandria’s most picturesque cobblestone block. Here, Federal-style row houses are adorned with colorful doors and flickering gas lamps, and wanderers stroll the brick-lined sidewalks as cars rumble atop the uneven 18th-century surface.
Carlyle House Historic Park
The home was built to purposely block out as much sunlight from the neighbor and built right against the lot line, even overhanging the sidewalk to grab some extra square footage. In addition to the famous 'Spite House' on Queen Street, there are three other alley houses in Old Town. In 1830, John Hollensbury, a prominent figure in Alexandria, found himself in a property dispute with his neighbor.
Alameda Spite House Interior
Today, the Alameda spite house is used as a rental property for those who want to experience the unique architecture it has to offer. The Skinny House in Boston, Massachusetts, has earned its place in history as one of the narrowest homes in the United States. Standing at just 10.4 feet wide at its widest point, it was constructed in 1874 during a feud between two brothers. To get their revenge they built these unusual homes on minuscule lots or in weird forms just to get under the skin of their neighbors. As whimsical as some of these buildings are the stories behind them are even more intriguing and frankly funny as hell.
The interior of this narrow home in Tokyo is designed in a very unique manner. The lowest level is used as a storage basement while the main level holds a bedroom and a study space. The third level of the home contains a kitchen with a full bar, while the utmost level is decked out with a washroom, bathroom, terrace, and loft. This elongated, pie-shaped, yellow-green home with hues of cream is surrounded by rich landscaping and trees. It has stairs leading to an oval-shaped black door and is recognized by locals as a famous spite home in the area. His next-door neighbor, who had intentions of growing a garden on the property, offered a small sum of money for the land.
Combining these elements yields a total property value surpassing the $600,000 mark. Nestled behind the house, a petite garden and patio serve as a charming backdrop, and when the homeowner married a commercial real estate agent, they celebrated their nuptials in this picturesque space. Spite houses, these peculiar dwellings, are crafty little creations intentionally designed to vex or inconvenience neighbors. This spite house in West London was originally used as a hat store and later converted into a home in the 1990s. Between 2006 and 2008, “Pride and Prejudice” actor Simon Woods actually occupied the home. Froling originally had plans to build his dream home along the bay and live out the rest of his life on this land.
Built between 1751 and 1753 for his new bride, Sarah Fairfax of Belvoir, Carlyle’s home echoed the imposing stone homes of the Scottish Lowlands. Behind the sandstone facade, you’ll find bright colors and bold patterns among rooms that hosted historical figures including George Washington and General Braddock. Step outside to enjoy the peaceful back garden, then dig deeper into the history through guided tours, exhibits and events. Spite houses are fascinating buildings, erected, not primarily for occupation, but to confound neighbors or to annoy locals.
Rather than flee the quarrel and move away from the home he had built and was raising his daughters in, Mr. Hollensbury devised a plan. He purchased the alley lot for $45.65 and began to construct the small alley home and effectively remove his antagonist from the role of his next door neighbor, and to eliminate the nuisance of the oversized carriage. Once the home was constructed he no longer needed to interact with his former neighbor and was able to tolerate the man as simply another neighbor on the block rather than his next door neighbor. The front door opens into the living room, where a regular-size sofa faces a decorative black wooden mantel. Just beyond that is a narrow and steep wooden stairway to the second floor.
Its design serves as a testament to the creative responses to personal conflicts. The Hollensbury Spite House, another renowned example, has a compelling historical background. Its construction, which dates back to the early 19th century, is shrouded in a story of a property dispute, leading to the creation of this distinctive structure. If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person, or phenomenon in the DC area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy.
The Spite House itself is a shining example of what is possible when you strive for an efficient and effective use of the space you have. Though the owner doesn't live or stay in the home, it is configured as a residence that can easily accommodate a small family. Wendy and I have actually heard three different stories of how the house came to be. Each has it's own charm and each is a bit of local lore, so we'll let you be the judge and choose the one you like the best. Mr. Sammis says he often lends the house to out-of-town clients and friends, usually for three or four days.
However, a letter to the editor refuted this claim, explaining the home was actually built by a widow as an annex to help support her children who has just lost their father. The main floor contains a fairly spacious living room and kitchen, with side windows and a small breakfast nook. After walking up the narrow stairway, you’ll come to two more bedrooms each large enough to hold a queen-sized bed. The current owners, who rent out the spite house as an eclectic getaway, have included a washer and dryer in the upstairs hallway.
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