Wednesday, December 2, 2020

On the Market: 215 Goodale Road

I love reading real estate listings because they can be so fanciful. Take this one for 215 Goodale Road:

Designed and built in 1929 and believed to be the only "Cotswold" design by Palmer & Lamdin in Baltimore, this magnificent tribute to the Fine Arts is a showcase of architectural features and bygone craftsmanship.

Resembling a cottage in Gloucestershire, it was constructed for T. Russell Hicks by his family firm, Thomas Hicks & Sons, Inc. who was one of the foremost builders of Palmer & Lamdin homes in the area. For him, this home was to both illustrate and promote his comprehensive knowledge of his trade and his personal tastes as executed by his talented tradesmen.

I think it's pretty funny that they're claiming that this is the "only" Cotswold design by P&L, since that's pretty much their signature style. Having spent considerable time in the Cotswolds, I don't think this is typical of the style of houses there. I mean, where is the thatch???

It looks like the house might have it's original specs manual, because some of the information she has is super detailed. I emailed the agent, so we'll see if she answers... I'd love to get a copy of the specs. Here is some of what's in the description: 

Exterior features of the "Cotswold" include a barrel ceiling and rubbed green and purple slate floor in the central entrance hall, beaded casement windows glazed in first quality Baltimore "AA" double thick cylinder glass, hardwood floors of tongue and groove Clear Ritter Appalachian Highland Oak, white Italian marble flooring in the Powder Room, 6" baseboards made of No. 1 Yellow Poplar, built-in bookcases,

paneled jambs and soffits, fluted trims and crown moulding, plaster walls furred with 1" thick cork for insulation, two wood burning fireplaces, the main stairway with treads and risers made of clear heart white oak with poplar skirting and a black walnut handrail,
outside doors and window frames constructed of No. 1 Gulf Cypress with heart Georgia pine sub-sills and 1 1/4" thick black slate sills, gables filled with casements and chimneys standing in silhouette and even the original "push bell " annunciator in the kitchen!

The January 1931 write-up of the house was a little more restrained, describing is as a simpler farm-like house of England or France.

And here is another image from the 1931 Roland Park Gardens, Homes & People. 
It is interesting that the original elevations were included with the real estate listing. 


It's a nice house and it looks like all of the former owners have taken care to leave many of the original details, including the little nook in the living room, which is so charming. 
However, I will need someone to explain this to me.
Kind of defeats the purpose of having a garage, doesn't it?

The listing is here

1 comment:

  1. I wonder when the white paint was removed for the exterior. Its a lovely brickwork so I don't blame any owner having the pride to show-off masonry handywork. It could've easily been done in a nice stucco, too. Perhaps with the garage - and current owners - they don't own a vehicle or the vehicle they have is vastly too big in size. Rendering the little two bay garage at best a storage place for bikes, garbage bins and law mower. Another great "stock broker Tudor" (if you ask me) by the master craft firm of Palmer and Lamdin.

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