55 Ashley Street

One of the most unique houses that NINA has ever worked on. Beneath two layers of shingles, we found much of the original wood shingles intact, including the "fish scale shakes" in the gables and in between the first and second floors, and it has two front doors, despite having been built as a single-family home.

55 Ashley Street

One of the challenges of photographing this house is the glorious weeping cherry tree in front of it, so we typically take our shots of the front in the winter, when the leaves are of the tree. Coincidentally, the two pictures here were taken exactly 3 years apart to the date.

First Floor

Red dots are before photos, and yellow dots are after photos. Dots represent approximate location of photographer. Use slider to see before and after floor plans: slide to right to see before, and slide to left to see after.

Move your mouse over a red or yellow circle to see a photo.

The Real Kitchen

It’s the “real” kitchen because there was another kitchen on the second floor when we acquired the house. We think there were two units in the house – one in front and one in back, taking advantage of the front and rear staircases – but who knows?

Second Floor

Move your mouse over a red or yellow circle to see a photo.

Project Details

Started:	July 2012
Completed:	June 2014
Budget:	$368,000

Project Milestones

Acquisition:	December 21, 2011
Building Permit:	April 19, 2012
Certificate of Occupancy:	July 10, 2014
Closing on Sale:	January 5, 2015

Distinctive Architecture

Three features make this house unique: the decorative woodwork in the gables, the two types of shingles, and the two front doors that are equally grand except that one has a mail slot.

Project History

The tree at 55 Ashley is also in bloom 4/20/2022 Couldn’t resist walking down the block today.
		Sold! 01/05/2015 The most unique house in Asylum Hill is now the latest owner-occupied home in Asylum Hill! A family of 5 will start moving in now, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the neighborhood.
55 Ashley, ready to go 05/29/2014 This is when it gets fun, when we start to move it toward the market and comparing it to how far its come.
		Progress at 55 Ashley 05/06/2014 Mostly exterior painting, as being done by Carl of Farmington Valley Wall Concepts, and the interior is moving toward the last few items, in particular the flooring.
The flowering cherry tree in front of 55 Ashley 05/02/2014 It wasn’t quite ready for its random shot of flowers last week, but here it is, looking terrific. Lucky future homeowner!
		Progress at 55 Ashley 04/07/2014 Same here next door – more going out than in, but here we still have to paint the exterior, something we don’t really need to do (as much) at 51.
Progress at 55 Ashley 2/27/2014 It really is pretty groovy having project sites that are right next door to each other. Plus: Mike Stockman!
		Porch at 55 Ashley 02/27/2014 Progress on the porch.
Progress at 55 Ashley 12/4/2013 Plus Hector Velez, who’s getting underway on the porch next door at 51 Ashley.
		Progress at 55 Ashley 11/26/2013 Walls! Plus Matt Pearce.
A tale of two exteriors 11/4/2013 We’re still puzzling over these very different houses. As we’ve mentioned previously, we know 51 Ashley was part of an set of 6 houses with alternating designs built by Frederick Mahl in the 1890s, but we don’t have any information on who built 55 Ashley or when, exactly. It does mark the switch to wood from brick on the south side of the street, and in that regard
		Inside 55 Ashley Street 11/4/2013 Progress at 55 Ashley Street. The rooms are starting to take shape, and the finished product is now much more easily envisioned. Also, it looks like I prevailed, and we'll keep the "crazy old relative room" up in the attic.
Exterior Work at 55 Ashley 10/02/2013 We’ve managed to save a lot of the original clapboard and shakes, but we did have to replace some of both. Also, if we haven’t pointed it out before, notice the decorative wood work in the back porch eave. It’s a pretty good match for the decorative rail on the front porch.
		A better look at the exterior of 55 Ashley 4/4/2013 I continue to be impressed by what this house must have looked like when it was originally built.
A different sort of look down the pipeline 1/24/2012 A peek inside the original dining room at 55 Ashley Street, most recently used (probably) as a bedroom for a child.
		The woodwork in the gables of 55 Ashley Street 12/30/2011 A closer look at the woodwork in the gables of 55 Ashley Street. It occurs on three sides of the house, and we will restore it.
Some grungy shots of 55 Ashley Street 12/29/2011 Some details of the current exterior at 55 Ashley.

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55 Ashley Street

55 Ashley Street

First Floor

The Real Kitchen

Second Floor

Project Details

Project Milestones

Distinctive Architecture

Project History

The tree at 55 Ashley is also in bloom

Sold!

55 Ashley, ready to go

Progress at 55 Ashley

The flowering cherry tree in front of 55 Ashley

Progress at 55 Ashley

Progress at 55 Ashley

Porch at 55 Ashley

Progress at 55 Ashley

Progress at 55 Ashley

A tale of two exteriors

Inside 55 Ashley Street

Exterior Work at 55 Ashley

A better look at the exterior of 55 Ashley

A different sort of look down the pipeline

The woodwork in the gables of 55 Ashley Street

Some grungy shots of 55 Ashley Street