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Washington, D.C., in 1920. "Sprague. Decatur Heights." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
I don't believe that the siding shingles are either asphalt or asbestos. They look to be standard cedar shingles. In fact, that looks like a stack of cedar shingles, just to the left of the left-most gentleman.
I am guessing that the upstairs glazing in pane three, of the left window, has simply not yet been installed.
Regarding earlier craftsmanship, I'd wager that you haven't renovated many homes. It makes for some interesting insight. ;-)
Looks like someone broke a window upstairs.
For anyone who has worked on a frame structure, this photo is a gem. If you haven't already seen it, may I recommend the 1948 film "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House." And as mentioned earlier, mostly hand tools!
[A great movie. And the book, by Eric Hodgins, is even better. - Dave]
Looks to me more like asbestos than asphalt.
There are two or three homes similar to this in Decatur Heights, Bladensburg, MD. On Edmonston Road near where Chesapeake, Crittenden and Buchanan Roads intersect.
This is one bathtub and one large laundry tub or kitchen sink. And one toilet.
Looks like a 1918 Super 6 Phaeton
I'm sore just thinking of all the sawing that it took to put up a house in the era before power tools.
Except for the asphalt shingle siding (cheaper than wood), it looks like a great house, with a sturdy foundation. That house was built back when homes were constructed by craftsmen, with exceptional quality. Wonder if that house is still standing?
Luxury digs. Notice the bathtubs; this was going to be a two-bathroom house.
Those aren't "fake bricks," that's shingle siding. The bricks holding up the porch are real.
I always thought that fake brick façade stuff was a modern abomination. But here they are, applying it to a house in 1920! Great photo nonetheless.
The triangular radiator badge identifies the car as a Hudson. Nice photo, but who broke the upstairs window?
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