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The building was created in response to a feud between two brothers during the Civil War. This alley house is relatively wide, measuring 11 feet wide (as measured by Old Town Home blog). In Alexandria, VA, spite houses stand as architectural anomalies that reflect the historical and social fabric of the city. They offer valuable insights into the interpersonal conflicts and the innovative spirit of the residents, contributing to the city’s diverse architectural heritage. Then, journey off the beaten path to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Mid-century modern gems.
Exclusive Tour to Visit Intriguing Historical Gravesites in Alexandria, April 27, 1:00 pm
If that is the case, then Hollensbury would undoubtedly be delighted to discover that one lucky person now has a chance to win a replica playhouse for their own children, built out of love. Spite houses are peculiar architectural creations built with the primary purpose of irritating or inconveniencing neighbors or others with whom the builder is in dispute. The designs of these houses are often unconventional, making the most of available space while serving their intended purpose of vexing the intended target.
Visiting The Hollensbury Spite House in Alexandria, VA: Historical Quirkiness
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.
Alexandria Spite House – America’s Skinniest Home!
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.
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.
PET OBITUARY: Ginger Snap, August 2014 - March 2024 - The Zebra-Good News in Alexandria - The Zebra
PET OBITUARY: Ginger Snap, August 2014 - March 2024 - The Zebra-Good News in Alexandria.
Posted: Sat, 30 Mar 2024 18:31:02 GMT [source]
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.
Q: Isn’t the Spite House in Alexandria, VA too small to live in?
If you love walkable cities and historic architecture, pack your comfy shoes and head to Alexandria, Virginia. The charm of historic Old Town—think 18th-century architecture, brick-edged streets, and holiday lights—will have you constantly pulling out your phone for photo opportunities. Top Instagram spots include The Spite House, the skinniest historic home in the country, and cobblestoned Captain's Row. Notably, the Skinniest House is just one of four spite houses in Alexandria, with others situated on Prince Street and King Street.
London Narrow House Interior
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.
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“Unless we put some of the people upstairs,” Ms. Sammis said, the house can hold only “about 12” guests. When he was growing up, his father said, he especially liked that the Washington Day parade went down the street in front. It’s all as efficient as any sailboat cabin, yet it feels like an 1830s house. In fact, Mr. Sammis says he once rented it to a couple who wanted to see if they could survive living in a ship’s cabin on a round-the-world cruise.
The story goes that he was tired of noise from carriages and loiterers in the alley next to his house. The Skinniest House, with its easily overlooked stature, conceals a captivating history. Its unassuming size might make it easy to miss, so be sure to consult a map when exploring the area. Although a brief visit suffices due to its size, the experience is well worth it. Take a moment to include it in your exploration of the charming historic district of Alexandria. As of the last available data in 2022, the land itself carries a valuation of $381,000, while the building holds an appraised value of $220,000.
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.
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.
The interior of the O’Reilly spite house has been re-modeled by the interior decorating firm that currently owns it. The top floor of the spite house is used as an office for the firm, while the bottom has couches for customers to browse designs. To show his disdain for his neighbor’s decision, O’Reilly built a tiny house on top of the land he was trying to sell. His attempt to get back at his neighbor has since become a recognizable tourist spot in West Cambridge. This robin’s egg blue home sits next to a much larger house in Alameda, its entrance facing the side of the street. Located in Alexandria, Virginia, this spite house is the narrowest house in North America and one of the narrowest in the world.
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.
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.
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