Shabbat walk: Conway Park (and other bits)

[magid]

I took a walk Thursday night that included passing this park. I knew it had been under construction, never noticed that it had been finished. It looked interesting, but I didn't have time to explore then, so I promised myself an excursion later. Shabbat afternoon seemed about right.

On the walk over to the park, I saw my first flowers of the season: white snowdrops (some hiding demurely, some huge areas of yards), crocuses (in purple, yellow, white, and violet), and an incipient daffodil or two (though nothing showing just yet). On the walk home, I also noticed two purple mini irises, budding forsythia and other budding trees. Of course this seems rather ironic withthe snow this morning.

I looped around after playing in the park, taking streets I'd not been on before, just meandering.

I found a completely round house, three stories high, totally abandoned. It would take a lot of money to fix it up, but it was fascinating to look as it was. There were some pillars by the front door, making me think of Lady Elaine Fairchild's Museum-Go-Round :-). It would be strange to live in a space where the only straight walls were internal (how to fit furniture in without losing lots of space...), but interesting. It's on a hill, so the views from the top floor are likely pretty good.

I also found some interesting details at other places, a semi-circular front porch at one place, stone mosaics at another. One house was painted in two shades of *bright blue*, rather dazzling, with one red stripe around at the top of the first story. What made it more startling than just the color was that there was a bright blue car in the driveway, with a red strip around its middle...

There were lots of Marys on the half shell, but only a few Jesuses, and those without half shells. Why does Mary need them but Jesus doesn't?

Comments

Round House

[cnoocy]

Ooh, I remember looking at that round house. I have no idea what its status is. But it does look cool. And it's in a nice area. If you find out, let us know.

Re: Round House

[magid.livejournal.com]

It seemed to me to be sort of on the edge of two areas, one much nicer than the other.

I would think it would take major dollars to make it livable again, just looking at all the peeled paint and blocked up windows, though perhaps those are the worst of it.
Not sure where I'd go to find information on it.

Round house

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I found a round house a few blocks from me about a week ago - I wonder if it's the same one? I was running, so I didn't stop to look, but it did look pretty dilapidated . . . where is Conway Park?

Re: Round house

[magid.livejournal.com]

On Somerville Ave, same side of the street as Market Basket, but a couple of blocks closer to Porter.

The house was up a bit of a hill - if you passed it while running you must've had some ups and downs on your run!
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Re: Round house

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Ah - wow, you were pretty close to me, then. I ran by the house (must be the same - how many peeling-paint round houses could there be around here?) on a pretty level street, but then ended up going up a hill when I hit the end of the street.

Re: Round house

[magid.livejournal.com]

If you'd turned at the house and gone down the hill, you'd end up at the park with all the lollipop signs, etc.

I didn't use the underpass, though; I used the road that crosses the train tracks (one building away from the park), which seemed a pretty quick route. I don't know if the underpass has been worked on, but the last time I used it (years ago) it was pretty skanky. Still, there's a definite coolness factor to it's even being there.

Re: Round house

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Er, well, I'm not sure what you mean by "worked on," but I use the underpass. It's got graffiti on it (in it?), and it's kinda dirty, but, well, dirt and leaves collect in low spots. I suppose it's no faster than walking to a regular street-across-tracks, but it's very convenient to Lowell St. :)

Re: worked on underpass

[magid.livejournal.com]

I think the last time I was close by the Cambridge side of the underpass (a while ago), it was closed, so I assumed they were doing something to it, no idea what.

I think there's only one other street (the one I used) that would be at all convenient if you were heading to my place, and the underpass is definitely direct.
"

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, that amazing round house! I've talked to a real estate agent about it...The elderly woman who owns it can't keep it up (obviously, and sadly) but is adamant about not selling it. I believe the City of Somerville made some attempt to buy it from her, but she rebuffed them. We might have to wait until she dies and it goes up for sale as an estate before it's properly restored...But what a wonderful property!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Ooh, the dirt.

It's sad, though, that she won't let it be sold (and thereby fixed up). That could be such an amazing space.

If it goes up for auction after she dies, I hope it's not bought by some developer who just wants the land and will tear it down, or just chop it into little non-rectangular boxes in a horrible condo-ization or something...