Foundation

Mercy haus was built in the 1920's Balloon-framed from rough hemlock. There are two entrances. One obvious from the street, though unnecessarily complicated to reach. The second, on the east side, squeezed at the end of a narrow cement walk.

 

Original siding was a cedar shiplap and over the years insul-brick and Pittsburgh steel siding were added to the exterior. Two additions were built, one soon after the original structure was completed as evidenced by the rough timber used. The second added much later, perhaps in the fifties when particle board and flimsy framing were the standard. 

The ground floor sits in the hill: half PA stone and mortar buried under street level, the other half open to the air, overlooking the south. The stone supports the original structure, and through open fire stops you can see clear to the roof. The first chimbley feet begin here. 

The exposed half of the ground floor is split in two; the first addition framed with hemlock and sided with matching cedar shiplap where the second chimbleys feet begin, and the second newest addition poured with cement and glassed in creating a functional conservatory. 

Two south-east walls are made entirely of glass. One door leads to the middle half of the .25 acre lot, on the other end, another opens to the deck.

This home was bought for $3600 in the summer of 2008. Next time I will tell you how.