The "The House At 806 North Duke Street" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my recliner watching the start of a football game as well as reviewing the photographs I had just loaded on my MacBook Air from my Nikon digital camera.  My mission earlier today was to take photographs of homes that illustrated a fenced in platform on the top of the roof of a home.  It is known as a widow's watch and was originally featured on 19th Century North American coastal homes, but today can be seen just about anywhere.  Called that since the wives of mariners would watch for their husband's return from the sea.  During that time in history, the ocean took the lives of many mariners, leaving many women widows.  Others called them a Captain's Walk, since they also topped the homes of Sea Captains and ship owners so they could search the horizon from the platform to search for ships due back in port.  I found such a home located on the corner of E. Clay Street and N. Duke Street in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The house was an illustration of Colonial or Georgian Revival architecture.  I did find out from local architect, Greg Scott, that the house was designed by British architect James H. Warner in 1895 when he was 30 years old.  He designed it for his personal attorney Eugene Montgomery.  The address listed on a door plaque was 802 North Duke Street. 

Notice the Widow's Watch on the top of 802 N. Duke St. - by LancasterHistory

Walked the perimeter of the mansion taking photos of the rooftop fence-enclosed platform and as I wandered slightly past the mansion, I saw a painting on an exterior wall of the home at 806 North Duke Street.  My guess is that it was done on a piece of 4' X 8' exterior plywood with paints that wouldn't weather if placed outside in harsh weather.  Approached it to take a closer photograph when I saw a small painted box that appeared to be a fire call-box in the front yard at 806 North Duke Street.

The "LittleFreeLibrary.org." box at 806 North Duke Street.

Wasn't long before I realized it was a public library box, perhaps established by the family living at 806 North Duke.  A small label on it read, "LittleFreeLibrary.org."  I just had to peak in to see if there were any books available for reading that I might enjoy.  Sure enough, there were several.  But, should I really take one or two from this library box?  What if they are watching from inside the house and see me take a book.  But, then I thought a bit more and realized that probably was the reason they put the box there and they might be pleased that someone thought enough to take a book from their library along the curb.  So...I took one, closed the door and walked away reading it.  Book was titled "Great People of the 20th Century" and was written by the editors of TIME magazine.  Book tells the story of 76 great people from all over the world whom lived in the 20th Century.  Looks like interesting reading and I may share some of it with you in the future.  I am so glad I took the time to look through the small library box and "borrow" a book from it.  I do plan to return it before long with a few of my books that others may appreciate as well.  I want to thank the family living at 806 North Duke Street for sponsoring the small library and hope that many others have also benefitted from it.  

The sign in front of 806 North Duke Street.

I then noticed a sign in the front yard of 806 North Duke that read "BE KIND".  The sign featured about a dozen words in a variety of languages which I assume also meant "BE KIND".  When I was a child, I lived about three blocks from 806 North Duke Street and passed this corner many times when I was a Cub Scout walking to Monday afternoon meetings.  I slightly remember the hugh house on the corner, but never took notice to the house at 806 North Duke Street.  

806 North Duke Street

Seems like the type of neighbors you would love to have.  I hopped back in my car and headed South on North Duke Street to take a few other photographs in downtown Lancaster.  As I returned home on Lititz Pike I passed the Manheim Township Parks & Recreation offices and the ages old mansion on the property caught my eye.  Ah, Ha!  One more Victorian Gothic building, known as Stauffer Mansion,  with the fenced platform on the roof.  Well, I have finished reviewing my photographs and am ready to write a story for you to peruse, which by the way, in case you were wondering, means "to read something in a relaxed way."  And, that's just how I plan to write my story today.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The cover of my new book.