3244 Orleans Street
Home of Jessica & Jason Wrona
The house at 3244 Orleans Street, built in 1911, is in the Dutch Colonial Revival style. Jessica and Jason chose this lovely house because of its original architecture and its proximity to Riverview Park. They also enjoy their easy commute to Downtown.
Dutch Colonial Revival houses, sometimes called "barn houses," were popular here through the 1920s. Like other houses in this style, 3244 Orleans features a gambrel roof and curved eaves. The gambrel roof allowed a complete second story to be built at minimal expense—and these gambrel-roofed houses were often classified for tax purposes as one-story homes.
The fireplaces and woodwork throughout the house are original, and the entry features a built-in seat. The mirror is also a built-in; the owners aren't sure when it was installed, but they were pleasantly surprised when they learned that it would stay with the house.
Be sure to check out the original stained glass above the living room bay window and crest in the landing area of staircase. Original pocket doors in the living and dining rooms retain their original hardware, and the dining room features an original built-in china closet.
Note the convenient pass-through hole from kitchen to dining room, through which a servant may have served meals many years ago. All of the doors in the home are original, including the swinging door between the dining room and kitchen. The kitchen pantry is also original, with original hardware. See if you can spot the antique bottle opener!
The second floor features four bedrooms with transom windows above each door. The heating vents are painted but appear to be original. The third floor is a partial in-law suite, with a full bathroom.
Jessica and Jason cherish their original gem of a home, but they also appreciate the modern conveniences of their renovated kitchen and bathroom. Keeping an older home in such fine condition is not easy—maintaining the paint and plaster is an ongoing but rewarding chore.