33 Watson Blvd.
Home of Levi Meyers and Jason Bowman
Construction on this imposing house was completed in 1897. The style is Carpenter Gothic, but it's easy to discern both Second Empire and Queen Anne influences. This house was one of the first built in the area; it may have been a model house to illustrate the sort of homes planned for the neighborhood. Sadly, the economic recession of 1897 put a halt to such elaborate residential construction.
Levi and Jason have put a lot of work into this gorgeous house. When they bought it, it required so much work that no bank would accept anything but a cash offer! Since May of 2014, they've installed two high-efficiency furnaces, two air conditioning units, a GreenSpeed Heat Pump, new PEX plumbing, new electricals, and LED lighting. They've also had both six-flue chimneys partially rebuilt, repointed, and sealed, and they replaced more than 80 slates on the roof. They recently had the exterior repainted.
In the vestibule and reception hall, note the original wainscoting and doors. The walnut floor is not original, but the marvelous oak staircase is. In the parlor, check out the painting of Bedford County, by Levi’s great-grandfather, and the photos adjacent to the fireplace, which were taken and printed by Levi. The ancient Latvian symbols on the mantel and hearth stand for good luck and prosperity. The decorated walls and ceiling in the dining room are all painted, and the furniture is solid oak 1920s Thomasville Feudal. Levi and Jason suspect that the kitchen was redone in the 1980s to look original; they love how functional it is. The rear parlor serves as both living room and photography studio.
Upstairs, they removed all of the carpeting from the bedrooms and painted the floors. The master bedroom features a lemon tree grown from a seed from a very old lemon orchard in what is now a suburb of Los Angeles. The furniture here is solid walnut from the 1870s. In addition to a guest room, each owner has his own private office. The third floor, originally the servants' quarters and now a separate apartment, probably wasn't finished until the early 20th century (note the later moldings on the windows). Look out the front window for a view of the top of the U.S. Steel Tower!