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“Old House — Provincetown” by E.B. Warren. |
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Photo Vincent Guadazno
The 1807 House as it looks today. |
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Mystery of the house in the etching solved
By Sue Harrison
Banner Staff
A couple of weeks ago we ran a photo of the etching of “Old House —Provincetown,” shown above, by E.B. (Elizabeth Boardman) Warren, with a query — Does anyone know where this house is? There were numerous responses, and the answer was unanimous: it’s the 1807 House in Provincetown’s West End.
People wrote and called from here in Provincetown and from afar, in Maine and Florida. Below are some of their comments.
From the current owner of the house we got this, plus a photo: “Although there are perhaps other similar Cape-style homes here the view in the Lutzker drawing photo looks very much (with a bit of artistic license) like 1807 House, at 54 Commercial Street, viewed from the west.
“Years ago it had a straight railing down its front steps as pictured. The three doghouse dormers still match, and while they seem a bit closer together in the drawing than they did in the old days, 1807 House's present huge center chimney was a 1930s addition; earlier postal cards show two skinny chimneys somewhat as in your picture. The great elms are gone now, as is the neighbor's locust tree pictured.”
Court Prentice, owner, 1807 House
Provincetown
From an artist who painted the house we got this e-mail: “The subject of the etching is almost certainly the Cape on Commercial Street across from the parking lot and launching ramp in the West End, currently a bed-and-breakfast. I have sketched and painted the house; my painting "Guest House." … The etching shows two small stove chimneys where the original central chimney would have been, but the central chimney has since been restored, fortunately. The elevated foundation is a dead giveaway, not a common feature in Provincetown.”
Tom Hinkle
Portland, Maine
A Commercial Street neighbor of the house offered these comments: “I believe the etching is of the 1807 House at 54 Commercial Street. Elizabeth Boardman Warren and her husband, artist Tod Lindenmuth, lived at 56 Commercial Street (Don and Margie Murphy's house). Her etchings can also be signed with her initials, E.B.W. or E.W.L.”
Dick Caouette
Provincetown
And finally, Betty Van Arsdale, a lovely lady from Naples, Fla., called to say that years ago when her husband ran Provincetown Boston Airlines (now Cape Air) they lived at 27 Commercial St., just down the road from the 1807 House. She recalls that the artist John Whorf lived nearby and that she believes a woman named Bonnie Pittman lived in the 1807 House and married a man named Cliff Perry. She is sure the etching is unmistakably the house at 54 Commercial St., and she says she has a painting of the house.
Thanks to everyone who called or e-mailed. If anyone else has any paintings from the past whose locations they would like identified, send me an e-mail at artseditor@provincetownbanner.com or call the office at (508) 487-7400, ext. 17.
artseditor@provincetownbanner.com
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Off-key musical hits the right notes for success
Outer Cape Gallery Listings
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May 8th, 2008