These are before and after photos of the office of J & S. Contractors on Williamson Street in the Forty Acres neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware. Built around 1895 as a livery stable to serve the workers in the nearby row houses and single family homes, it had been used by a plumbing supply company prior to present owner, John W. Piazza renovating it as an office, workshop and storage for his business.
In the next 2 pictures, you can see what has become of the cupola on top of this Forty Acres unique building--what originally was louvered, now is glass which serves as a skylight over the luxurious shower upstairs. The next picture shows arched functioning double doors where once sliding barn-type doors led into the stable. Mr. Piazza has built up the granite threshold with brick where it had been worn down by horses and wagons. Nice touches are the horse weather vane and the horses cut into the shutters.
Here we see the office interior with its high ceiling and the interior of the arched doors. Then you can see all the shelves full of parts he just may need someday--doorknobs, hinges, and other old house parts.
Our last picture is of a building directly on the other side of the block from the old livery stable. This is the Water Witch Steam Engine Company Number 5, built in 1893, the same time as the stable. It is the oldest firehouse in the city of Wilmington, and is still active.
Carolyn Roland, GRI CRS Patterson-Schwartz & Assoc. Inc.
Selling historic properties in Delaware
and Chester County, Pennsylvania since 1987. Office located in Hockessin, DE, on the Delaware/Pennsylvania line.
Search for properties and learn about the historic scene, past and present
The DE and PA Historic Real Estate blog Call: Direct 800-771-2332 Office 302-239-3000
Great reuse of the old building and what a neat old fire house, I love historic buildings and the stories that go with them.
Don-great to hear from you and find there is someone who likes old buildings and lives in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, Texas Hill Country.