White Oak bungalow features original stained glass, built-ins
Christine Mincone has lived in this Craftsman bungalow since 1994, and is essentially its second owner.
“It was built in 1924. The original owner sold to a family that stayed just seven months. It went back on the market and I bought it,” she said.
The house at 1143 Fawcett Ave. in White Oak has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and many original features, including stained-glass windows, built-in cabinets and tiled fireplaces.
Now looking to move south, Ms. Mincone has put the property on the market for $105,000 (MLS No. 1345625) with Dana Bufalo of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services ( 412- 805- 0112 or www.howardhanna.com).
Since the front porch was enclosed, a sliding glass door leads to the original front door. But the original Craftsman pillars and cedar shake siding are intact so the porch could be restored to its original condition.
Ms. Mincone thinks that her home may have been designed by architect E.B. Hulley, whose Hulley homes are found throughout the East End and eastern suburbs. Her home was one of the first in the area and she has the original blueprints.
The entry hall features the original staircase and a floating hardwood floor that was installed over linoleum and the original hardwood floor.
The adjacent 24-by-13-foot living room has a large, tilefaced fireplace with gas insert that is flanked by builtin cabinets with leaded-glass doors. Above is a matching pair of stained-glass windows.
The 25-by-16-foot dining room has another stainedglass window, built-in cabinetry and a decorative fireplace with red terra cotta tiles on the surround and hearth. On the other side of the room, a trio of windows top a built-in window seat. Original French doors were gone when Ms. Mincone bought the house in 1994.
“This house has more doors that anyone ever needed,” she said.
The 16-by-15-foot kitchen at the back of the house can be accessed through the main entry or the dining room. Ms. Mincone added a pantry wall and extra cabinets to make up for lack of storage space common in these homes. She also installed a laminate counter top beneath white cabinets.There is a gas stove, dishwasher and refrigerator.
Upstairs, three bedrooms make up what was once an apartment. The largest bedroom measures 16 by 12 feet and has original pine flooring. The other two bedrooms measure 12 by 12 feet and 12 by 9 feet. The bathroom has its original pink tile with black trim and a large stainedglass window.
The back porch off the kitchen has steps to a lower deck that Ms. Mincone built. At the far end of the yard is a firepit area and a two-car, detached garage.
The basement is partially paneled and has a laundry area and full bathroom. There is a coal cellar under the porch,
The property’s Allegheny County assessed value is $52,600 (www2.county.allegheny. Search.aspx). Over the last six years, two properties have sold in the 1100 block of Fawcett Avenue for $144,900 in December 2012 and $87,500 in October 2014 (www.realstats.net).