East Arlington Painters — Two-family streets near Capitol Square

The flatlands of eastern Arlington were market-garden country, and the Orvis Road nomination notes that such farming was a significant part of Arlington's economy until the early 20th century, when farmers increasingly sold land to developers. A Massachusetts Historical Commission form on the Capitol Theater Building, the 1925 brick theater, store and apartment block at Mass. Ave. and Lake Street, says it marked East Arlington's change from a market-gardening center to a densely populated suburb, then called the most rapidly growing section of town. The 1980 state survey adds that 1915 to 1940 brought infill multifamily housing here and along Broadway and Lake Street.

After World War I, George L. Thorndike's farm was carved into streets and the Whittemore Park development grew up there; a Massachusetts Historical Commission form describes most of its houses as 2½-story homes derived from the Shingle and Colonial Revival styles. One of them, a shingled bungalow of about 1920 at 28 Lafayette Street, is on the National Register.

Census numbers show how different this is from the rest of town. In Census Tract 3567.01, which includes the Capitol Theater and Orvis Road, 45.7% of housing units sit in two-unit buildings and only 4.3% are single-family detached. In Tract 3561, south of Mass. Ave. around Lafayette Street, two-unit buildings hold 59.5% of units and 74.0% of all units were built in 1939 or earlier.

Two owners, one building

On a two-family, the exterior can be a shared decision. When the units are owned separately, color, scope and timing need both owners on board, since a freshly painted half of a facade makes the other half look worn. Where porches stack on two levels, each one adds railings, columns and a ceiling to the exterior scope.

Orvis Road's planned block

Orvis Road was platted in 1918 on John P. Squire's market garden. Its 26 single- and two-family houses, built through 1930, face a planted median that the National Register form calls the only residential street of its kind in Arlington. The form says most retain original porches, entryways and garages, so there is period trim on these houses worth repairing rather than replacing.

Stucco on 1920s two-families

The Orvis Road form points to 16–18 Orvis Road as an intact two-story stucco two-family, and the state survey lists stuccoed Craftsman two-families among the main building types of 1915 to 1940. If stucco is painted, cracks should be repaired first and the coating chosen for masonry, so moisture in the wall can still escape.

Garages and outbuildings from the auto era

Garages built around 1920 sit beside many Orvis Road homes. Where one survives, its sills, door bottoms and the boards nearest the ground are worth checking for soft wood before any paint goes on.