Update: Grandma's House

I just talked to Grandma and asked her to remind me about the date of her house, and it turns out I guessed wrong earlier: it was built in 1902, not 1911. She also mentioned that it was designed by Cass Gilbert, the famous architect who designed the State Capitol (1895-1905)! Impressive. But she and Grandpa always thought the roof was weird; Grandpa would tell visitors that the architect must have been drunk when he drew up that part.


I guess the roof is pretty unusual - never noticed before!

Grandma also reminded me that the house was built for Henry Lafont, a Frenchman who arrived in 1900 and bought a bunch of land in that area when there was nothing else there. He met a local girl, got married, and built the house for his new family in 1902. They raised eight kids there. Grandma's street used to be named after him - Lafond Avenue - but was recently renamed Pennsylvania Avenue. Grandma thought the change was funny because now she lives on the same road as the president.