The Bungalow Revival on Howell Street Continues- Rocky Mount, NC

It all started with Justin Floyd and his wife when they restored this beautiful bungalow. (A full blog devoted to them coming soon.) I think of this home as a preservation ‘poster child’ in Rocky Mount when it comes to this prevalent architecture. The Duchess of Howell Street has followed Justin and it is one of her houses that we’ll see today. But before I begin, I want you to know about the Aladdin Company Kit Houses because the Detroit Model is another property that Adrienne Copland is saving and restoring on Howell.

One of the longest lived and most successful kit home companies was the Aladdin Company, based in Bay City, Michigan. Started by brothers William and Otto Sovereign in 1906, the company remained solvent and family-owned until it shut its doors for the last time in 1981. Over its more than seventy years in business, Aladdin sold more than 75,000 homes. Customers included individuals and corporate clients in both domestic and international markets. Whole neighborhoods and even a town — Hopewell, Virginia — were developed for company employees. In a fold-out flyer sent with the 1925 catalog, the company listed by name and city more than 1000 builders of Aladdin homes as well as government and corporate customers including the State of Michigan, the president of Liberia, Dow Chemical Co., Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. and Standard Oil. Advertised as “Readi-cut” and “Built in a Day,” Aladdin and other kit home manufacturers revolutionized home buying and building for the middle class.

In the photo above you can see the new porch floor, the new roof and a brick chimney that is presenting a paint problem which is in the problem-solving phase. There is more to tell about the Howell Street rejuvenations, but the video Adrienne posted on Youtube will tell you more about this Aladdin Company house. Adrienne’s excitement runneth over as she begins to save this bungalow. You will see the interior proofs that it is an Aladdin Company house. Though Adrienne’s voice in known at City Council meetings on behalf of Rocky Mount’s housing, her passion and expertise regarding preservation manifests itself in action, a hands-on approach. She is putting her talents and training into saving houses like today’s feature. It is fantastic what she is accomplishing. Let’s click our heels and salute her.

Enjoy this video about the house on Howell Street on its way to becoming another bungalow gem

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