921 Main Historic Structure Assessment

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DAJDESIGN ARCHITECTURE, INTERIORS 2.1 ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE & CONSTRUCTION HISTORY The commercial property at 921 Main was built sometime around 1893 with several additions added at later dates. Several additions occurred prior to 1948 with another addition added in 1975 and a deck in 1987. The form of the original structure and each addition is apparent when viewed from the exterior and there are further indications of each addition on the interior and within the basement and crawlspace. The building is a typical wood frame vernacular structure of the Louisville area. The structure was originally built as a house and was used as such until as recently as 1974 and possibly later. There are photographs taken of the house starting in the early 1940's through to the 1960's. The combination of historic photographs, available building records, and observations made during the site visit present clear evidence of the construction history and modifications made to the structure over the years. vAApart from the several additions, other changes to the building include modifications to doors and windows, new siding and roofing, a new foundation, and several interior configurations. The original doors and windows have been replaced and some of the original sizes and locations have changed over the years. In 2024 the structure is clad in composite siding, although it is likely that the original wood siding remains beneath and there is likely a mid -layer of composite siding that likely contains asbestos. The foundation is a concrete masonry block that is not original and replaced the original foundation prior to 1948. Several interior changes were made over the years to accommodate different programs and some of these changes modified the structure of the floor and roof but did not change the massing of the building when viewed from the exterior. The primary fagade faces east to Main Street and the original form of the house is apparent when viewed from all directions. The overall mass and footprint of the building remain minimally changed since 1948 with only a single, small addition to the rear (west) in 1975. The wood frame construction style is typical of early 20th century construction techniques found in the Louisville area. Many of the original materials remain and are consistent with other building materials and details used on other structures built around the same time in the Louisville area. The original foundation has been replaced with a concrete masonry block foundation and there is evidence of this being done on other Louisville structures. 921 Main has the potential to be restored to a high degree of architectural integrity when compared to historic photos. Overall, the building is well maintained, with items that require prioritization, as outlined in the analysis of this report. The original structure is essentially intact with very few modifications since the early construction phases in the first half of the1900's. Based on site measurements and observations, it is believed that the original wood siding is present throughout, probably under multiple layers of siding. Further investigative deconstruction has the potential to reveal a larger extent of original materials. 921 Main is not listed on the Local Register. 921 MAIN PAGE- 10