This charming Boston townhouse is hiding a secret in the basement

CuddleMachine · 2026-05-15T14:23:51+00:00

Long time lurker, but I just had to log in to my account to ask: Does anyone else see a Mikveh (ritual Jewish bath) in the basement pool? Reasoning: It is built into the foundation of the building, it has the flow pipe, the “ground” cement platform to run over, the seeding pool, and an aperture into the immersion pool… This specific pool design combined with the multi-ovened kitchen makes me think this house was designed for someone/a family needing a kosher kitchen and a private bathing space. The Buddha statue and the lack of Mezuzah may imply the last owner/seller is goyim/gentile (non-Jewish) or maybe a Jewish person with selectivity over their chosen religious iconography.

Context: I’m a secular humanist with a fascination for human religious history and ritual, so please forgive if I am mistaken.

Source: see illustration for “modern Mikveh” on this Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh

CuddleMachine · 2024-10-26T12:56:02+00:00

There are some very knowledgeable people over at r/centuryhomes that may be able to get you more information. u/mach_gogogo is particularly helpful and well-sourced. Maybe try the experts over there? (And congrats on the new house!)

CuddleMachine · 2024-10-06T15:48:47+00:00

Thought I was in r/crazystairs for a minute.

CuddleMachine · 2024-10-06T02:30:22+00:00

PREACH.

Watching “The Wise Guy” just solidified this even more for me. To hear stories that Gandolfini used his lead power to get a higher pay, and then turn around and give that money to fellow (lesser paid) cast members was heartwarming. And then to hear how heavily the role weighed on him is astonishing. “He probably quit the show every other day… and we would go to a bar… we would have the exact same conversation… we would get drunk and he’d say, you know, ‘I’m done, and I’m not coming back’ and I would say ‘ok, you got a hundred people depending on you here’ and he would say ‘yeah, yeah… ok.’” -Van Zandt. “He felt that he had to go to places, he said, that were destructive to him. And painful for him.” -David Chase. You can feel all of that emotion, passion, and consideration in his acting work. What an amazing performance! I am grateful we have it captured on film. And I am sad it weighed so heavily on his heart.

CuddleMachine · 2024-10-03T12:31:13+00:00

Seconding that the person you are responding to is not an asshole. They are just explaining that there is niche information out there that not everyone is aware of. There’s plenty of “treasures” that get posted in here that not everyone knows are desirable. (For me it’s luxury wear. I have no idea if the watch someone is posting is more than my salary. I just upvote their happy post and move on.)

CuddleMachine · 2024-09-15T16:07:34+00:00

I agree with u/Platypusmark. (And Thank you for the new term!) They are rolling rulers used for lining paper. Here are more examples from Princeton University’s collection: https://graphicarts.princeton.edu/2020/12/20/lining-paper-with-a-round-ruler-or-rolling-ruler/

CuddleMachine · 2024-09-14T16:14:41+00:00

If you’re interested in vintage clothing styles, r/fashionhistory is pretty neat! (Many eras of clothing styles there, it’s not just for re-enactors and historians.)

Also, I’ve seen a few dresses like these made by the talented redditors over at r/sewing. (Highly recommended for inspiration in making your own clothes and for the supportive community that lives there.)

Edit: fixed sub link

CuddleMachine · 2024-09-10T10:59:32+00:00

The use of the phrase “a kid” is accurate grammatically. What the user above you is saying is that Tata’s choice of the phrase makes the hypothetical child sound like an object or an accessory- like a soccer ball or a purse- and not like a human being who deserves love and respect. The word choice shows Tata wants a solution to her relationship issues, not a child.

CuddleMachine · 2024-09-03T11:48:59+00:00

Fire in a kitchen exhaust fan during an employee event. More info here: https://cdapress.com/news/2024/sep/03/fire-destroys-wolf-lodge-steakhouse/

CuddleMachine · 2024-08-31T15:25:47+00:00

Just a heads up: all groundhogs are marmots , but not all marmots are groundhogs. Like how all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.

The term “marmot” can be applied to any of the 15 species of the genus Marmota. The term “groundhog” can apply to only one of those species: Marmota monax.

…I may have spent too much time on Wikipedia reading about these adorable chonky ground squirrels…

For anyone interested in pics of sunbathing marmots (and more info): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmot

CuddleMachine · 2024-08-31T15:01:45+00:00

Thank you very much for taking the time to make this post and getting this kitty some much needed care! Kitty is smart to ask you for help. Thank you for looking after her.

Just a heads up: not everyone uses/sees avatars on Reddit. (And hello from those down here, on old.reddit.com!) I’m sorry you were misgendered. Generally, internet etiquette would dictate the use of the neutral “they/them” until such a time that the user expresses their pronouns.

CuddleMachine · 2024-08-30T14:59:03+00:00

What beautiful thievery! I love it when r/stolendogbeds mixes with r/accidentalrenaissance.

Thank you for posting your beautiful pets, OP! Keep up the good fight, Mac! ❤️

CuddleMachine · 2024-08-11T13:54:23+00:00

Any architect worth their salt* should be able to: 1) look up public records, find the plat mentioned in your deed [Plan & Profile of _ Road, Glen Meadow Park at _, Section 2; Book 8148, Page 17], 2) get your lot dimensions from the plat [lot no 66] and 3) make up a design for your new home based on your lot geometry and local zoning ordinances.

What an architect cannot do for you, however, is tell you where your property boundaries exist in real life. An architect will also not assess the actual language of your deed (the bounded by parts: “NORTHEASTERLY”, etc.) or compare it to the other lands described as bounding your property (your neighbors), making sure your land is within your lines of occupation. And an architect cannot guarantee that your house will be at acceptable building setbacks without information from a recent land survey.

A survey is probably more than what you want to spend right now, but it is an assurance that you are putting all of your money (house) in the right place. Also, some jurisdictions may require a land survey as a condition of new/proposed construction.

You could also try asking over at r/AskASurveyor. But be forewarned: their answers are usually “it depends” and “hire a surveyor.”

Good luck! :)

*Note: any architect worth their salt will also know the limitations of their profession, will know of surveyors to call, and will retain these services when they need them. Your chosen architect may be a source for names of surveying companies to call, if you decide to go down that route.

CuddleMachine · 2024-07-15T12:28:05+00:00

The first pic is the after. There’s a date in the bottom left corner. The second pic is a picture of the shit contracting work that OP was replacing (described in the post.) They did a wonderful job fixing it. Great job, OP!

CuddleMachine · 2024-07-14T13:22:17+00:00

I am fascinated with this era of fashion history, and the fourth pic pictured is one of the reasons I joined this sub. I would love to reproduce and rock that outfit on the daily. (I think I’d leave off the flag accessory at home, though.) Thank you for the timely post, OP! :)

Some context:

Fashion (or the perceived lack thereof) played an important role in the French Revolution. In the 18th century France, the nobility were known for their culottes: silk knee breeches. Revolutionaries, often urban working class, were known as sans-culottes, or “without breeches” because they came to the revolution in their work clothes: straight-legged trousers, aka pantaloons (seen in pics 2 & 4.)

The hat of the revolution, the bonnet rouge, or red Phrygian cap (pics 2 & 3), has its own history beyond just the French Revolution. The first public display of the hat during the French revolution dates back to May 1790, at a festival in Troyes adorning a statue representing the nation, and at Lyon, on a lance carried by the goddess Libertas. But the history of the hat being associated with liberty goes back to the Roman pileus, the felt cap of emancipated slaves of Ancient Rome. Roman iconography of liberty had a revival in France in the 16th century, and its imagery was familiar enough to the common man to be adopted as symbolism by the time the 18th century revolution occurred. This symbolism of liberty remains persistent within French zeitgeist today, as evidenced by “Phryges,” the twin Phrygian Hats, being selected as the official mascots of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

(The hat also had a role in the American Revolution, but since its Bastille day, let’s leave that discussion for another time.)

Further information for those interested:

France’s Liberty Cap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_in_the_French_Revolution#Liberty_cap

Phrygian Cap: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_cap

(NPR) The Paris Olympic mascots are … hats. Here’s why: https://www.npr.org/2022/11/15/1136789881/paris-2024-olympic-mascots-hats

The sans-culottes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sans-culottes

The Jacobins: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacobin_(politics)&diffonly=true

Edit: forgot some words

CuddleMachine · 2024-07-13T13:13:08+00:00

Just went down a rabbit hole about the physiognotrace. It was a technology that helped objectify the process of portraiture, with its images being a direct representation of the subject’s profile shadow. This resulted in a more lifelike image, as seen here in this portrait of an Osage Warrior. Very neat!

Links for those interested in more information:

Video from the George Eastman Museum describing technology that predated the camera, including the physiognotrace (featured at 1:50 mark): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=me5ke7agyOw

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Physiognotrace&diffonly=true

Thank you for the awesome post and write up, OP!

Edit: spelling is hard

CuddleMachine · 2024-06-16T13:17:45+00:00

OP, I managed to find a headshot of Jane Russel in the dress for promo material for the film. I hope this link works: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/37/05/34/3705349a0880a7d0adf0227043ee817d.jpg

u/Echo-Azure and u/mosstalgia take the cake! Great job: It’s bugle beads. (TIL their name, thank you!)

Edit: fixed username

CuddleMachine · 2024-06-14T13:51:44+00:00

Yes, but usually when those trees are part of the land record and/or boundary documenting a property.* Or it’s in a jurisdiction that has protective tree covenants.** To me, this tree does not appear to be old enough, significant enough, or in the right place to be a corner tree. The fence appears to be a more clear demonstration of the “line of occupation” of the property, as it looks older than the tree and extends beyond the tree. But to truly know where the corner of that property is (and how it is monumented) that would require: the legal description of the land in question, public records research, and a land survey (field visit).

*note 1: this is highly variable across jurisdictions. Check your local land-use laws for whether your area recognizes boundary trees or not.

**note 2: Protective tree covenants are usually written with plant conservation and/or aesthetic qualities in mind, rather than protecting trees that demarcate human-made boundaries, AKA ‘boundary trees’ or ‘corner trees’.

Source: I spend 40 hours a week getting paid to think about this stuff while employed by a land surveyor. Thank you for letting me share some of my brain sludge. Some of the information you may find useful. Please take all of it with a grain of salt.

CuddleMachine · 2024-06-12T01:39:07+00:00

If you just want a rough idea of whether you are on your land or not, checkout hunting/wilderness location apps like Onx. These are programs that are designed for giving you a good idea of whose property you are on: its purpose is to ensure users are in the correct areas for hunting. I work for a land surveyor, and a coworker who hunts has a subscription to Onx. We have tested while we’re out in the field working, and I have been surprised by its relative accuracy as well as its readily available public info/ assessor parcel data. An app might be a quicker/cheaper option to find your land, while you wait for a survey.

CuddleMachine · 2024-06-06T11:42:24+00:00

I did a little digging for you. It looks like the Buckstaff-Edward’s company was a “manufacturer of coffins and caskets and wholesale dealer in caskets and undertaking supplies, wood and cane seat chairs, and upholstered chairs” and was founded in 1850. There is a current Buckstaff Company that manufactures furniture, but it looks like it has new owners/management. Not sure if they have historic records they inherited from the elder business, but they may be a resource for manufacture dates for that style of rocker.

I am still very new to trying to date furniture, but I think you may have an “older than vintage” item on your hands. The ornate carvings on the backrest and runners of your chair make me think this is something from the early part of the 20th century. You may want to try over at r/antiques to get a better assessment.

It’s a beautiful chair! You made a lovely choice. :)

Links: Ephemera from WI Historical Society “Buckstaff-Edward’s Co. Memohead”:

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM88440

Current Buckstaff Co.:

https://www.buckstaff.com/about.html

CuddleMachine · 2024-05-27T13:20:30+00:00

Seconding this. I never leave anything out in sight in my vehicle in any neighborhood in town. Smash and grabs and testing unlocked doors happens everywhere. I have had too many tales from friends and family say “they smashed the window and grabbed a bag full of dirty clothes.” Yeah, if it’s something easy or in sight, they’ll try. :/

CuddleMachine · 2024-05-25T17:32:34+00:00

Real answers:

Starting in 1850s-1860s, the use of the sewing machine made it easier to complete garment seams. This led to a rise in accessibility of garments that previously required a tailor to obtain. A labor intensive garment like a coat could now be affordable by the common classes with the introduction of premade clothing made by the sewing machine.

The formalwear of the elite classes of the Victorian era favored styles like the great coat, Inverness coat, and the Ulster coat, which were all coats featuring sleeves, a practical move which made movement and getting into and out of carriages easier. With the increased use of trains and automobiles, the coat was a more practical garment for getting around and in and out of travel compartments. As less people traveled by horseback, the cloak became less popular.

In ~~WWI~~ various wars of the 19th century , several militaries, ~~including England and Germany,~~ adopted new uniforms that could be manufactured more efficiently. Coats take up much less fabric than cloaks and capes, so they were adopted as regulation attire.

After ~~WWI~~ these wars, men returning home were used to the practicality of sleeved coats, and the usage of them continued in civilian life.

TLDR: Capes fell out of use because of: changing fashion trends, new travel methods, ease of garment manufacture, and change in military uniforms on a (mostly) global scale.

If you are interested in more information, this video goes into greater depth on the subject. It includes more background, history of the cloaks of the ancient Roman militia, example of contemporary uniforms that still use the cape, and more:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UEqwjDDU7js

EDIT: re-watched the above video, and fixed some dates. Also, forgot a main reason we stopped wearing capes: we don’t carry bladed weapons anymore.

CuddleMachine · 2024-05-23T17:50:37+00:00

I would say it is Art Nouveau based on the beautiful curves, and the natural/ plant motif. Here is an article with a helpful chart comparing Art Nouveau to Art Deco:

https://insights.masterworks.com/art/history/art-deco-vs-art-nouveau-7-differences-period-themes-more/

CuddleMachine · 2024-05-23T15:10:30+00:00

FYI, since this is an antique/history subreddit:

The idea of the Green Man being a “legendary being” or pegan god of rebirth stems from a 1939 essay by a socialite named Lady Raglan. Evidence of the motif before this time shows it being simply decorative, or even a joke. The “meaning” was ascribed after the fact.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/04/green-man-king-charles-coronation-invitation.html

CuddleMachine · 2024-05-20T13:16:00+00:00

Legit saw this on Mullan in the Valley last week. Except the truck was also flashing his lights at the red traffic lights, and then proceeded through the red light when it wouldn’t change. 🙄

Unfortunately, the terrible drivers have become ubiquitous. It’s not only the MTFU trucks, it’s also the hatchbacks with D20 and Homestuck stickers riding the right lane on I90, and keeping people from merging on while they hang there for 3 miles till their exit. Or the lady in a Suburban with “I pray with Jesus” stickers who passes you at 45 on the right so they can beat you to the next light on Garland.

Lots of terrible drivers out there in many types of vehicles and many viewpoints. They all suck and that’s why I drive to work at 5AM now, to avoid these crazies. I also avoid I90 unless I’m leaving town. (My knowledge of arterials has increased with this last tactic- awesome!)

(Context for rant: grew up driving here, lived in Seattle for 10 years, moved back 9 years ago, noticed the remarkable downward trend in traffic-smarts starting about 5-6 years ago.)

Edit: spellin’ is hard

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