Bassick's Brick-and-Batten Brilliance: Gold Rush Rentals in Bridgeport, CT

The Bassickville Historic District is a snug hoopla of 1-1/2 story frame cottages, nestled in Bridgeport, Connecticut, stretching across Bassick, Howard, and Fairview Avenues. This little enclave was concocted between 1883 and 1885, the work of entrepreneur Edmund C. Bassick, who'd made his name and coin in the gold mines of the United States and Australia. But there's no gold in Bridgeport. Instead, he saw an opportunity in cheap land and a strainin' demand for housing.

His plan was a mix of invention and clever business sense – he wanted to appeal to the working folk with reasonably priced rentals while keeping costs low by designing a uniform, efficient system. I.W. Parker of Waldo, Maine was the chap he called to construct the cottages, and they were wrapped up in just two years. The development still screams 'Stick', with its bay windows, finials, cross-gable roofs, and board-and-batten siding. The appeal of Bassickville remains strong, but the old-timers have long since moved on. Most of the later buildings, though still within the district, bring a modern vibe to the historic appeal.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons