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| Ray H Bennett "Chelsea" from Catalog# 39 published in 1930 |
The Chelsea is another traditional English-style home that was offered by Bennett Better Built Homes. Offered two years it appears in catalog# 39 in 1930 and catalog# 40 in 1932. Considering it was only offered for two years, I have found pockets of them in North Tonawanda (at least three on one street), Niagara Falls, NY, and two next door to each other in Lima, OH (one is authenticated through newspaper ads, but I am not sure which house). Of course I see this style house everywhere and of course I think it's a Bennett but there are specific details common to most Bennett houses and they make the Chelsea a Bennett. We'll check those details out further down. Right now I am concentrating on a small sub-division in the City of Tonawanda (Erie County). Almost all of the streets are named after New York State towns (yes, we have a Canton).
First up in the City of Tonwanda is a near-perfect example of Bennett Chelsea.
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82 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (image courtesy of Google Streetview)
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82 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (image courtesy of Google Streetview)
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| 82 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (image courtesy of Google Streetview) |
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| 82 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (image courtesy of Google Streetview) |
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| 82 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (image courtesy of Google Streetview) |
As you can see, it has the window in the vestibule on the outside and the roof over the side door. The window is frequently vinyled over and houses tend to lose the little porticos over the side door either from age or also vinylizing. The windows match up nicely with the catalog blueprint, too. There is an extra window on the second floor, added to the front bedroom on the non-vestibule side. Casement windows on the first floor still flank where the chimney should be. Original builders probably opted for no fireplace. The front door is not original, but the windows look like they could be. Though not the style in the catalog photo, they are a type offered by Bennett.
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| Window styles offered in the 1926 Bennett Bargain Book millwork catalog. Courtesy Archive.org |
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| 6-pane windows at 82 Mullens St, Tonawanda (City), NY (image courtesy of Google Streetview) |
Next up is 37 Dekalb St. This is two blocks south of Mullen St in the City of Tonawanda. This is a reverse plan, but is also a good example of thr Chelsea. Even though it was also built without the fireplace and therefor missing the chimney, a second window hasn't been added to the front bedroom on that side of the house. Though the house has been vinyl-sided and has lost the vestibule window, it looks like it has a Bennett "Lafayette" front door and the original style windows. Windows look good on the catalog side of the house and the original side door awning has been replaced with a stylish aluminum one, which in itself looks pretty vintage.
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| 37 Dekalb St, Tonawanda (City), NY. (Image courtesy Google Streetview.) |
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37 Dekalb St, Tonawanda (City), NY. (Image courtesy Google Streetview.)
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37 Dekalb St, Tonawanda (City), NY. (Image courtesy Google Streetview.)
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37 Dekalb St, Tonawanda (City), NY. (Image courtesy Google Streetview.)
 | | "Lafayette" Exterior door as seen in the 1926 Bennett Bargain Book millwork catalog. Courtesy Archive.org |
Another glorious example of the Chelsea in the same section of the City of Tonawanda is at 23 Canton St. Not yet a victim of vinyl, it has what may be the original shingles. No fireplace or chimney, but it does have the two casement windows and the single window in the front bedroom on that side. The vestibule has its window and the side door has its awning. Windows match up beautifully. Reverse plan.
The windows themselves are a mixture of original and replacements, the half-moon window is in place and enlarged, as is the vent thingie over the front door.
23 Canton St, Tonawanda (City), NY. (Image courtesy of Google Streetview)
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23 Canton St, Tonawanda (City), NY. (Image courtesy of Google Streetview)
I have two more in that sub-division that I am not 100% sure about so I hesitate to say YES. I will say "probable." Here they are:
145 Linwood Ave, Tonawanda, NY. It has been vinylized and is missing windows, such as the vesitbule and catalog-side bedroom window. The triple window at the front of the house has been replaced with a bay-window. Roof over the side door isn't the style illustrated in the catalog. None of these are deal breakers. The bathroom window, however, is in a weird spot. Front second floor windows are in the right place and it has the half-moon. There is the breakfast room of the kitchen at the back of the house.
The house does have the fireplace and chimney, but the casement windows on either side are missing, probably due to being vinyled over. The triple window of the dining room is good. The second floor bedroom windows are strange. Back bedroom is moved forward like the bathroom window on the other side of the house and a little window was added to the front bedroom.
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145 Linwood Ave, Tonawanda (City), NY (Image courtesy of Google Streetview)
 | 145 Linwood Ave, Tonawanda (City), NY (Image courtesy of Google Streetview)
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I am inclined to think it is a Chelsea and would add it to the list because the proportions are good and there is a Bennett Winston right next door, though that doesn't really mean anything. Just makes it more likely. (Plus there are other Bennett houses on the street.)
Another probable reverse-plan Bennett Chelsea but with some major issues is 106 Mullen St. I will get the major elephant in the room out of the way. The front door is off-set with the window next to it. This in itself was enough for me to say no way at first. But – the proportions are good, though the vestibule might be a little deep, the triple window on the facade is good, the placement of the second floor windows on the facade are also good.
Moving on to the non-catalog side, all look pretty good except there is a double window instead of triple in the dining room. No fireplace/chimney, but the casement windows are there in typical Bennett fashion. Moving upstairs, there is no added window in the front bedroom and the existing bedroom window is where it should be, but again, the bathroom window is in a different place than in the floor plan. Not a deal breaker because —
Looking at the catalog side of the house, with the exception of the vestibule window that was moved to the front, the windows are a great match and even the side door roof is like the catalog. It also has the breakfast room at the back of the house off the kitchen.
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| 106 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (Image courtesy of Google Streetview) |
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106 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (Image courtesy of Google Streetview)
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106 Mullen St, Tonawanda (City), NY (Image courtesy of Google Streetview)
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The more I look at the houses on Mullen and Linwood, the more I am incline to put them on the "tes" list. Maybe not with a capital "T" but taking in factors like location and surrounding homes, I think it is a safe bet.
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