Monday, August 26, 2013

Cobourg Mystery/Our World

 Weathered old doors

I love photographing old buildings, especially the details. These doors suggest this building was once a garage - perhaps it still is.

Sadly there were no signs indicating what the building had been in its prime. Since it was next to a parking lot, I felt it was okay to poke my lens around and take a few shots.

 Long hinges and dirty windows

The paint seems to be sticking to the hinges better than to the wood.

An addition on one end

 Here's a view of the westerly side. The addition is also old and not nearly as attractive to my way of thinking as the original building, which was built of...

Stucco over bricks

bricks as you can see where the stucco has chipped away.

 Shuttered window

Two sides of the building are plain - no windows, no doors. But the front (the southerly side, which I saw first)  has a window below and...

Above the roof

a window above, which I assume was originally a sort of sky light. (FYI: There's also a non-descript door.)

Anyone have an idea as to what this building once was?

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

FYI City Daily Photo members: September 1st is CDP Theme Day. The theme is "Pink." To participate, link your post to the CDP theme day page.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

my first guess would be carriage house based on those hinges, or possibly a old fire house!

Andy said...

Gregory has some good guesses on this mystery. Those hinges are massive and made to last for a long time. I think our paths have crossed again. I was in Cobourg last week and you can see what I was photographing here.

Kate said...

Nothing like a good mystery to ponder. Great photos. Wouldn't it to be great to see what it looked like when it was new?!

Darla said...

I agree with Gregory, maybe an old firehouse. Our neighborhood firehouse looks a bit like this. Although it is old, since it is in use it is in excellent condition.

Darla

Nancy said...

Quite the mixture of textures -- love! :)

Pamela Gordon said...

Beautiful old doors. I think I concur with the other commenters that this might have been a firehouse, but it depends on how high and wide the doors are. I like the dormer and the shutters and the bricks showing.

Buttons Thoughts said...

oh I LOVE your photos and my memories are stirring I have always admired that old place and I am thinking a firehouse two but maybe a carriage house. Cobourg used to be where wealthy families around the world would come to play for thier summers and build beautiful elaborate mansions always believing from clever advertising that the air was better there and their health would benefit. It has many beautiful old places I have admired. Great post. B

TexWisGirl said...

it is really neat. you made an artful set of photos.

MadSnapper said...

it looks like a 2 car garage that they added a 3rd car, but why would it have that beautiful dormer window.. thanks for showing the whole building, i love the pieces of it, but like seeing it all. I like the hinges and the shutters and the dirty panes...

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I'm guessing gas station or maybe carriage house or firehouse. (I can't imagine why anyone would ever cover up beautiful brick with stucco.

Penelope Notes said...

Yes … covering up the beautiful brick is similar to how we covered up genuine hardwood flooring with carpeting in some homes. If the building goes back far enough, its garage might have housed the carriages that were pulled by horses. I have seen this type of transformation in old Montreal.

Anonymous said...

No idea what it might have been, but it is certainly fascinating. I love that last shot!

Stephanie said...

It might have been a beautiful building once, now the stucco is covering up that beauty, love the shuttered windows.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful shots of a mystery building. I would say a carriage house. Love the arched doors and hinges----well everything. MB

RedPat said...

I like the idea of a carriage house!

Virginia said...

LIke the older doors much better. I think that whole place could use some TLC!
V

Unknown said...

An old fire ststion, perhaps. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Photo Cache said...

i love old structures too. i hope this building finds new lease on life as something else.

Maggid said...

It looks like the kind of place calling for a creative-type to claim it and help it become something spiffy, new and serviceable again.

Awesome . . .

Sylvia K said...

What a terrific, fascinating post for the day, EG! I do love old structures, too, and wonder about their history! Thanks for sharing this!! Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

I agree love the weathered doors and windows ~ great photos ~ carol, ^_^

Cynthia said...

Beautiful doors and a fun mystery about its original use.

Linda Kittmer said...

I don't know what it might have been, but it sure is an neat little place.

Jenny said...

I am thinking carriage house!

What neat textures and fascinating mysteries.

Gill - That British Woman said...

your photos make the place come alive and have character.

eileeninmd said...

The old door remind me of the old style firehouses! What an interesting building. Wonderful photos, have a great week!

Carver said...

I like these shots of the details.

Fun60 said...

Loved the design above the doors with the sunburst effect.

Rose said...

Whatever it was in its lifetime, it is a beauty. Love all the details you captured.

Jack said...

You found a lot of good material out of one nondescript old building that I probably would have walked past. Well done.

Barb said...

I like the bare bones of the structure. It sure looks big enough to be a carriage house.

Jim said...

I like the design

Snap said...

A real mystery! Love the doors and often wonder why beautiful brick buildings are covered by stucco ... but then answered my own question ... water proofing! ??! Wonderful shots.

Unknown said...

Terrific photos! But it's sad to see the whole building1

Indrani said...

I too love such door details! Great shots!

Unknown said...

This was a garage for the Mansion that stood on that property in the early day's of Cobourg.. the large square garage was added by the owner who bought the Mansion and tore it down to build his apt building but he decide to keep some of the old garage to use as storage...Cobourg was once loaded with historical Mansions but most have gone to the wreckers ball ...

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.