| The Jamison
House, erected in 1912-13 and designed by Charlotte architect Louis
Asbury, Sr., , is the oldest house which survives in Myers
Park, the elegant streetcar
suburb designed by John Nolen. The rusticated granite construction
of the house is unique in Myers Park; and John M. Jamison, the original
owner, was a hotelier of regional importance. He was tragically
killed when his car was hit by a locomotive while the house was under
construction. It is now a bank. |
 |
| Adaptive reuse
inevitably requires certain changes to the property. Every bank must
have an Automatic Teller Machine. The Secretary of the Interior's
Standards mandates that new construction should not mimic the historic
buildings but that it should be compatible. Notice the rafter
protruding from the structure to support the broad eaves. Also the
pyramidal roof is compatible with the original building. |
 |
| Another necessary feature of
bank is the seemingly ubiquitous drive-in window. The side porch on
the north side of the house was modified to serve this purpose. The
awning is removable but does provide protection from rain. The glass
walls of the porch preserve the openness of the space. |
 |
| Here is a close up view of the
side porch. Notice that the money deposit machine has been placed in
the recess where the stairs were located. The doorway from the side
porch has been replaced by a large window, so the teller can establish eye
contact with the customer. |
 |
| Here is the unaltered porch on
the opposite side of the house. It was never identical to the other
side porch. By
leaving one of the porches completely undisturbed, the Commission allows
the visitor to obtain an understanding of the original architecture of the
house. |
 |