HUGH COMSTOCK’S MARCHEN HAUS- A FAIRYTALE COTTAGE

If you walk by the SE Corner of 11th St. and Dolores, you see the largest of the Comstock Cottages.

It is appropriately named Marchen( or fairytale) Haus. Hugh built this cottage in 1928 and it got lots of attention from the townspeople. One local critic noted,”The chimney is neither round, square or rectangular. It is fantastic in its grotesque mis-shapen form.”

For years we walk by this cottage and I hang over this gate

or poke my camera through walls of ivy as I slip around on ice plant and huge tree roots.

But Marchen Haus is quiet and a little forlorn.

When the house goes up for sale in 2008, Bill and I tour its quaint interior, trying to imagine living in this space.

The house sells and signs of life appear. The next time we come windows are flung open to let laughter out of the house. Several women are putting up bird feeders,

sprucing up the garden on the west side

and clearing the underbrush and ivy.

This is my chance to finally get a fairly decent photo.

So I do and I post it on flickr. Sadly, I refer to the two women I have seen as two elderly ladies who have bought the house. Where was my editor?  The current resident spots the photo on flickr and calling herself “the cottage crone” comments that

A. She is renting.

B. She is the sole occupant.

and

C. She is not elderly.

She manages to mix in a compliment on my photo and I write her and apologize.

This house has many elements common to Comstock homes. I love the hand cut shingle roof,

misshapen chimney, hand carved trim,

curved front door,

rock chalk foundation

and oddly shaped windows.

The occupant has placed her name on the back fence.

She changes wreaths on the door with the seasons and the plantings are colorful.

Clearly , she loves living in this little house.