3RD FL UNIT TROl1T
INSPECTIONS
29 Intervale Rd.Salem,MA 01970
978-804-0018
12/15/17
Leonid Karan
RE: 21 Wisteria St.
Salem, MA 01970
Investigation of 3rd floor unit's age/use.
To whom this may concern,
The purpose of this investigation was to determine that the third floor unit, at this
residence, was used as a rental prior to the Salem city zoning ordinance of 1965.
Upon evaluating the property it was apparent that there weren't any recent renovations
that were performed to make up the living space in the third floor, i.e. Lathe and plaster walls,
original trim, finished floors, original 'knob and tube' wiring, and an old abandoned gas feed for
a wall light in the kitchen area (the use of the gas light pre-dates knob and tube wiring's use).
The wall between the kitchen and bathroom appeared to be part of the original construction,
which would leave two small rooms that would not lend themselves for the use of bedrooms.
The unit also had two full sized egress stair wells with finishes that appear original, which would
pre-date the zoning ordinance.
There was a small amount of dead 'knob and tube' wiring in the same cavity where the
old gas feed was located in the kitchen,this may indicate renovations to this unit over the
course of time (both of which would pre-date the ordinance). The gas feed to the stove did not
appear to be recently installed however the outlet that powers the stove's igniter was fed
through an old work box with newer Romex wiring. This could have been needed as an upgrade
for the stove over the course of time as the previous stove would have been a 'standing pilot'
stove.
We then noticed that there was a doorbell located in the kitchen area above the door to
the living room. Upon further investigation the doorbell was a 'Nutone' Model LA-12 Honey-
Beige "contour" 2-note chime. Unfortunately, I was unable to retrieve positive date of
Strout Inspections
12/15/17
Leonid Karan
RE: 21 Wisteria St.
Salem, MA 01970
Continued... pg. 2
manufacture only coming across descriptions such as ' 1950's mid-century vintage doorbell' (E-
bay) and '1960's vintage doorbell' (E-bay), but nothing conclusive in that respect.
Although the doorbell wasn't able to accurately date the use of the unit, it does show
that the unit has been used as a separate tenancy for a long period of time. Having two full
egress stairwells, multiple bedrooms, a living room, a vintage doorbell, a capped heat pipe in
the bathroom for previous radiator use, and a separate area for kitchen and bathroom (that
would be too small to be bedrooms with original woodwork), I feel as though it is reasonable to
believe that the third floor was originally intended on being used as a separate rental unit.
Please contact me with any questions in regards to this matter.
Rega
J,.
Peter S u
Strout Inspections
29 Intervale Rd.
Salem, MA 01970