Alfred Stratton House - Reading, PA, USA
Posted by: 
Janila
N 40° 17.772 W 075° 51.906
18T E 426475 N 4460993
When a local newspaper researched the Sylvan Villa apartments which are in very bad shape, they also took it a step further and checked on the history of the old abandoned house which sits next to them.
Waymark Code: WMZMJR
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 12/02/2018
Views: 3
I have lived in this township for the past twenty years and have driven by Sylvan Drive nearly every day of that time. Sylvan Drive is a short street holding two multiunit townhouse type rental units which appear to be in very bad shape. Tucked away behind them is an old house. I have taken pictures of it previously but never knew what the house was. The Reading Eagle, in their research of the Sylvan Villas took it a step further and delved into some of the history of the house.
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Per their research, the house is currently owned by the same elderly woman who owns the townhouses. She and her husband bought three parcels of land on Sylvan Drive in 1973 and when the husband passed away, the wife, who lives in Philadelphia, decided to hold on to all three for sentimental reasons. The taxes are paid on the locations but there is little upkeep done on the house. So even though the house has an owner, it has no one to love it.
From the Reading Eagle's article:
"Built for Alfred J. and Gertrude Stratton in 1937, the architect-designed house exhibits elements of the art deco and Mediterranean revival styles. It featured a flat roof and large casement windows, including a curving glass window overlooking a backyard terraced garden."
No one has occupied the house since about 1975.