Chapter one

The history of 704 Amberson.

The architecture, the past owners, the neighborhood it grew up in — and how the house came to be called The Garden House.

The house

Year built
Add year of construction
Architect / Builder
Add architect or builder if known
Architectural style
e.g. Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Edwardian — fill in
Square footage
Living area, total under roof
Lot size
From most recent survey
Original cost
From historical records, if known

Past stewards

A house this old has been home to many. Here is what we know.

1900s — TODO
Original owners and notes
Mid-century — TODO
Subsequent owners
Recent — TODO
Owners in living memory
The Crivella years
Year purchased, what we changed, what we preserved

Source materials: Allegheny County deed records, Carnegie Library Pennsylvania Department, Shadyside Historical Society. Links and copies in Documents.

How it became The Garden House

Tell the story here. When did neighbors start using the name? What does the garden mean to the block? Photos of the garden across the seasons help carry the story.

A few sentences on what makes the gardens distinctive — the species, the layout, the rhythm of bloom from March through October.

Garden — spring
Garden — summer
Garden — fall
Garden — winter

Renovations & changes

A timeline of the major work done to the house — what was changed, what was preserved, and why.

Year — Project
Description, contractor, scope, photos before/after
Year — Project
Description, contractor, scope, photos before/after
Year — Project
Description, contractor, scope, photos before/after