Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Boston’s iconic ‘Skinny House’ sells for $1.25 million

The bizarrely proportioned home is said to be the result of a feud between brothers

Helen Elfer
Friday 17 September 2021 16:57 EDT
Comments
Existing Home Sales Jump as Real Estate Market Opens Up

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

One of Boston’s quirkiest homes, known as the “Skinny House” has been sold for more than its asking price, at $1.25 million.

The historic four-storey house in Boston’s North End was built in 1862, and is said to be the narrowest house in the city.

Bizarrely proportioned, the building measures approximately 1,165 square feet but is only 10 feet wide at its maximum, narrowing to a little over 9 feet at the back of the house. At its narrowest point inside – 6.2 feet – the walls are close enough to allow most adults to touch opposite sides of the house at the same time.

According to local legend, two brothers inherited the land the house is built on. When one of them joined the Army, the other built a sprawling property that took up most of the land, leading to a feud between the two. So when the first brother returned from war, he built the Skinny House to block his brother’s view and sunlight.

For that reason, the building is also known as the Spite House, according to a plaque on the facade.

The iconic home was put on the market in August for $1.2 million, and sold for $1.25 million, according to real estate marketplace Zillow.

Estate agency CL Properties posted on their Facebook page: “Featured in some of the nation’s most prominent media platforms, 44 Hull Street received multiple offers and went under agreement for over list price in less than one week.”

The home has two bedrooms and one bathroom and includes a private deck with a view of Boston Harbor. There’s no front door, so residents have to walk down an alley to enter through a side door.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in