53 Atkinson Street

History:

William Roades, a shoemaker, built this house in 1869 and lived here until 1884 when he built and moved into the smaller wooden house on the rear of the lot.
His married son, who had joined him in the shoe business, occupied the main house.
The property was owned until 1907, when it was sold to Hohn Holzwarth, a cabinet maker, who owned it for almost a half century.
In 1970 Robert Trout purchased the property and restored it as his home, with a rental apartment in the rear.
The Flowers purchased the house in 1978, and have continued to maintain the property as Mr. Trout had restored it.

The property contains a secluded garden to the east of the house into which is incorporated brick paving, salvaged columns and iron fencing that was discarded from Mt. Hope Cemetery.
The front parlor is a veritable gallery of Mrs. Flowers collection of antique needlework, silohouettes, and theorem paintings.
The sitting room, with its display of stenciled tinware, is believed to be the oldest part of the house, as reflected in the Greek Revival style door and window moldings.
The fireboard, painted by Mrs. Flowers, is in the style of tromp loeil- the art of visual deception by means of finely detailed painting.
The kitchen and front hall walls are decorated with stenciled border patterns taken from the 19th and 20th century sources.