Diane Jacobsohn, PhD
Three-Decker: Symbol and Stereotype
2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014
at the William Clapp House
Diane Jacobson will examine why three-deckers are considered a form of vernacular architecture peculiar to New England, as well as some of the exceptions. Through the lens of social history, she will describe how a popular multifamily dwelling became a symbol of undesirable housing by the 1920s. Despite the negative stereotypes, three-deckers were an attractive housing option, and many still are today. Her focus is on three-deckers in the Boston area.