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Photo by Andrew Erdmann
The Cole, on Park Avenue, is left out of the new Cass Park historic district, which is bad news for fans of the quirky structure.
One of those is the Cole, at 2753 Park Ave. We've written about this building before because it gracefully conceals its secret life when looked at from the front. When looked at from another angle, it tells a very interesting story, one that mirrors the life of the city during its boom. The news that this building falls outside the historic district approved for Cass Park makes it worth consideration again today, as this unusual piece of the past won't receive the special protections the rest of the district will.

Metro Times file photo by Michael Jackman
The Cole in a picture from 2005.
Mae Cole did what many widowed wives did at the time: She took on boarders. By 1914, she had a number of boarders living with her in the house. And a remarkable transformation occurred over around then. Somehow, Mrs. Cole converted her dwelling into a set of flats. A 1919 map shows that a three-story front section has been added onto the building. In 1921, “The Cole” is listed as having eight different residents, including a toolmaker, a salesman and a clerk.

Metro Times file photo by Michael Jackman
A side view of the Cole from 2005.

Photo by Andrew Erdmann
A photograph of the Cole from two years ago.
We've noticed, over the years, that somebody has put money into this building, removing some of the more dilapidated rear sections and adding new siding. We hope these efforts pay off, if only because the Cole is a humble monument to one woman's ingenuity.

Photo by Andrew Erdmann
The Cole has to be one of the most unusual buildings ever.