32 Commercial St

Historic District Survey information for 32 Commercial St

Architectural Description: 32 Commercial St is a 1-story 3-bay dwelling with exposed basement at one end (right) and rear garage addition. Fenestration primarily 6/6 DHS windows with storms with single-pane International-style ribbon windows at the 1st-story corners of the primary facade and single pane windows at rear; a screened-in porch to the west of the recessed entry encloses paired DHS windows; Primary entrance has winding wood steps to concrete steps to central entry; Entry door not visible form street; A second entry with a single pane and panel door and storm is located at exposed basement level; Rear facade has concrete steps and wood steps that lead to an upper story entry on main house block with a modern door and screen; Rear addition has shed roof, garage door, and modern pedestrian entrance with pane and panel door and screen. Stovepipe chimney on north slope.

Historical Narrative: As per Josephine Del Deo (1976) Mr. Kunitz is a "Pulitzer Prize" poet (1959) and therefore the house is important, from a contemporary point of view, as the residence of a celebrity in the arts. The residence will undoubtedly continue to be significant in the future as a part of the matrix of residences of those connected with the arts and outstanding in their field. Mrs. Kunitz, the painter Elise Asher, is well-known in her field and shares recognition with a number of painters who live in Provincetown or who have lived here, and who are important in the Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1950s.

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Commercial Street (Provincetown, Mass.), Dwellings, and Historic Districts--Massachusetts--Provincetown

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)