
This is the final official Thursday Doors post of 2018, as Norm has decided to take next Thursday off. Norm suggested that we spend this final Thursday by revisiting our favorite doors from 2018.
That’s easier said than done. I doubt that I have the most doors of any door nerd, but I posted over 900 door images in 2018. Fortunately, all of my Thursday Doors posts are in the category of “Thursday Doors” and I added a menu option at the top of this page that lets me (and you) filter this blog by category. Still, 900 doors is a lot to distill down to 20 favorites. I think I can do it. I scanned my posts and selected 38 favorite doors. I think I can delete 18 of them as I assemble the gallery. But, before that, I want to take advantage of this opportunity to complete some research that events didn’t allow enough time for during the year.
The door to Hipwell Manufacturing is one of my favorites, and judging from your comments, it was a crowd favorite as well. Hipwell, founded in 1887 and made lamp wicks. As electricity became more common and electric lights more convenient, Hipwell (HipCo) invented the single cell battery and later produced flashlights that utilized those batteries. The company manage to fend off foreign competition for many years, but in 2005, it was forced to close. My friend David will appreciate that in the early 1950s, Hipco also produced a line of electric lamps, tin signs and tin houses for use with Lionel and American Flyer electric trains. They produced 400,000 lamps and over 100,000 miniature houses.
Within a ½ mile of the old HipCo building is Calvary United Methodist Church. This is another building that proved to be very popular, but at the time, I didn’t even know what church it was. I wasn’t able to learn much about it, but I did discover that the Gothic Revival styled church was built from 1892 to 1895. When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, the North Side was a low-income area. However, in the 1870s, that was not the case. From the church’s website:
“Allegheny City was built by millionaires, and the area that Calvary was built was known as ‘Millionaire’s Row’. By the 1870’s and 1880’s there were more millionaires living in a one-square mile radius (Allegheny City) than anywhere else in the world.”
OK, enough research. Let’s look at the favorites. Note, on some of these, I have edited the description from the original text.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment and thank our wonderful host, Norm Framptom for a year of Thursday Doors. If you want to see Norm’s favorite 2018 doors, head over to his place. If you ant to see everyone elses favorite doors, click on the little blue frog after you look at Norm’s doors. Also, in case you won’t be around until next week, or perhaps the week after, I hope you have a Merry Christmas (if you celebrate) and a Happy New Year (if you recognize the passage of time).
I think the Dillon steam boiler door is my favourite! :-)
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Thanks Ruth – I really want to go back there when there isn’t a truck parked in front of it. I love that door.
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Who are you kidding? You are the King of Doors! But the one at the top of the page is my very favorite. Reminds me of the Tardis. Happy Thursday Dan.
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The taxi stand is a favorite, Cheryl., It’s so funny, because I’ve been to Grand Central so many times, but I almost never go out the front door. All this time, I was missing that stand. Or, it is the Tardis and it wasn’t there.
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I like the second possibility. You must open the door next time! 😉
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900 doors? You are the Prince to King Norm. :-) Handsome doors, all of them, and I love the mailbox. But, of course, my favorite is your door with Maddie. Sorry, can’t help it. Being President of the New Hampshire Maddie Fan Club is a lot of responsibility, and I have to remain true. :-) Hope you, the Editor, Faith, and Maddie have a Merry Christmas and the healthiest and happiest 2019 as you work towards that last day of work in Corporate America. 🎄
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Thanks Judy. Maddie appreciates your support. I knew I had to include that one. I appreciate your support, for the redhead and for my efforts on this page. I have a couple more trips to Burlington to make, maybe we can connect for fish tacos and a beer in 2019.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
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Since I am usually very absent from Thursday Doors, thanks for your top ten from 2018.
While I love the Hipco door and painting on the wall, the dolls in the cabinet made me smile. My grandmother’s China doll peers out at me every day from the China cabinet, dressed in garb that dad had sewn by a local woman many years ago. It’s a priceless memory.
So, why are you going to do with yourself next Thursday? Relax?
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Next Thursday? Oh my…I hadn’t considered that.
There’s a funny story associated with the china cabinet photo – maybe I’ll share that next week.
Thanks for the support, Mary. I hope you’re having a great week.
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You certainly have a wide variety of doors – from the miniature, to the doll cabinet, to that magnificent cathedral! 900 doors says you had a great year 🙂
Merry Christmas, Dan, and I look forward to more in 2019!
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Thanks Joanne. It was really hard to get this down to 20. I;m trying to gradually lower the number of images I use (but that’s hard too). I do like to mix it up a bit.
Merry Christmas!
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This was a fine year in doors for you too, I see. I love your selection of personal favourites and crowd pleasers and how often they are the same (why is “pleaser” underlined?). Here’s to another like it. Go, Dan and Maddie!
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Thanks Manja – I haven’t been by your place yet. I’m anxious to see how you were able to gather favorites out of 52 weeks worth of favorites. I’ll be at this again, very soon.
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That’s a whole lotta doors–but I so enjoy seeing them! Two more days of work and then a 4-day (count ’em!) weekend. I can do this…..Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, Dan.
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Thanks Lois. I am looking forward to this weekend. It seems as though this week has already had five days.
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And now, it comes back…
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Hmmm, I replied to your comment and it disappeared. I was saying that this week seems to have already had five days. I am looking for a long weekend. Thanks for your support throughout the year.
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Taxi stand, hands down is my favorite. Wellllll that and the magnificent Cathedral door! And THANK YOU for the history lesson. You amaze me by the amount of information I seem to always find here. Thank you, Dan, for this effort but forth and the effort you made all year in 2018. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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The Taxi Stand is a clear favorite. I think I like the boiler doors (although I wish the truck wasn’t there). They are all special to me, and there are 18 others that didn’t make the cut.
Thanks for adding your thoughts to these images during 2018, Amy. It always means a lot when my photographer friends comment on pictures I’ve taken.
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Well then you know how it feels when a fellow photographer leaves me a wonderful comment to encourage me and uplift me. We’re even! (GRIN!)
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900 doors?! NINE HUNDRED DOORS??
I’m impressed with your sheer commitment to sharing doors in all their splendor, Dan.
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Once you get going with a theme, it’s hard to stop. I’m cutting down in 2019. From a max of 20 images to a max of 18. I’m trying to make sure I can still fit into my WordPress plan.
Thanks for your support.
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I hope the birds don’t mind when they hear of your nefarious plan to cut down. As for the doors what a nice collection. Getting back to the birds for a moment – are those multiple bird doors above the egg shaped door ? And I am still trying to wrap my head around that portculis. I tend to think of sliding doors as a horizontal contraption. Not as a door that slides up ! Where is Andre the giant when we need him to open the portculis ? And remember just in case you are tempted to answer that rhetorical question – he is the goon squad. Between the portculis and the wick factory I have two new fun facts to carry around. Good history lessons sir.
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It was never clear to me what those openings were for, John. It is my experience that if you have openings like that, you will have birds, but that’s in the northeast where winter is a thing. This was in San Antonio, so maybe the quest for shelter isn’t as strong.
I didn’t know it was a portculis until you asked. Apparently, it is, but no mention of the giant.
Thanks John!
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Phew! That’s a lot of doors…
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I knew the math was out there, but I never bothered to do it. I think fewer next year.
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Great collection of doors today. My favorites are the blue door on the church, Maddie and ‘her’ door, the ‘egg shaped’ door, the HipCo door and painted advertising, and that stunning church. And the mail box!!
Thanks for the rerun. It was fun!,
🔹 Ginger 🔹
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I knew I had to include Maddie’s door for her fans (even though that’s supposed to be something she doesn’t do). I like the boiler doors, but clearly, I like all of these.
Thanks for your continued support, Ginger. I always look forward to your comments.
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Wow, 12 months of doors makes for so many to choose from doesn’t it? You found a lot of beauties this year Dan. I’m gonna go for your phone booth and the egg shaped one as my best of the best. I give the mailbox an honorable mention too. Come to think of it, they ALL deserve an honorable mention.
Have a wonderful Christmas my friend :-D
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Thanks so much, Norm. I only have an inkling of how much work you put in, but I certainly appreciate it.
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I would rather not choose out of so many nice doors.
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Well, during the year, they all had fans, so I think they’re all good. Thanks!
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Thanks for all the comments on the one-liner, and doors this week! Right now I’m too scatter brained to even do any review, because I have painting on my mind:)
But of all your doors, I knew right away the second on the top row is my very favorite – the shapes and the colors make such a beautiful design!
Have a very merry Christmas, you and your family, including your pets:):)
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Thank you! Wishing you all the best.
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Excellent collection – you chose wisely! Merry Christmas to you and your family – may many happy memories enter in and out of your front door over the holidays! Cheers to you!
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Thanks so much Shelley.
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Great job, Dan. You caught all my favorites. Love that White Castle. Man, could I go for a bag of sliders.
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Ha ha – only someone who has had a bag could make that statement.
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I don’t think I can pick a favorite. This was a wonderful walk down door memory lane. Thank you, Dan!
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I understand Jennie. It was really hard to narrow this down to 20 (actually 21, but who’s counting?)It was a good year for doors.
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Yes it was a good year for doors, especially for those of us who got to follow along. Thank you, Dan. Looking forward to the next year!
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So then I had to google the last papal visit to Missouri. lol 1999 to St. Louis respectively.
Have a wonderful holiday and great 2019!
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Thanks for dropping by, 19 years, that’s not so bad. Looks like the last time he was in Connecticut was 1969.
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Great collection! Love the TZ reference OF COURSE. Love the “egg-shaped thing” that’s a door. And thank you for including the White Castle. When I was expecting, White Castle sliders were the only thing that would settle my stomach. True story.
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Thanks! You might be the only person I know that ate White Castle sliders to settle their stomach. Maybe that’s why your children are amazing.
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What a wonderful collection of favorite doors, Dan. I would never be able to narrow it down to just one or two. But the boiler and taxi stand doors get extra points for being unexpected. Happy weekend hugs!
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Thanks Teagan. It was hard to get this down to 20. Those two are clear favorites, though.
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Wow, what a great collection of doors for 2018! The Penn Station doors with the guy photobombing was really cool; don’t know how you him to look at the doors at the right moment. Merry Christmas and safe passage into the New Year to you and yours, Dan!
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Thanks so much! I love it when the restore historic places rather than rip and replace. Thanks for the holiday wishes. Wishing you those in return.
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What a good year. 900, eh? Wow! Lots of good stuff — still love that teal door and those police lamps — totally remember those! I have to laugh — ‘if you recognize the passage of time’. BAHAHAHA! Great line. Merry Christmas to you and yours! :)
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Merry Christmas!
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I loved the Bennett Library front door. I’m sure the library must be equally good.
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I loved that little building. Thanks.
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Pretty cool, Dan. You have a remarkable collection. Thanks for sharing your “greatest hits”!
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I’m glad you liked them Paul.
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