T
he narrowest home in Boston, located at 46 Hull St., has long been known as the "Skinny House" due to its unusual dimensions. However, recent research suggests that its construction may not have been motivated by spite as previously believed. The house, which last sold in 2021 for $1.25 million, was rumored to have been built by a veteran who returned from the Civil War to find his brother had built a home on land they were supposed to share. In retaliation, he built the narrow house to block sunlight from his brother's property. However, this tale might be nothing more than a legend.

    A 1920s Boston Globe article refers to the house as a "Spite House," but a closer look at historical materials reveals that its construction might have been linked to a land dispute during the American Revolution. The house was built on land owned by residents who were on opposite sides of the conflict, with one possibly supporting Great Britain as a "Tory."

    Despite these conflicting accounts, an examination of maps held by the Bostonian Society and the Boston Public Library suggests that the house was not built until after 1874. An 1852 map shows empty plots at 44, 46, and 48 Hull Street, while an updated map reveals four properties under the name of Thomas Caswell by 1874. The owner of 46 Hull St. might have split the property between 1875 and 1888, creating the narrow spot for the rumored "spite house." A circa 1875 photo from the Harvard Library shows exterior features matching what remains on the "skinny house" today, indicating that 44 Hull St. might not have been built separately from neighboring homes.

    The "skinny house" measures about 1,165 square feet and stands four stories high. Its entrance is located down an alleyway alongside the home, and it doesn't have a front door. Instead, there are four oversized windows visible from the curb. Despite its small frame, the house's reputation seems to have outsized its size, as it sold for $1.25 million in 2021 according to Zillow.