Building a new house is ordinarily a cheerful, upbeat activity for all concerned, suggestive of good economic times and happy families.
But new construction can have a darker side: When a feud between neighbors spills over into architecture, the result is a so-called “spite house”—a structure built specifically to cut off an enemy’s daylight, view, or access to the street.
Thanks to modern building codes and zoning, building a true spite house like one of those shown here—all of which have long outlived their disgruntled builders—would be all but impossible today. And while that’s a clear loss for future architectural historians, it’s certainly good news for homeowners with ornery neighbors.
JLC contributing editor Jon Vara lives in Cabot, Vt.
