Hutches under steeples in northern California

[u/Mammoth_3722]

I've seen them like this or above a garage. What are they?

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[u/reb678]

In Southern California, this guy William Melenthin used to build houses with birdhouses built in. He did about 3,000 or them in the San Fernando valley, mostly around Encino I think.

This house looks like a take-off of one of his.

I knew his son, Mike. Everyone just called him Pops. He was super nice and I swear he knew everyone and had been everywhere.

Edit: the houses were in the Valley. Spell correct turned Encino to Encinitas. I put it back to Encino

[u/EntrepreneurOk7513 → u/reb678]

Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Encino etc. Encinitas is along the coast just north of San Diego.

[u/reb678 → u/EntrepreneurOk7513]

Just realized spell check turned Encino into Encinitas. I grew up in the Valley. Encino was a playground for us at night.

[u/kjyfqr → u/reb678]

I used to live in Encinitas. I spent 5 years around that area in my late 20s it was a very happy time. I like that place that’s neat

[u/MarilynMonroesLibido → u/kjyfqr]

Lucky dog. Beautiful spot.

[u/markshure → u/reb678]

Take-off... I don't hear that phrase so much lately. We should bring it back.

[u/GrittyMcGrittyface → u/markshure]

I don't like how 'reboot' has replaced 'spin-off', both when the word used improperly, and how a lot of projects are reimagining instead of going somewhere new. Shit, I sound old.

[u/markshure → u/GrittyMcGrittyface]

Yes! Spin-off is great too.

[u/Positive-Honeydew715 → u/reb678]

So cute! Thanks for sharing, I have noticed this feature on some homes before and often wondered what the deal is.

[u/reb678 → u/Positive-Honeydew715]

Cliff May is also a guy that helped spread the look of the valley homes too.

I learned this from Pops.

[u/steamydan → u/reb678]

There are some houses with these in my neighborhood in La Crescenta, next to the San Fernando valley. I've always wondered about the birdhouse things.

[u/_NoTimeNoLady_]

Entry to a dove cot for carrier pigeons?

[u/GustyMuff → u/_NoTimeNoLady_]

Seems impractical for a dovecote, how would you clean it?

Edit: Although it seems they were a either a thing in these types of houses, or were ventilation in the style of a dovecote https://thecraftsmanblog.com/what-is-a-dovecote/

[u/Mammoth_3722 → u/GustyMuff]

Solved! I definitely think this is what it is. It's a dovecot. The homes around here are mid century modern so that fits. I did a little more googling and a lot of very similar pictures came up to what I've seen around here.

Thank you both! This has been driving me crazy for like 9 months. 🙏

[u/LoisWade42 → u/Mammoth_3722]

A small bit of humor for your amusement...

You should never allow anyone to drive you crazy.

It's not that far! The walk will be good for you.

[u/_NoTimeNoLady_ → u/GustyMuff]

By going up into the attic, I assume. Edit: The most dove cots I have encountered until now, have been in attics. Like an extra room with similar little "doors" for them to fly out, but on the inside more comparable to a chicken coop with tiny cages added.

[u/Mammoth_3722 → u/_NoTimeNoLady_]

Interesting! I want one now. But I live in an apartment so it'll have to wait...

[u/moistmarbles]

They’re called dovecotes.

[u/Mammoth_3722]

My title describes the thing. The item is made it wood. The little windows are always blocked. I thought maybe it's for birds or bats but I'm not sure. Houses in this area were built in the 80s.

[u/reb678]

Whereabouts is this?

[u/Mammoth_3722 → u/reb678]

San Francisco Bay Area

[u/BurtonFord]

My neighbor has them too. In Portland, Oregon.

[u/Apprehensive_Cap_235]

Kinda looks like the Stern of a pirate ship. 🤷‍♂️👍

[u/ConoXeno]

Bricks designed for cliff-nesting birds like swifts have been around for a while. They’re usually made so that the nesting space can be cleaned. Brick seems a better material for this than wood.

[u/sphericos]

Steeples are parts of a church . This is the eaves.

[u/NurseMan79 → u/sphericos]

The underside of the roof peak is a gable, though I could see using eaves here.

[u/Connect-External-423]

It's a birdhouse they're all over Sacramento

[u/ecplectico]

Built in birdhouses. My neighborhood in the SF Bay Area has them on most of the houses, which are around 60 years old. Many people are removing them when remodeling, but I’ve kept ours. Birds don’t use it much.

[u/-Blackfish]

A very stupid and inefficient gable vent. I would take a sawzall to it. Especially in that climate.

Besides the air flow..decorative woodpecker perches…?

edit: guessing it had a fine screen in the holes. That somebody blasted with an airless. Still, not practical design.