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Along the Freedom Trail, directly across from the front gate of
Copp's Hill Burying Ground on Hull Street, is The Skinny House. The building is more than 200 years
old, just over 10 feet wide, and so narrow that the front door is located in the side alley.
Boston folklore over the years is that the house was originally built to deliberately block the view from another house. Boston's ancient North End is
geographically small, densely populated, saturated with row houses, and it is therefore safe
to assume there have been a few neighborly disputes in its history. The true reason why the house was built is lost to history of course.
The Skinny House is easy to miss. When entering the front gate of the cemetery on Hull Street, just turn around to see the
building.
Trivia: What is the other nickname for the Skinny House?
Answer: Spite House, as it was supposedly built to spite a neighbor and block their view of the waterfront.
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