Why does our bedroom have two doors? (St. Paul: homes, purchasing)

[alison_schaub]

We own a 1917 two-story St. Paul home. One of the bedrooms has two doors, two closets, and half walls with built in lights. We have heard many theories as to why there are two doors: (1) maid's room; (2) nursery.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Me007gold]

Pictures might help

[Ohky0815]

need a picture.

[uptown_urbanist]

Agree with the others that it's tough to envision without a picture, but is there a chance that it was once two smaller rooms and someone at some point knocked down a wall to combine it into one single room?

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

Agree with the others that it's tough to envision without a picture, but is there a chance that it was once two smaller rooms and someone at some point knocked down a wall to combine it into one single room?

This seems most likely, especially since multiple closets in a single room were not common back then.

[1stpontiac]

My first thought was also a double room combined to one larger room. One of the homes we looked at when purchasing had this done.

[Yosh01]

Our bedroom had a second door leading to a smaller bedroom that also had another exit to the hallway. Clearly, this was a nursery, which we used as such. Later, it was easy enough to wall up the doorway and make separate rooms.

[MissSoBelle]

Maybe they were thinking of putting in a bathroom?? Back then though, it was more likely a nursery.

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

Agree with the others that it's tough to envision without a picture, but is there a chance that it was once two smaller rooms and someone at some point knocked down a wall to combine it into one single room?

Originally Posted by StanleyVegas

This seems most likely, especially since multiple closets in a single room were not common back then.

Without photos, UU and Stanley's idea is what I first thought of when reading the OP's post. Many homes I have been in built between 1900 and 1940 or so had very small bedrooms and larger shared areas if the space was available to add anything. Some barely fit a bed, dresser and night stand if the bed is anything larger than a full.

[Glenfield]

Where do the doors lead? If they both lead to a hallway, then it would seems like two rooms wee combined into one. If one door leads to another BR then a nanny's room seems more likely. As others said, pictures would be helpful.