Located on Route 22A in Bridport, VT.
Nice house, right?
I love to drive, even if I’m driving alone, but the downside is that the level of sight-seeing is less than if I were passenger (generally speaking; I suppose it could just be a different perspective). So, as I’ve passed this house from time to time, I’ve thought a variety of things (please don’t judge me based on my split second drive-by thoughts):
Ooh, cute house.
Nice house.
Central chimney. Pedimented windows. Wood shingle roof.
Something looks different about it.
It’s too perfect.
Is that new construction? It’s a good imitation of historic. It’s going for connected architecture, I guess.
Clearly a new garage.
One of these days I’ve got to take a picture.
It must have a nice view.
Finally, earlier this week, I stopped on the side of the road to take a picture (and my car was greeted by a large German shepherd…oh the perils of roadside photography). Since I wasn’t just driving by, I could actually look at the house, in all of its confusing manner.
New or historic? Where are the front steps?
New.
Aside from the too-perfectness, what gives it away?
Click on the picture and zoom in. Check out the foundation. It’s poured concrete; a concrete slab. A historic house with a massive central chimney would not have a poured foundation — among other things.
Bridport, VT.
What do you think?
Do you agree? What would you say about this house?
Is it an example of new construction to blend in with surrounding historic homes? Or is it too confusing? Maybe you can spot the obvious new characteristics right away, but I have to admit that this house perplexes me more than others.
Preservation in Pink 
aahhh, good one! Yes it would have puzzled me too except for that foundation and the attached garage. It also seems weird to me that there are no steps or anything leading to the front entrance. But I’m not all that familiar with New England architecture so I’m not used to seeing houses like this!
Attached buildings are quite common in New England — connected architecture — but yes, it would be more of a barn or a shed than a garage (unless it were converted to a garage). Have you heard of big house, back house, little house, barn — that’s New England for you.
As far as the lack of front steps — that is weird. I have, however, seen this is various places, but usually it’s under renovation or the house is falling apart. The front door might not be used during the winter for insulation efficiency reasons and everyone probably goes in the side door. But, in this case it looks like front steps were never given any thought!
Oh– also another dead giveaway is that there is no mature landscaping or very mature trees around the house anywhere….
Excellent point. Generally, large trees will be around historic houses. I wouldn’t say it’s a rule, since trees can and have been removed on many sites, but it’s definitely a good indicator.
The chimney looks new. Could the house have been moved and put on a slab?
the chimney looks to have been built of reclaimed bricks… but not the soft hand made bricks one would expect for a house of this styles supposed age. the lack of wear and tear (some of us prefer to call it patina!) also gives it away as a repro-house… unless everything got replaced, in which case it might as well be a new house.
Hey, this is my cousin’s house! Good eye on the cement slab and trees. It is quite new; I think around a year old. It was built by Connor Homes in Middlebury(www.connorbuilding.com).
Hey, thanks for the answer Jonathan!