The subject of this preservation pop quiz is historic architecture & reading buildings. So, to begin, how would you describe this building? Need a refresher on building description? Read Preservation Basics No. 3 & No. 4.
Please describe this building. If you’re new to this, try it piece by piece: how many stories, how many bays, materials, fenestration, chimneys … and go from there.
The side of the building.
A first story window.
Now these aren’t ideal images for an entire building description, so just see what you can do with the images provided. Any ideas on dates of construction? Style? I’ll leave it up to you. Have fun.
Preservation in Pink 
This two-story house is constructed of brick and mortar. It includes a single bay window and two brick fireplaces. There are many double-hung windows with shutters that look appealing, but are not necssarily used. The detailing on each top of the double-hung windows adds a classy touch to the otherwise plain design. (How did I do?) 🙂
Not a bad start – you’re noticing lots of details, which is very important for architectural description. Review the Preservation Basics posts above and see what you might want to edit in your description. We can email about it, if you are interested. 🙂
My comment just got wiped out !! Anyways, rumour has it this is an 1820’s 5-bay Georgian that has been seriously messed with. My quess of age is based mostly on the particular roundness of the fanlight and the keystone above the actual door. (Was it once made of glass ??). So many alterations here……most of which seem to be very late Victorian. Windows, front addition, etc…. hey, whats with those shutters ??!!
I know the chimneys might be an indication of its age, perhaps, but I don’t know enough about them to comment.
Good thoughts, Mark. It is kind of a mesh of architectural styles. Interesting though!
My guess is 1820s construction with a windows update circa 1910. I wonder if the preservation-minded folks one hundred years ago lamented the replacement of the original 12 over 12 sash with newfangled windows that only belonged on Prairie and Arts & Crafts style homes?
those newfangled windows were also very popular on Colonial Revival and late Victorian houses in eastern NE. Bay windows appear as add-on as early as 1870.
I was wondering about the brick kilns that seem to appear in VT in the 1820’s not before – why?
This house is also held together with iron rods – see the iron s’s – a later precaution? Along with brick making, the local builders also have access to cut stone, and the tools required. This was new at the time.
The shutters are probably later – 1830’s? – they required the use of the circular saw.
The fan light in wood is the end of that era, at least in southwest VT, just before glass fans become the thing to have. I wish you’d taken (for me!) a close-up picture of the fan itself: bringing the fins together in the center neatly is a real skill and art
I love this house in South Londonderry. I’ve never seen a Federal style house updated with Queen Anne windows anywhere else.
Eastern NE mill towns have them: new income meant people updated their houses.
I may be able to photograph them next trip….
I’ll have to look up the dates, but Paula has the architectural style correct. Good discussion, all.