Colonial architecture Archives - Page 4 of 5

Architectural Monographs: Early Wood Houses of Central New York

Posted on March 29, 2014October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

Believing that the colonial buildings of New England are the standard upon which America’s greatest architecture should continue to be based, the authors of the bi-monthly publication ‘The White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs’ frequently pointed out the inferior quality of virtually anything built after the year 1830. The Classic revival, in particular, was seen as grotesquely overdone, lacking all of the simple elegance of earlier structures. In this issue, published in the year 1918, the authors focus on the beauty of the early wood-built houses of central New York.

“It is not necessary to dwell at length upon the horrors that succeeded the decline of the Greek revival and the lack of appreciation of the old work which became manifest when so-called ‘modern’ improvements were introduced,” they write. “Suffice it to say that from the author’s observations the post-Colonial buildings of Central New York have suffered more at the hands of ‘progress’ than have those in any other section of the country.”

So they take us instead to the early days of towns like New Hartford, Vernon, Oneida, Lenox and Skaneateles to celebrate the dwellings that represented, at the time, the pinnacle of local architecture. The primary allure of these homes, aside from the excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail, was the lack of pretension, even among the larger homes of the wealthiest residents.

See more examples and read the text at the White Pine Monograph Library.

Architectural Monographs: Colonial Charleston Mansions

Posted on February 28, 2014October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

The grand homes of Charleston, South Carolina may be larger and more ornate than the simple New England structures typically celebrated in the historic White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs, but they carry the same sense of human scale and homeyness. Those qualities are put on display in this issue, highlighting several notable Colonial houses in the southern seaside city.

These homes may often be separated from passersby by massive iron gates topped with intimidating spikes, but they still feel welcoming thanks to their placement close to the street. The Miles Brewton Mansion (also known as the Pringle House) is one example, one of very few old houses that survived several disastrous fires throughout the city’s history.

The author of this monograph describes the qualities of this mansion and others that “astound Northerners,” including architectural details reminiscent of Tudor England and Spanish-style tiled roofs. Sturdy bricks and tiled roofs were adopted as time went on to make homes more fireproof. Other details described as unique Charlestonian features include many-sided bay windows.

Architectural Monographs: Colonel Robert Means House, New Hampshire

Posted on February 19, 2014October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

One of the greatest pleasures of reading the historic White Pine Monograph series is looking at photographs of how historic buildings looked nearly a century ago, when most of these explorations of Colonial architecture were written. This issue from 1918 is no exception, taking a look at the ‘picturesque village’ of Amherst, New Hampshire. Today, this small town located 15 miles southwest of Manchester is still very much characterized by its historic New England flavor.

Amherst was an even smaller town when this edition was written – the influx of residents that have swelled the town’s population to a whopping 11,000 didn’t come until after World War II. The author of this monograph describes Amherst as ‘unspoiled,’ writing “There are electric lights and the general store and garage have gasoline for sale; but the woodbine twining around the electric light poles seems to give a symbolic suggestion of its real aloofness from the world.”

The home of Colonel Robert Means stars as one of Amherst’s most noteworthy historic structures, and it’s pictured throughout this issue. A single family inhabited the home for nearly 80 years leading to a minimum of change, and no dilapidation. In the early 1900s, the home still contained the furniture that it was filled with some twenty years after the Colonel’s death in 1846.

Architectural Monographs: Wooden Architecture of the Delaware Valley

Posted on February 11, 2014October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

While most early settlers in New England stuck to the architectural typologies they were used to in their home country – ignoring abundant timber resources in Pennsylvania to build brick or rock houses, for example – one particular region stands out as a notable exception. In the Lower Delaware Valley, including Eastern Pennsylvania, West Jersey and Delaware, wooden architecture was quite common despite the tendency of settlers to follow their ancestral traditions.

In other areas, builders went to great lengths to bake bricks or source stone, but the people of the Lower Delaware Valley realized the futility of this endeavor and decided to go with the obvious solution: build with the pine that thrives in the area.

This issue of the historic White Pine Monographs takes a close look at those houses. One example is ‘The WIllows’ in New Jersey, near Gloucester, built around 1702 and believed to be one of the earliest wooden houses in the region with some additions that came in later years. Writes the author, “The structure is really a piece of cabinet work rather than a piece of carpentry, and is a monument to the skill of the joiner – the old term is peculiarly appropriate for the artisan in this instance – who framed it together.”

Architectural Monographs: Colonial Standouts of Wiscasset, Maine

Posted on January 26, 2014October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

An influx of wealth from exports of Eastern White Pine and other species of timber resulted in a profusion of beautiful Colonial buildings in Wiscasset, Maine in the late 1700s. Located on the Sheepscot River, with easy access to the sea, Wiscasset remains a charming port town with many of those beautiful early structures still standing, drawing in fans of Colonial history and architecture.

One standout Colonial building of Wiscasset is the mansion of Capt. William Nickels, completed in 1808. Legend has it that it took two years just to complete its front hall, and when you see photos of how intricately carved it is (above), that’s not hard to believe.

The Smith House, built in 1792, is even more famous, not because it’s more intricate, but because locals allege that it’s haunted. A widow’s walk on the roof gives it a hint of atmosphere, though it’s impeccably well-kept and sparkling white to this day. The stories go back to the 1800s, when passersby reportedly walked on the other side of the street because they found the home peculiar. Unexplained incidents in the home include eerie footstep sounds and an elderly woman rocking in the parlor only to disappear suddenly.

Architectural Monographs: Distinctive Colonial Maryland

Posted on January 7, 2014October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

Maryland colonial buildings have their own particular character and style, as illustrated in this issue of the historic White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs. The author argues that early Maryland settlers brought with them may English sensibilities, including a love for symmetry and balance, but the Maryland climate helped them put their own distinctive spin on colonial architecture.

Three separate wings of a stately Maryland colonial home included the main house, the servant’s quarters and a third volume that often housed either a school and the business of the proprietor who owned the land. The warmer climate in comparison to New England enabled covered walkways between the three wings.

In this issue, examples like the Brice House in Annapolis are highlighted. “With its great central house and the two wings much lower, set at right angles, and connected by low covered passages, it is the finest expression of the distinctive Maryland plan.”

“All of these houses are imbued with something of the same spirit and share a common quiet and modest dignity. They are of the very essence of old Maryland and silent reminders of the day sand men that are gone. Those men – racy, hospitable, generous, alike in spirit and interests, proud, devoted to the good things of this world, built all of these qualities into their homes.”

Read the whole issue at the White Pine Monograph Library.