During the late 19th century and early 20th century wood frame
construction was used to build high style and vernacular houses in the
Greek Revival and Queen Anne styles. Figure 7 depicts a late vernacular
Greek Revival house with a symmetrical plan, and figure 8 shows a Queen
Anne house with asymmetrical plan.
The central hall plan in figure 7 has a steep roof with an integral
gallery. Windows are six lights over six lights. A wing was attached to
the rear. The original chimney is still visible.
The gable front and wing plan house in figure 8 was popular in the
period from 1890 to 1920. The key feature was the forward wing which
occupied a portion of the full gallery and the resultant half porch.
Often the front wall of the wing was angled, or cut away, but the full
roof gable remained. Or, an additional polygonal bay was added. Note the
Queen Anne scroll and trim on the porch. This replaced the simple 6″ ×
6″ square post of older house forms. This house plan sometimes featured
a central hall.
Though in a deteriorated state, the two room house in figure 9 has
features worth noting. The siding is vertical board and batten, a
technique of construction which appeared with the erection of lumber and
railroad worker housing in the 1880’s. The front covered area does not
extend the full width of the core; therefore, it is termed a “porch” in
contrast to the “gallery” of the previous two examples. Also, it is
“attached” and not “integral” with the main core roof structure.