Page
5. Preface
6. Contents
7. “95% Perfect”
8. Periods
8-9. Doing Over Old Houses
9-10. Analysis
11-12. Census
13. The Typical House
14. Description of the Drawings
15-19. Typical Houses: Drawings.
20-21. Window Frames and Sash: Drawings.
22-23. The Altered House: Drawings and Description.
24. Conflagration District of 1846: Map
25. Alterations
29. Early Influences
27-30. Details of Old Houses. Back side or Rear. Roof
Coverings. White Trim. Blinds. Conductors.
Front Doorway. Entry. Windows. Roof Walks.
High Basements. Cupolas and Roof Balustrades.
95% to 85% Perfect.
31. Dated Houses
32. Conclusion
33-68. Photographs of Old Houses
69-74. Descriptions of Nantucket
1772--M. St. Jean de Crevecoeur: Letters From
An American Farmer.
1791--Walter Folger, jun.
1792--Zaccheus Macy
1801--Josiah Quincy
1807--Anonymous
1811--Joseph Sansom; The Portfolio, Phila.
1850 (before and after)--Joseph E. C. Farnham:
Memories of Boyhood Days on Nantucket.
1876--S. A. Drake: Nooks and Corners of the
New England Coast.
1882--E. K. Godfrey
1924--Walter Prichard Eaton
75. Chimneys, Old and New: From a painting by
Kwaiseki Sadakata.
“95% PERFECT”
This phrase was used by a writer several decades ago to describe the
dwelling house architecture of the old town of Nantucket, and since
then has been generally accepted. It symbolizes the state of mind of
most people who come to this remote island town, traverse its streets
and view its houses. They all sense that there is something in the
mass or total of dwelling houses that is different from what they
are accustomed to elsewhere. The effect is pervading, pleasing and
peaceful. It causes them to picture a town of years ago remaining
unchanged by the march of time.
Many of us instinctively realize in part the causes of this strong
and lasting impression.
First--The dwellings are mostly located close to the street, often
directly on the edge of the sidewalk. They are not set back with
yards or lawns in front.
Second--The breadth of the house usually occupies much of the lot so
that adjacent houses are but a few feet, often a few inches, apart.
The gardens, as well as the flapping clothes lines, the additions
and the extensions, are at the rear; usually out of sight from the
street. These rear (and side) ells and projections are a general
characteristic of the old houses. Similar new additions if done
in the proper way, with gable roofs or lean-to roofs, can be most
pleasing.
Third--Uniformity in architectural type, style, material and colors,
within a limited range, is quite general and more responsible than
any other single feature for the exceptional and unique ensemble.
Elsewhere, in the off-islander’s hometown, each block or section is
apt to have a medley of types, perhaps in close proximity--as an
original colonial house and in succession a bungalow, a mid-Victorian
and then a Georgian mansion, a gingerbread pattern house of the 1880
period, followed by a woman’s magazine suburban type, and perhaps
many others. Each may be very good of its kind and suit the taste of
its owner and belong in certain places. But the appeal at Nantucket
is in not having enough of these varying styles to spoil the picture;
hardly enough to mar it, in the old part of the town.