The Colonial Revival House

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When discussing antique homes, we should determine the difference between what we call a "Colonial" and a “Colonial Revival home” A revival, of course indicates a return to something or even an ideal of the past. So how does this apply to a vintage colonial home?

 On January 22, 1901 Queen Victoria gasped her predeceased husband’s name, "Bertie.." then passed away at the age of 81, it ended a long storied reign as well as what we know as the Victorian period.  From an architectural standpoint, and a sociological one, certain movements had been at work as early as 1875 ushering in slow change and by the early 1890's, Victorian architecture was really just hitting its stride in construction volume.  Victorian style had an almost dizzying array of details ranging from Italianate and Second Empire in the 1860s right up to the well-known Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque of circa 1900.

The year 1875 was filled with national pride and growth in the United States. The Civil war was about a decade past and the following year would mark the Centennial of the United States as a country. The industrial Revolution was well under way and places such as the Northeast were transforming from a farming economy to an industrial one at a very rapid rate. Early concerns about urbanization, loss of traditional values and perhaps moral decay were being brought forth. Additionally, technology of this period was like nothing anyone had ever imagined possible!  Even basics such as cooking and housekeeping were changing from hearth cooking and an outdoor well (not to mention privies and bedpans!) to gas ranges, indoor plumbing and even central heating.  The large kitchen fireplace with its built in brick ovens and heavy cranes was as out of trend as a rotary phone is today.  

Victorian homes were known for their elaborate, and, sometimes excessive, fussy detailing. Home’ interiors were typically heavy, dark and cluttered. Living in a quickly expanding industrial city with its polluted air, transportation concerns and crowded conditions may have led some in society to feel boxed in and even smothered. With this fast paced growth and the lack of modern transportation, downtown real estate was at a premium. 

The fine Pilgrim era of Georgian and Federal architecture, as well as historic public monuments were being razed almost overnight. Boston, a city of known for both its history and inventory of historic buildings was unfortunately notorious in its demolition. The Old Feather store circa 1680 and the 1730 John Hancock mansion were among its notable losses. The Old feather store was originally built on the waterfront in the general area of Faneuil Hall. But during the preceding two centuries, the waterfront had been filled to the degree that this building was now nearly ¼ mile inland. Despite nearing its second century and having its roots in the Pilgrim era, it was demolished in 1860. Of more historic note, was the circa 1730 John Hancock Mansion on Beacon Street. The Hancock family retained ownership until around 1859 when it was offered to the city.  The city declined the offer and the historic building was demolished in 1863 to make way for two new townhouses. Ultimately, Boston did acquire the site and the townhouses were demolished in 1917 to accommodate expansion of the State House. In spite of this, the outrage of some had sparked an awareness in preservation and the movement was at least becoming relevant.

 Perhaps this was a catalyst for change. At the 1876 Centennial Expo World’s Fair in Philadelphia a shift in both style and a harking back to earlier times was notable. Among the Victorian baubles on display, there was a somewhat authentic colonial kitchen built for the fair, bake ovens and all. Some quality reproduction Chippendale and Federal furnishings were also on display. Yes, a change was in the air!

 During this period, the Northeast cities were the first to validate the changes, especially within the upper middle class and wealthy. A less known Victorian style was beginning to show up in some of the wealthier summer enclaves such as Newport, RI, Bar Harbor, ME and the North Shore of Massachusetts. Pioneering and accomplished architects, such as McKim, Mead and White of New York and Peabody and Stearns of Boston, had been touring New England with their sketch books collecting ideas and details of its colonial roots. There was a well-publicized tour by McKim Mead and White of New England in 1877. The 1728 Whitehall in Middletown RI was carefully studied. It seems the flow of the cedar shingles covering the roof and exterior walls was of some interest to Stanford White.  By 1883 several landmark "Modernized Colonials" were designed and built in the summer resorts as second homes.  Probably one of the most noteworthy is the 1881-1883 Isaac Bell House in Newport.  By today’s Newport standard, this home could be considered perhaps, "quaint.” In 1883 it surely would have been quite controversial!  Sure, it looked somewhat like a Victorian home with its massive, large rooms, porches and service ell, but how about the exterior and interior finishes? 

 Gone were the fussy spindle work, patterned brick, multicolored paint and other busy detail.  Steel cresting and patterned slate roofs were absent. This new and free style architecture featured unstained cedar shingles, free flowing down the roof and covering the sides. The trim was painted a dark green, it even appeared the new owners were being stingy by using old fashioned multi-paned window sashes in lieu of a single pane, this was during a period where large single pane sashes were the trend.  The Colonial Revival was in its infancy. Stepping into its large open foyer, the first detail that is noticed is a very large oversized colonial type brick fireplace. Gone were the heavy wall treatments, replaced by very old school colonial-style raised paneling and exposed beam ceilings.   

 Even the pocket doors had been sidelined and instead heavy wood doors on large metal barn door wheels with exposed tracks had taken their place. A reflection on New England’s agrarian past.! The main entry door was actually off a side driveway and had (and still has) a humble split Dutch-style door. Even the sidelight are notable in featuring multi-colored colonial style bullseye glass. A change was definitely in the air!  Ten years later, vast homes of the wealth still went up in grand revival and Beaux Arts style, such as the well-known Breakers and the Elms., But a new style was certainly taking root in the minds of architects and plan books of the time. 

Like any other style change, and perhaps especially in the staid Northeast, change happened gradually and slowly.  Architecture, like automotive design, happens as evolutionary rather than revolutionary in most cases.  Queen Victoria's reign was still strongly in place and so was the prevalent Queen Anne Style Victorian.  

Why it came about as Queen Anne Style is yet another topic as Queen Anne was a 17th century royal. But yes, we have quite a bit of influence in architecture and furniture from that earlier period too. Again, I digress!

 Fast forward to circa 1895-1899, when the vast majority of Victorian homes going up in the industrialized northeast were noticeably different. In many cases, basics such as exterior paint were a simple and colonial hue of white, yellow or slate blue. Exterior blinds, which are actually a Victorian era feature, were painted in basic black or a darker green. Most homes held on to the prevalent large single-paned window sash, but it wasn’t uncommon to find multi-paned sashes in attics or on stair landings.  Even the Federal Style (1780-1820) Palladian windows were quite common in both modest and grand new homes. Dormers were simplified and main entries now featured Federal style fanlight doorways with multi-paned side lights.  Moving to the interior, it was typical to find a large fireplace in the main entry hall ,boasting a simplified Federal or Georgian mantle. The marble fireplaces found in earlier Victorian homes were now old hat as central heating became the norm. Fireplaces were for ambiance and aesthetics rather than comfort and necessity. They were reminiscent of the early homes where the main living hall and large hearth were the heart of the home. Many of these fireplaces feature a cozy nook with built in benches and book cases—an early reading nook!  Additional features such as built in China closets and interior doors were a call back to colonial themes with multi-paned glass, and traditional style six panel doors, albeit on a larger scale than the originals.

 By 1900, the Victorian massing of multiple and often confusing rooflines were no longer the trend.   asymmetrical and busy fenestration of the windows ash were also quickly going out of style. The Colonial Revival movement silently slid into the Edwardian age and symmetry,  control and balance were now firmly in place again as home design trends. Homes were apt to show traditional colonial window placement and simple roof lines.  Dormers would be balanced with lower floor. windows. Large wrap around porches and paired windows, double, triple even in quartet, were still prevalent, but were typically simpler and more controlled. Offering balance to the façade, Porch supports were simplified columns and even fieldstone and brick were becoming popular. These details would carry over into the teens on the well-known Bungalow and Arts and Crafts homes of that later period. 

These homes embraced the past much more than the later, streamlined mid-century homes of the 1950’s. and 1960's!

As the 19th century Shingle Style, greatly inspired by simple Pilgrim era colonial details and the late Queen Anne examples with colonial influences gave way to 20th century, the colonial revival was still evolving.. In large part, the Georgian (1720-1780) and Federal (1780-1820) periods seemed to be the most influential of the 20th century revival homes. For a brief period, until about 1920, there were large amounts of carefully, and somewhat “authentic” detailed homes going up. This was even reflected in quite a few grand examples found in the countryside and resort areas of the wealthy Northeast enclaves. One notable example was the H.A.C Taylor house in Newport.  Unfortunately, this landmark example was demolished in 1952 to give way to a subdivision.  Do look it up, as it was a monumental example of the fully realized Colonial Revival ,built on an almost unlimited budget.        

 Some of the grander and more detailed examples of revival homes featured other notable colonial details, but loosely copied and were often a mixture of various colonial themes.  Roof dormers were found with the hold-over slate roofs, but many featured broken pediments or simple arches. Many homes included Adamesque garlanding in the frieze and above doorways and larger windows. This was often mixed in with earlier Georgian details such as pediment window capping, quoins and roof balustrades. This reflects the free spirit often found in this style!

A few "colonial" touches found on revival homes were seemingly colorful folklore. A so-called "Tory" or "Loyalist" chimney is a brick chimney painted white with a black cap and served as an indication that the owner was loyal to the crown  During the revolution, it was doubtful one would openly advertise this fact, as a suspicious fire could have resulted! These features are charming nonetheless.   

 You can find this on both Revival colonials and the original 18th century examples that were later “restored”.

There was a new appreciation for the 17th to early 19th century homes during the 1920s, as the pendulum swung away from the revival homes to the real deal originals. Both the Victorian home and  large Colonial Revival homes were vilified by modern critics and abandoned by society. Just like an earlier period, these homes were demolished or repurposed as apartments or often commercial use. History does repeat itself.

Architectural styles, like most style in general, are fluid and ever-changing. It isn’t unusual to see a trend from four, five or six decades earlier return to the scene. The colonial influence has carried through the decades as seen in the great number of small cozy colonials with fireplaces and reproduction capes found in the post war years. Even today, new homes are often modern cape and colonial styled construction.  Those gas fireplaces, dentil moldings, Palladian windows and oak bannisters are all enduring throw-back details of earlier times!  

I hope a few people enjoyed my foray into the past.  I am thinking of perhaps coming up with another piece highlighting another style and period.  In the meantime, I would love to hear from other Vintage home fanatics like myself  I would love to chat about the details and things you love about your vintage home!