Making a Federal Case Out of Historic Houses of New England
Brendan and made several weekend trips to New England this summer which presented me the opportunity to engage in two of my favorite activities, exploring historic towns and looking at historic architecture. Walks around Salem and Newburyport, Massachusetts, Kennebunkport, Bath, and Portland Maine yielded an embarrassment of riches in that regard.
From the photos I took, a clear consensus emerged.
1. I am a sucker for the classic New England Federal-style Sea Captain or Merchant’s mansion.
2. Symmetry does it for me.
3. I can’t resist a good cupola
To follow are some of my favorite homes from the aforementioned towns, grouped by style. It’s heavy on the federal, needless to say!
Georgian Blue
The symmetry and scale of this handsome Georgian mansion in Salem anticipates its lighter, more refined federal descendants that sit on the surrounding streets.
Federal Front and Center
It was not my first stroll along Chestnut Street in Salem, and it won't be my last, as the thoroughfare is lined with one of if not The finest collection of federal homes in America
In the midst of all the brick, this massive grey clapboard stands out in Salem, especially love the palladian window on the side facade
Of course, a broken swan-necked pediment on the side window isn't so bad either....
Newburyport can more than hold its own against Salem in the federal mansion department, as this brick example can attest
A typical Newburyport federal
A setting high above the Main Street on spacious grounds lends many of the Newburyport mansions an even greater monumentality than those on Salem's narrower urban lots.
Farther north in Wiscasset Maine, the minimal classicism of this federal stands in nice contrast to.....
The nearby Nichols Sortwell mansion, which features slightly more embellishment.
Romanticism
This unique double house in Wiscasset marries greek revival elements with romantic ornamentation
An Octagon house, Wiscasset
Greek Revival is Alive and Well in Bath, Maine
As well as this transitional greek revival/italianate one
Italianate
Portland Maine's west end neighborhood contained some of favorite examples of the Italianate style, including this monumental brick example
and this more restrained bow-fronted one, seeming almost more at home in Boston
For sheer exuberance, none can match the Victoria mansion though, open to the public as a house museum!
Victorian/Queen Anne
this Queen Anne Victorian's paint job in Newburyport highlighted its stick-style trim really helps it to stand out - the onion dome doesn't hurt either!
Likewise, the right color palette makes all the difference for the Queen Anne beauty in Bath
Shingle Style in Kennebunkport
When it comes to shingle style, the winding drives along the point in Kennebunkport offer lost every variation imaginable.
From the the relatively simple
To the simply large
To the tastefully fanciful
Colonial Revival Eclecticism
This lavish Colonial revival mansion in Portland Maine combines a stately Georgian revival portico with a red tile roof above, and a Queen anne-style balcony below it!
The style elements of York Hall in Maine may be more consistent, but no less dynamic.
