Two hundred and fortyyears ago, the Declaration of Independence was passed by congress, which formally declared thirteen colonies independent and sovereign from their British rule. It is held that 56 delegates were present at the meeting of the Second Continental Congress when the Declaration was adopted.
What kind of homes did our founding fathers return to? British, French, Dutch, and Germancolonists brought to the New World their traditional architectural styles and building techniques, adapting them to the varying climates and native materials of theeast coast. The results were practical and quintessential American homes, some of which are still standing. As our nation developed and prospered, so did our architecture. Let’s reflect on the establishment of our nation by celebrating the style of home our founding fathers might have lived in.
British New England Colonial (c. 1600s – 1740)
Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, Connecticut. c. 1720. Photo Credit: Staib/Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
English settlers of the New England colonies built rustic andpragmatichomes with architectural elements borrowed from medieval England, like diamond pane windows and steep pitched roofs. Initiallythey framed their homes out of timber which eventually transitionedto brick,especially further south. They often built two story homes around a central stone chimney in which the second floorprotruded beyond the first with an overhang, a style sometimes called Garrison Colonial.
When families grew and needed to expand their dwellings, early colonists would builda lean-to addition on the back of the house called a saltbox roof. The saltbox roof got its name from its resemblance to traditional salt storage boxes that were hung by hearths to dry moisture out of salt and prevent caking.
The Dagget Farmhouse built in Connecticut c. 1750, sporting a saltbox roof. Photo by Barry Winiker/Photolibrary/Getty Images
Cape Cod Colonial – Cape Cod Revival (c.1600 – 1950)
Photo Credit: Photo © 2005 Jupiterimages Corporation
As the name implies, this home style originated in Massachusetts and other Northeast coloniesout of a need for efficient construction during short summers and easy heating in harsh winters. Cape Cod homes are simple in style, devoid of any exterior trim, details, or porches, but usually were sided with unpainted clapboard or shingles which adds to their charm. They were often single or one and a half story with a large central chimney and low ceilings for efficient heating. Steep roof pitches with little to no overhang helped shed heavy snow during New England winters.
Georgian Colonial (c.1690s – 1780)
At the time of the Declaration of Independence signing, Georgian architecture was hot in Britain and many prosperous colonists were pursuing the style for their homes as well. The origin of the style predates our founding fathers, stemming from Italian renaissance and classicalGreek architecture. Georgian characteristics include a stately, symmetrical façade, paneled front door with ornate crown and flattened columns, twin chimneys, five over four window organization, and dentil molding.
Federal Architecture1780 – 1830
America wonthe revolution and was developingits own architectural style. Federal architecture received itsname from the time period in which itarose, which was indicative of a newly establishedfederal government. The style emerged as a more ornate and embellished take on Georgian architecture and can be seen in many ‘traditional’ homes built today.
Federal architecture couples more curves to the square Georgian style, including oval windows, a semicircle fanlight window over the front door, arched recessed walls, and oval rooms. In fact, the White House began as a Georgian style structure but was later embellished with an elliptical portico and other Federal elements, as the style became the preferred architecture for most government buildings in Washington DC.
This home we built includes many Federal architectural elements including dentil molding, oval windows, an arched dormer, and symmetry. c. 2006 - Bost Custom Homes
Tidewater Style (c.1800 – 1890)
Photo Credit: Photo © 2005 Jupiterimages Corporation
For early Americans in the non-air-conditioned South, the Tidewater home style would have been the norm, especially in humid coastal areas like Charleston and Savannah. As their name implies, Tidewater homes were built on stilts to tolerate tidal flooding. They are characterized by second story living spaces, grand wrap around porches commonly on both floors, hipped low pitch roofs, and wide eaves.
The homes were designed to extend shade over the windows and keep the inhabitants cool. The over-sized hipped roof helped protect the home fromheavy, sultry downpours, and shed the runoff away from the foundation of the home to limit excess water exposure.
FAQs
English settlers of the New England colonies built rustic and pragmatic homes with architectural elements borrowed from medieval England, like diamond pane windows and steep pitched roofs. Initially they framed their homes out of timber which eventually transitioned to brick, especially further south.
What type of house construction was used by the first settlers? ›
The first British settlers in New England built timber-frame dwellings similar to the ones they had known in their home country. Wood and rock were typical physical characteristics of New England. There's a medieval flavor to the enormous stone chimneys and diamond-pane windows found on many of these homes.
What are houses in America made of? ›
94% of new homes are made from wood and another 6% are concrete-framed homes.
What type of houses did settlers build? ›
Early Housing
The houses built by the first English settlers in America were small single room homes. Many of these homes were "wattle and daub" homes. They had wooden frames which were filled in with sticks. The holes were then filled in with a sticky "daub" made from clay, mud, and grass.
What did houses look like in the 1700s in America? ›
Seventeenth century houses are generally asymmetrical; size and placement of windows and doors follow no pattern. Roofs are steep and without an overhang. The chimney is massive, sometimes with decorated brickwork.
What were the first colonial houses like? ›
The standard vernacular house built by the colonists in this region between the first settlement in 1607 and the end of British rule in 1776 followed the I-plan format, had either interior or exterior gable chimneys, and was either wooden or brick. Most were only one room deep.
What is the oldest house in the United States? ›
The Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts is a historic house built c. 1637, making it the oldest surviving timber-frame house in North America that has been verified by dendrochronology testing. Puritan settler Jonathan Fairbanks constructed the farm house for his wife Grace (née Smith) and their family.
What house was built first? ›
The oldest archaeological evidence of house construction comes from the famous Oldupai Gorge (also called Olduvai Gorge) site in Tanzania, and the structure is around 1.8 million years old.
What did houses look like in the 1200s? ›
The most basic and well known type of housing would consist of a wooden frame, with walls made of wattle (woven sticks) and daub (a mixture of mud, dirt and straw). The roof was made of thatched straw, and some would have an inner wooden frame to support the roof during snowfall and rain.
Can a brick house withstand a tornado? ›
One of the most awe-inspiring features of brick buildings is their resistance to hurricanes and tornadoes. These natural disasters are known for their destructive power, yet brick structures have consistently demonstrated their ability to stand strong in the face of these relentless forces.
The reason we don't build out of stone/brick, besides cost of construction, is that they're terrible insulators. So your heating or AC bill is going to go absolutely through the roof. A wood frame stuffed with insulation means your home can be energy-efficient.
Why are houses cheap in America? ›
So the USA has much more spare land, much cheaper land and maybe uses different materials for house building. So the cost of a plot on which to build is a lot cheaper in the USA (generally), this means that the price of a property per square foot is much lower. Is cost of living higher in the US or the UK?
What is the problem with sod houses? ›
Wet roofs took days to dry out, and the enormous weight of the wet earth caused many roofs to collapse. Even in the very best weather, sod houses were plagued with problems. When the sod roof became extremely dry, dirt and grass fell like rain inside the house.
What did a sod house look like inside? ›
Most sod houses were about 16 feet by 20 feet and had only one room. Furniture was kept to a minimum due to the lack of space. Beds and tables were often built right into the walls. Many people slept on pallets that could be moved out of the way during the day.
What were the disadvantages of living in a sod house? ›
The worst drawback was insects and critters. Blocks of sod were home to fleas, ticks, mice, worms, and even snakes. One settler reported a snake dropping down from the rafters right onto the table at dinnertime. And a young mother never got over finding a snake curled up with her baby.
What was it like to live in the 13 colonies? ›
Much of colonial life was hard work, even preparing food. But colonists found ways to mix work with play. They also enjoyed sports and games. For most of the 1700s, the colonists were content to be ruled by English laws.
What are 3 characteristics of a colonial house? ›
American Colonial homes are generally characterized by a square or rectangular facade, a central entrance and windows symmetrically placed on either side of the entrance. They are typically made of wood, stone or brick and will generally have uniformly sized doors and windows with shutters.
What was home life like in colonial times? ›
Most people worked, played, learned, and worshiped at home. A large family was necessary in colonial days to get all the work done. The father was considered the head of the household. He made all of the decisions concerning their families and earned money through farming and jobs outside the home.
What type of house did the colonists live in? ›
Many of the richer homes were built with a brick instead of wood. Some homes had a roof that was slanted, and it was called a saltbox home because it looked like a box that the colonists kept their salt in. Log cabins were sometimes built because they were fast and easy to build.
