# What architectural style is this house **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2019, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028 "2019-01-01T08:13:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/41 "2019-01-01T23:03:39Z")
It’s a pitiful old rickety thing, for certain. Someone was probably proud of it at one time. There is a woodstove somewhere cause there’s firewood on the porch. I love that sad little flower in the front yard and the 2 logs under the porch. I guess they kept the thing from sagging. I don’t see how a front door would work, the doorway seems wide. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/42 "2019-01-01T23:15:14Z")
I’m wondering if there’s a reason the OP wants to identify the house style. Around here, the house style has an impact on the real estate tax appraisal amount – but that doesn’t mean “Victorian” or “Cape Cod.” I’m not an appraiser, but I’m pretty sure it would be classified as “one-and-a-half story frame single family” house. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/43 "2019-01-02T15:33:21Z")
> [@Anny\_Middon](#): > > I’m wondering if there’s a reason the OP wants to identify the house style. I’m wondering why you are wondering. This is a forum for seeking answers to questions you don’t know the answer to. I’m reasonably familiar with housing styles but this one stumped me. It has nothing to do with market value. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/44 "2019-01-02T16:16:36Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Reading the comments I’m starting to believe the porch was a later addition. Almost as if the house has been moved and put on the brick posts afterwards, and the porch then added. The original construction seems to be of a higher caliber than the junky brick foundations. This would jibe with it being a kit house from one of the big stores. The house would be ordered and built elsewhere. Then delivered by train and moved into place on an existing foundation. I wouldn’t be surprised if those brick posts were originally covered by some sort of wood lattice that could be whitewashed to look nice. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/45 "2019-01-02T16:27:18Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Our Cape has the chimney on the end. Sounds more [like](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_(house)#Colonial_Revival_(1930s%E2%80%931950s))[Colonial Revival Cape Cod](https://housemethod.com/inspiration/architectural-basics-cape-cod-houses/) than a traditional, which is what I’m referring to. > [@](#): > > I don’t think that is a defining feature. [It](https://www.hgtv.com/design/home-styles/cape-cod-architecture) [very](https://freshome.com/cape-cod-home/)[much](https://www.movoto.com/foundation/home-improvement-style/cape-cod-style-house-10-characteristics-that-make-this-home-style-stand-out/)[is,](https://www.thoughtco.com/cape-cod-house-style-178007)[though](https://shootmyhouse.tv/cape-cod-deconstructing-architecture-and-design-styles/). > [@](#): > > There are lots of variations that are still Capes. But they are just that - variations. Just like you can find Cape Cod variants where the roof isn’t so steeply pitched, or with a little ornamentation, or a little asymmetry - variations from the template, some even their own style - from your Colonial Revival, through the Half- and 3/4-Cape - but a \*little \*variation is OK. That doesn’t mean the defining characteristics don’t exist, though. And the OP’s example, you will note, appears to have \*no \*chimney at all. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/46 "2019-01-02T19:17:13Z")
I agree that there was probably a shed-roof porch at some point based on the color change. But I feel like the existing porch was added later based on the rickety steps leading up to it. The added features are far grander than the house’s size merits. It’s like someone had a budget and was forced to choose between a plain medium sized house or a little one with bells and whistles. It’s possible that this was the remainder of a larger house that was moved and placed on the brick piers. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/47 "2019-01-02T19:53:07Z")
If it has any style, the siding makes me think Cap Cod. But I agree, it’s really nothing. Someone made a house at the time, using as others suggest, elements of what you see in the big towns trying to be fancy. But, it’s small and so uses the attic as a bedroom, using the gables popular at the time. And like many old farm shacks, added on more on the back when they needed the room and could afford it. There doesn’t seem to be any style other than “about Victorian times”. I assume it’s raised on brick pilings to help avoid termites - and that without good under-floor insulation, probably not practical in the north. BTW, on closer inspection, the windows around the door look like bottom glass(?). In the good old days, they made glass panes on the cheap by blowing a bottle inside a cube mold and then slicing it into flat pieces. the bottom had the round ripples so it was garbage - then was sold for cheap - then became a decorative item, the early equivalent of frosted glass. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/48 "2019-01-02T22:58:03Z")
It looks to me like it was not built to be a real house, but as an outbuilding (studio, guest house?) for summer use only on an estate with a much larger Victorian house. The large, fancy doorway; elaborate architectural trim; and apparent high ceiling do not match the small size and crummy foundation. Where is it? ---
**Author:** ![ohiomstr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/82dd89/32.png) [@ohiomstr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohiomstr2)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/49 "2019-01-02T23:20:47Z")
Didn’t Upton Sinclair write about houses built to rip off immigrants? Durn, cannot recall the book. Anyway, he described houses that were made to look fancy and new that were used to lure immigrant families into ruinous “rent to own” schemes. Perhaps this is something like that before it was foreclosed, repaired and sold to the next victim. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/50 "2019-01-02T23:47:10Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > …I love that sad little flower in the front yard and the 2 logs under the porch… To paraphrase an old Scottish joke, “If those be logs I’d hate ta see yuur sticks”. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![ohiomstr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/82dd89/32.png) [@ohiomstr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohiomstr2)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/51 "2019-01-03T00:11:01Z")
Old Farm House In South Carolina 1936 > **[moneyissues: Open House: Circa 1936. “Dormered cabin. Georgetown County,...](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/357262182911064102/)** > > Jan 20, 2014 - moneyissues: Open House: Circa 1936. “Dormered cabin. Georgetown County, South Carolina.” This is the kind of place the real estate listing... No idea if this is actually correct but it is not out of line with my childhood memories of South Carolina ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/52 "2019-01-03T03:37:23Z")
Excellent! I was going to suggest that if there was a higher resolution photo of this house it would be a good candidate for Shorpy. With the real title to search for, here it is in high-res: > **[Shorpy Historical Picture Archive :: Open House: 1936 high-resolution photo](https://www.shorpy.com/node/15857?size=_original#caption)** > > Vintage photographs available as fine-art prints or digital stock images ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/53 "2019-01-03T15:25:20Z")
In doing some research, I found the Shorpy link as well. I also found it on a website claiming it is located in Porter, TX but I don’t think that is right. I’ve found it described as Victorian but I’m still not convinced that is correct. Several sites describe it as “dormered cabin” which fits well but I doubt is a recocognized style. I does seem heavily influenced by Cape Cod as mentioned upthread. Here is a Library if Congress link with lots of info about the print, but not about the style: > **[Dormered Cabins, Georgetown vic., Georgetown County, South Carolina](https://www.loc.gov/item/2017889655/)** > > 1 negative : safety film ; 8 x 10 in. I still contend that the extra detailing on the dormers belie a design esthetic that’s more purposeful than ‘thrown together’. ETA: to answer an earlier question, I originally found it on Pinterest. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/54 "2019-01-03T21:13:19Z")
It may be used differently in the US but wouldn’t ‘Victorian’ be used in that context as a broad chronological period representing the last half of the 19th century, rather than a style designation? A classier and more regal way of saying ‘don’t know but its old’. You can have a Victorian bank building or a Victorian shack or a Victorian factory. ---
**Author:** ![cplif](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cplif](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cplif)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/55 "2019-01-04T16:09:43Z")
From Shorpy "Circa 1936. “Dormered cabin. Georgetown County, South Carolina.” This is the kind of place the real estate listings describe as having “character.” 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston " > **[Open House: 1936](https://www.shorpy.com/node/15857)** > > Circa 1936. "Dormered cabin. Georgetown County, South Carolina." This is the kind of place the real estate listings describe as having "character." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/56 "2019-01-04T16:57:05Z")
I don’t see why it has to be pidgeonholed into any particular “style”. It looks like garbage and “cheap” now because it’s in disrepair, and small. I bet it was cute back in the day and as a single person I would have no issue living there. Probably just some random informally trained carpenter built it by himself based on his own design. TBH it looks kind of like what a pre-schooler would draw if you asked them to draw a house, maybe his kid drew it up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/57 "2019-01-04T19:15:50Z")
SOMEwhat reminiscent of some older ruins in west Texas. There was a lot of homesteading in the late 1800’s to around 1920. You got deed to a certain amount of land provided you lived on it for 6-9 months of the year for three years or so. The original houses built there were no show pieces for sure. Built on pier and beam for air circulation. Once the farm got going and a real house was built, many of the original structures were left for feed or seed storage or for workers on the farm. Reminds me of the old house out on the family farm. Eventually home to the biggest nest of rattlesnakes I ever saw. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/58 "2019-01-05T12:16:33Z")
I see that the other “Dormer Cabins” in Georgetown do have covered porches. I don’t understand the address “Georgetown vic. Georgetown county”. What does “vic” mean / come from? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028/59 "2019-01-05T12:18:32Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > I see that the other “Dormer Cabins” in Georgetown do have covered porches. > > I don’t understand the address “Georgetown vic. Georgetown county”. What does “vic” mean / come from? Vicinity [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-architectural-style-is-this-house/827028.md?page=2)