This photo just popped up on my screen-saver slide show. I have loved this house since I was a bus-riding high school kid spending rare school-day afternoons in town, wandering and watching. Always seemed pretty grand - my perception wasn't challenged in the least by finding out that one of the truly cool guys in Grade 13 lived there.
This is The Brown House, not because of its unique colour in a red brick town, but because it was built by J.Roland Brown, a lawyer in the town around 1900. The architectural style is 'Colonial Revival', the idiom a bit American for this old Loyalist town.
Is it fair to suggest he thought he was pretty cool, choosing this style popular among a few of the 'cottagers' of Newport's gilded age, who chose the American shingle style over marble as their trademark? This massive house is remarkable for being completely clad in shingles. A bit of comfy plain English arts and crafts, a bit of solid classical formality (columns, pediment, balustrade, urns..check) playing nicely together, thanks to a those wonderful porches.
For a look at the style done large, visit Isaac Bell House in Newport Rhode Island...or on-line :-)
Love the story about the self-pronounced coolest guy in Grade 13 (we are dating ourselves by admitting to having lived in the Grade 13 era, aren't we?) adding to the lure of this interesting house. I find it interesting too because I have been wondering for the past few years (since spending lots of time in New England) how well cedar shingles, which I quite like, would go over in Ontario. On a Manse garage, for instance. This suggests it could work.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of original shingles still in use from houses dating from 1770-1780. They're 240 years old and still in place. This is especially true on the more protected sides of the structure. I'd love to know how they compare to clapboard for durability.
DeleteThat is good information to have, Mark – thank you from the Manse garage-owner!
DeleteGreat to hear from you Mark! That's just the kind of encouragement a Manse garage owner needs.
ReplyDeleteWell, if cedar shingles are good enough for John Cox´s house (the 2nd oldest in T.O. - c.1807), then they´re probably good enough for the Manse´s garage. You might recall a reference i made some time ago about many old structures actually being log cabins. The Cox House is one such structure, built in a very similar fashion to Scadding Cabin (1790´s).
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cox_Cottage
Lindi,
ReplyDeleteWe would like to get permission to use one of your photos for Doors Open Prince Edward County. I can be reached at museums@pecounty.on.ca