Virtual History:
The Northern Colonies
The Northern Colonies
Anglo-Saxon Influence
Comprising of many English, Scotch and Irish immigrants, the northern colonies of Massachusetts (including present day Maine), New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut share an architectural kinship with that of great Britain. Straight, clean lines and functional design are the goal. These virtues helped New Englanders to withstand the extremes of their region's climate. With the onset of the Victorian age, rooflines, doors and windows became more ornate, in keeping with the style popular in Great Britain.
The Georgian Style
The homes of the northern colonies were built to withstand the harsh climate. They were made out of lumber because trees were plentiful in the northeast. Even the roofs were made of wooden shingles. At first the houses were not painted and kept their natural brown look. Later on they were painted white or red or yellow. The window panes consisted of many little squares and the front door either had a flat or triangular pediment over its top.
This style used in the northern colonies is known as the Georgian style of architecture, named for King George of England. The Georgian style follows the rules of architecture first presented by Andrea Palladio in Italy during the Renaissance. There are typically windows on both sides of the front doorway and a second story which also has windows evenly spaced across the front. As northern colonists became more wealthy, they built bigger homes, with as many as four rooms on two floors.
Early New Englanders didn't make homes that were overly fancy or decorated, because of the tradition of the Puritans. The Puritans were very strict and believed in living very plainly. They did not wear bright colors or jewelry. Becuase of the Purtian influence, the Georgian Style in the northern colonies remained very plain.
Hold your mouse over this picture of this Georgian home to see the line of symmetry.
The New England Saltbox
The Saltbox design got its name from long, tall, sharply-angled roof that reminded people of the boxes used for storing salt. The roofline covers the second story of the house out front, but plunges down two full stories along the back of the house. The lower rearof the house was often used like a shed, which faced north to help block wind and weather. These rectangular houses were designed with a large central chimney and large, double-hung windows with shutters. This helped keep the house warm in the winter while allowing for a cross-draft of air in the summer. The walls are made of clapboard or shingles.
Notice the way the back of the Saltbox has extra space for working and living.
The Victorian Age
During the romantic era of the Victorian age, New Englanders began to build more ornate homes. Architects borrowed from a number of elaborate, decorative styles of architecture to come up with their own expression of function and beauty. The ideal was to have every element of design to complement one another, from the look of the building itself to the furniture, rugs, curtains and decorations contained inside. While there is no one Victorian style of architecture, the influence of the Victorian age can be seen throughout the American colonies, and nowhere moreso than in the north.
Notrice the distinctive roof lines of these northern homes built during the Victorian era.
Additonal Research