Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-03-11

american Architecture
Architectural taste has

Architectural taste has improved
very mnch in America within the last
twenty years." said prominent archi-
rect. who has designed some of the
finest buildings in New York, to re-
porter. st is lot so much the LAVISH
expenditure on buildings as the pure
and simple structural qualities that are
desired. The facade must be free from
too much Ornamentation; not too severe
IN outline, but still just strong touch
of the classical to make it decided
aud full or expression. Now and then
rich man with too much money de-
sires a home constructed so full of
gables and superhuous angles that it il
difficult TO tell whether II belongs to
the Renaissance period or is dream OF
Chinese pagods end Saracenic style
combined. These instances, though,
are very rare. The improved art OF
photography, the great travel OF Amer
ican tourists in Europe, and improved
methods of education have elevated and
refined the American taste in architec-
ture and made it possible TO expect. at
some future period, an American Re-
naissance.D
"What are the principal changes in
American architecture within the last
twenty-five yearsp"
up to Twenty-Five years ago the old
Colonial or Queen Anne style prevailed
generally. Then began q strange
period in the history of American arch
itecture. II was not transition
exactly, but a change on the old, with
many weird and fantastic innovations.
Il was Griffith Thomas eXuberant
American Renaissance. The facade OF
a building was expressionless, yet full of
salient features, jumbled here and there
in most admired disorder 1t might
have been properly called the million.
aires hobby style 20 squander wealth.
\ reaction IS happily going on now
which will bury IN Oblivion the style SO
expressive of waste yet so devoid OF
taste. A few of these fantastic ediHces
now stand in different parts of the city
as eyesores to the PLAN and neat struc-
lures around them. In a few years
they will disappear and give place TO
the present refined taste, which is man
ifesting itself by the erection OF tine
buildings.n
How about the Queen Anne style
nowr"
1T IS decidedly on the wane. What
ever is good in it will survive, and what
IS bad will be dropped. This style IS
frequently ovecdone, and is permitted
to run into wild and meaningless eX.
travagances. which mar simplicity and
degrade the very beauty that exists IN
that style. This fact, in my opinion,
has done more to create reaction
against that style than improved taste.
The name of Queen Anne style covers
a great deal of architecture. IL IS wide
in its range, and often trespasses upon
other STYLES Yet it remains distinct.
and has az influence impossible to dis
card in a decade or two. But that il
has a general feeling Of WEAKNESS about
il cannot be disputed, and this. perhaps
as much as anything else acts as q pO
tent factor in Its decadence.
How can you define the present ten.
dency Of architectural style IN Amer
icaY"
First, 1 can say believe a transi
tion period exists at present, and thai
/ this period IS one Of great uncertainty
with tendency toward Italian Rensis
sance. Types of this style of building
are found in Bologna, Italy, built OF
nodded bricks and terra Gotta work.
These buildings do not in their cOnstruc.
tiOn permit of wild vagaries, but OF de.
cided expressions OF the best styles in
Italian Renaissance. In this style. too.
greater effects in neat simplicity can be
obtained than in that of the Queen
Anne. Then it also permits OF greater
scope for originality. and originality is
much more d. sired now than formerly.
The idea among the wealthy and cult.
waited is to combine taste aud usefulness
without throwing away money. Occa /
siOnally the mediaval style is seen, and
when not overdOns is capable of fine re-
suits The medley ! and Gothic are
nearlv the same"
"What is the style in cottages and
farm houses?"
Twenty years ago all the cottages
and fine farm houses we're covered with
mansard roof. To-day YOU rarely ever
see one with mansaTd roof. Nor |
mandy farm houses are popular now, !
with round extinguisher roofs. Gotta !
ges are generally half English and
half French In style and present quite !
picturesque appearance. The same
general Improvement In architectural |
tone is felt IN the style of farm houses
AMI cottages as IN private and public |
buildings For time English tasIe
ran riot in Queen Anne's style. but to-
day people are tired OF it. It was the
nightmare of ofarchitectnral beauty, and |
the re-awakening has now commenced !
in dead earnest.
"As general rule no good medieval |
or Gothic styles are attempted except |
in churches II is difficult style TO do !
justice 70, and for that reason hardly !
any of the Gothic have been built. |
Trinity and ST. Thomas Churches are
clever Gothic styles. But the general
tendency OF these styles degenerates
into mougrel type, scarcely definable.
Grace Church IS damb)yant Gothic |
and fine type. There are three stvIes
Of Gothic-twelfth century, decorative |
and perpendicular. Trinity Church Is
of the perpendicular and st. Thomas I
Is decorative. Whatever deviations |
are made by sporadic Jurors for such a
style, the reaction always cOmes back |
to the pure Italian Renaissance. This |
is the tendency in America, and opti-
mists predict transition from this 70 |
an American renaissance.
BzchaeI's Tomb