The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-19
u 10 !! 4 . 9oltlIl5
What is Colonial Architec+,Ira .

Editor Of The Ttmes-Dispatoh, S5. 5!ss
What especial features Of architecture
scharn cterlae as colonial h house7 What
kind OF oolumns are reaulsite7 What
style Of porch and building genoralIy?
There seem 80 many IDEAS being enter;
tanned about this that would like to
DO instructed, havs no other object
in wishing to know. 3, w, T, 81
Our Colonial Architecture" is a MOI
ifloatIon Of the Georgian style OF Eng
land, which is nothing more nor less than
English Renaissance" Therefore,. as
s,Crolonial Architecture belongs to tho gen
eral family or the "yenaissanco.' styles,
I Its details. such as e;ornlce columns.
mou!dings, ETC., are more or less modI-4
fed forms Of tho same features In Classi-
cal CASUALLY the noman) Architecture.
The English buildings that wore tho
s =! M prototypes Of the Colonial iii
this country. were for tho most part Of
square or rectangular plan, aimple and
massive, with walls Of red q brok, and
trimmings OF white; MARBLE orYliEhts sand
stone. classical as to \ their details. n
4. In attempting to follow this atyletsin
the Rundeyeloped state Of tho colonies
Of white marble and the details 1were
made lighter, or thinner in form. to suit
the ma ter!al These details or trimmings
Swero alnost Invariably painted white Z to
SglVe the eject OF the white stone trim
Hings Of buildings In the mother, co IN
try. OF couse In localities whore, bricks
were not easily procurah BILE. wood was used
forAEthe walls as we'll as for lie trim
mtngs, Many other departures from the
English models were adopted ,& which va
ried according to local conditions, and in
time stamped tho buildings Of different
sections Of the country with quite notices
able local oharaoteriotics, Therefore, the
Special features Of architecture that
''oharaotertze a colonial house" In one
part Of the United States might not be so
generally found In houses Of, tho same
period in another section, rs
Taking Maryland and Virginia, how
ever, It would be pretty safe to descrIbe
lows: The building Ia OF red brick, pre-
ferably laid with alternate blush glazed
header bricks. The cornice columns and
other trim innings are OF delicut classical
forms; the windows show Wide frames
and small panes; the roof Is OF single or
slate, with bold simple outline and tail
and all the t1imm1ngs are painted white.
Columns, is used (and they generally arej
would be- notifications OF ancient Roman,
columns, They would be of wood, or Of
brick stuccoed and be Of senderer, pros.
portions than their classical prototypes
OF stone. They would generally be of
either5tiie gtt1sTuscan.'' oDorlo' or ,'Ironio'5
orders. 4, The n Corinthian' and "Com-l
posite" re also found, but. being. more
difficult to execute on account Of their fo-tt
Hated capitals they are used more rare,
ly than the simpler orders, Porchea gene
rally gabled, with sufficient slope to
ssult single roofin 8, The interior OF the
house rather simple In plan. with few but
spacious rooms, wi th ID oors well proper
toned as to the relation ot height to-
mantels, etc, all of more or less olassi-
cal ort'rena issanca' forms and all paint
ed white or sorne rather light shade and
tho plaster walls usually left white.
In tho modern return to the Colonial
the style at its best period h arc oftan
so modified as to lose entirely the spirit
OF the old work, The majority Of mod