The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-02
COLONIAL STYLE
HOUSES IN BARRE
Some Splendid Specimens,
Including One Erected
1O5 Years Ago
"DR. PADDOCK" HOUSE
A GOOD EXAMPLE
Wheelock Residence and the
Thwing Property Have
Some Fine Points

There is no more interesting link be-
tween the early history OF New England
and the present time than the old colo
NAL houses, which are often found in the
most unexpected places and on some OF
the now seldom used byroads. 1t is not
difficult to recognize few of the char
acteristcs, the beautiful doorways, the
small -paned windows, the splendid cor
nices and the unique chimney arrange
ment-symbolic of the cheerful open fire.
places.
"The paternal hearth, the rallying-
place of the affections"
In Barre City we have three splendid
examples of this representative Amer
lean architecture, each being consider
ably different from the other and all
built of handmade brick. The oldest is
the "Dr. Paddock" house, 1873 South Main
street, which was erected in 1914. This
substantial building, standing four
square to every wind that blows, is typ
ical of the transitory period from the
severely plain early colonial to the more
elaborate later edifices. 1t would seem
that granite had not come to be recog-
nized at that early date as a building
material aside, possibly, from the foun-
dation-- as neither window sills nor lin
tells in this case are made of it. The
generous chimneys rising through the
hip roof are of the interior type. The
central doorway is quite attractive, with
its four graceful pilasters and fan-shaped
top light.
The simple and dignified Wheelock
residence, l45 North Main street, erected
in ls23-25 illustrates the value of an
honest craftsmanship-built to endure.
1t has four high chimneys, an arched
sentinel window in the gable with drop
blind, and q richly moulded corniee. The
doorway excels in beauty and fine pro-
portion Its sdelights and elliptical top
light are made up Of gracefully shaped
panes The delicate mouldings are in
perfect harmony with the four slender
Ionic columns. The granite arch and
monolithic pilasters hold a peculiar in
terest for this community, in showing
the fine hand fooled surfaces possible
long before the days of the bush hammer
and pneumatic machinery The wrought
iron fence with granite newels is in
keeping with the colonial spirit Of the
building.
With its imposing cornice and orna-
mental frieze, triangular shaped gable
windows, admirably balanced end wings
fronted by Grecian Doric porticoes, SPLEEN
did central porch supported by four Ionic
columns, the Joshua Thwing place at
43l North Main street, built in 1895, is
an unique type of the colonial style.
This had been very pretentious resi-
denee in its day and would be yet for
that matter. Both Of these latter struc-
lures have granite stills and lintes.
Another very old colonial building is
the 'Dennison Smith" or ''Bacon" place
in South Barre-a wooden dwelling on
the opposite side Of the road from the
depot and little nearer Barre. This is
probably one of the richest in architec-
tural ornament in all New England. The
central entrance doorway, with its state
ly arch and splendid cornice, possesses a
charm of its own. In the second story,
and directly over the doorway is a Pal
ladian window with tracery sidelights,
lambs with pilastered effect and finely
moulded arehitraves The four pilasters
extending the height Of the building and
the wealth of detail in the cornice and
triglyph frieze command both attention
and admiration, and give the front an
appearance of dignity and elegance. I'M
fortunately, the original chimney has
been replaced by one of modern type.
Just think of the courage, sound judg-
Il tnhf .tff NJ
neers in building such substantial resi-
| deneesl At that time all travelling and
transportation in this part of the coun-
try was done on horseback or by horse
| or ox-drawn vehicles. The railroad was
in it's infancy, Texas, California and
much of the far west belonged to Mex
| leo, Chicago was but frontier outpost
garrisoned by mere handful. Great
| herds of buffalo and wild horses roamed
| the plains. The Indians were supreme
throughout the west And to think that,
after all those years, these houses in
our midst are still in such an excellent
state of preservation and most of them
occupied Truly those pioneers builded
| better than they knew.
| Whether built of stone, brick or wood,
| these eloquent witnesses of the foresight
and good taste of bygone generation
| truthfully called the American renais-
| sance-will always present an attraction
and fascination to those interested. Some
fine examples are to be found in New
bury and many are situated along the
Connecticut river, dividing Vermont from
New Hampshire, for in those early days
| the river was much used as mode OF
transportation when road making was in
! its youth
1t will be of interest to know that
architects and builders from all over the
country especially from the west
make pilgrimages to study at first hand
these New England masterpieces. They
form an inspiration for a majority OF
the fine residences being built to-day. All
/ of which goes to prove that, aside from
the natural attractions of our beautiful
state, there are many Others reared by
the hand of man. And whether travel.
ing by foot or otherwise they are wait
| ing for us
| have avoided any account Of the in
teriors, but, needless to say, that would
make a splendid story by itself. Will
not someone favor us with such de-