Quincy House Tour

1225mn

1225

1225 Maine Street is a two-family house known as a two flat. This type of house, or what is known as a duplex, was common in urban areas during the nineteenth century. However, it seems that this house was originally a single residence and converted at a later time. Built in a late Second Empire style, this residence has a mansard roof and aligned windows and lacks many of the elements associated with the picturesque Victorian. In overall form and detail, the house is quite austere. But that should not detract from the correctness of materials and proportions present. Many architects at the same time were beginning to remove much of the unnecessary decoration from their buildings and began to concentrate on a more geometric form when designing. This house is similar in that it uses a smooth brick wall with very simple window openings.

The house sits on a rusticated limestone base and employs subtle but elegant limestone details above and around the arched front window. The only hint of classical detailing on this house is a pediment on the front portico, which really alludes to no specific historical style. The trim color scheme of dark grey is probably very close to what might have been on the building when first constructed.