Quincy House Tour

1461mn

1461

1461 Maine Street is a well-preserved wood Italianate house dating from 1867. Wood Italianate homes similar to this were often remodeled at the turn of the century into either late Queen Anne with a large porch and woodwork or into something related to the colonial revival. This house is very straightforward with a main box-like form toward the street and a wider box towards the rear of the lot. The low hip roof, makes the roof look flat, similar to Italian country villas, built during the Renaissance. Below the roof is a large cornice adorned with large wooden brackets. The cornices on American Italianate houses are embellishments on the classical style cornices of stone seen in Italy. The windows are double hung and are proportionally quite tall compared to their width. The windows are arched at the top, which adds a very elegant yet, simple detail to the smooth clapboard outer walls.

Another detail executed in wood, but alluding to stone, are the large belts that run around the building between the first and second floors. This was done in stone construction as a way to define and structurally support the new floor level. But in wood balloon frame construction, this is unnecessary. Although not axially placed on the front facade, the entry is quite formal and open as opposed to the almost hidden entries on Queen Anne homes. The lions on either side of the front stair add to the elegance and almost regal nature of this wooden Italianate.