Can Somebody Help Me Date My House

[michaelskis]

I am going to toss out 1870's. As for the style... it has elements of several including Folk Victorian, Colonial, and Greek.

My guess (not professional) is that the 2 over 1's are original. Are they weights & pulley or locking pins? Is the upper sash operational or fixed? (my guess is operational based on the window to the right on the 2nd floor first picture.

[James]

In the South, most Greek Revivals, certainly rural ones, tend to be simple Georgian I house styles(like this one) with Greek Revival trim and columns. Just like lots of Victorian farmhouses have the same basic floor plan with victorian trim. Granted you have some ultra fashionable and expensive house, especially in the cities, but the average farm or plantation house tended to be pretty simple. And even the ones that weren't were not all guaranteed to be the same as you see in New England. Check out Dick Jenretts two South Carolina houses and I bet they look very different from the New England versions of Greek Revivals. Starting with having actual columns and porches, and not just pilasters, and neither has the entrance off center. Those two are about as high style as you will find too. Sure they must be pictured online, and both are in his book Adventures With Old Houses.

[Eden]

What does the deed have? My 1912 in Maryland was advertised by the realty company as 1900, but the deed shows 1912::

1912 Wm H. Shugars
1915 Family Member - another Shugars
1939 James Bentz
1999 Me

In Maryland, seems most old homes are advertised as 1900, so take a look at the deed, it should give the year the property was purchased. Easiest way to date a house, but you need to factor in if they built the house shortly after purchasing the land or initially farmed the land and built the house at a later date.

[melissakd]

Fabulous un-screwed-up I-house. I just don't see any violence done to the dignity and grace of the original, you lucky dog.

Windows original to my house were 4 over 4 (replaced with swankier 1 over 1 in the 1890s), so if that was the basic equipment for a substantial family home with no pretensions in 1864, yours might be a skosh later, like, say, 1872.

Style speculators, I note the good old Greek gable returns and wide whatsis boards.

Research on the title, if you choose to try your hand at it, will turn up lots of fascinating info, I'm sure, including useful dates.

We also are interested (very, veeeeeery interested) in the interior; we can probably help you date renovations if any.

Congratulations and welcome!
MelissaKD