Can Somebody Help Me Date My House

[bkmason1019]

This is the old house that sits on the farm my wife and I just purchased. I was wondering if anybody could tell me an approximate construction time, type, Etc. House has balloon framing, yellow pine tongue and groove flooring and sitting on stone pillars, not stone wall foundation. I will attach more photos later of some other questions I have. We do Plan on Restoring for those that were wondering. Thanks in Advance!!!!

[bofusmosby]

WOW! Great looking house! I'd say that if the 2-over-1 windows were the original ones, this would be a good indication as to it's age. This is our of my league as far as the time period, but if I were to take a guess, I'd say 1820's to 1860's. Remember, this is only an un-professional guess. I look forward to finding out the truth when the experts chime in. My guess may be WAY off target.

[James]

Great looking place, I was looking at the windows as well. That two over two is very victorian. I would say tho just a bit later, but definitely pre 1900. 1880's maybe. Could be pre War Between the States, but I would think if it was then it would be a bit to early for 2 over 2 windows. Not sure tho. What state is it?

[bkmason1019]

I would say that the windows are original to the house by looking at how untampered looking the upstairs ones are. I also noticed that upstairs, the rafters that make up the pitch of the roof do not come up to meet a runner board that runs the length of the house. The pitch boards come up and meet each other relying on the boards where the sheetmetal is attatched for structural strength. Underneath the house has various sized hand hewn beams and the boards that frame the house have curved saw marks in them. (mostly pine, some oak). just some other things I noticed.

[bkmason1019]

This old farm house is in West Virginia
I forgot to mention that I found some items that I feel are original to the farm, One of which is an antique Corn sheller That I dated to 1872. This may be the patent date though. Search for this under google images: Vintage Eagle Corn Sheller, Luther and Sumner, Grand Rapids, MI, Dated 1872

[cadrad]

guess- Greek revival from the 1840's-1860's. the form is very typical. the porch is not- later?

[jharkin]

Greek revival has the entrance on the gable end, offset to one side. House would be turned with the gable to the street. 2 over 2 windows are def. post civil war, if original.

Edit... I should have read the firtst post better...
What is the interior layout like? Fireplaces? What about the interior doors, what style? Any old hinges or door hardware that could be a clue?

[James]

I am going to disagree with jharkin, to some extent(sorry) a Greek Revival does not HAVE to have the gable end to the front. It may, but I can think of some notable exables that DO NOT. That may be a somewhat regional difference. But at least here in the South there is no guarantee of that being the case. Obviously this is a simple version of whatever style it is.
Is this the same house with the beaded beams? If it is, I would start to wonder if it might not be older than we are thinking. Check those beams to see if they are hand planed. Don't look it, but I would be curious about that. Never seen them used on later houses, except a few high style Victorian to 20's houses trying to appear older than they were.

[jharkin]

Actually James you have a point... I was thinking mostly of what we see here in New England. My town had an 1840s building boom and revivals are everywhere. Ours are all the prototypical of the style - gable end to the street, wide corner boards styled like columns and ornamental pediments to make it look like a temple... offset entrance ways and a side hall interior layout with very simple trim indoors and small chimneys mostly for stoves rather than fireplaces.

At the same time many older homes were renovated, and in fact my older cape has Greek column pilasters around the fireplace in one room.

[jharkin]

I'm an idiot. I missed the line in the OP that's its balloon framed! So we know its post 1835 for sure, maybe even post civil war.