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Italianate
c.1860-1890
The Italianate style appeared in Morgan
County a few years after the
Gothic Revival, gaining widespread
acceptance in both rural and urban areas and in commercial and domestic
architecture. Its extraordinary popularity lasted as late as the 1890s.
Based on the domestic architecture of the Italian Renaissance, the
Italianate style tended to emphasize the picturesque qualities of rural
Italian villas, though, as in other styles with foreign influence, the
American expression was quite distinct from its historical inspiration.
Important features of the domestic
Italianate style are the wide, projecting
eaves with ornate
brackets and tall, narrow windows with round or
segmental-arch
heads. The roof is usually
hipped and has a low pitch. More elaborate
Italianate houses may have a
cupola, ornate window-hood moldings,
and
quoins at the comers. Some homes were built with ornate wooden
porches. Both brick and frame construction were used, with the less
expensive frame construction prevailing after the economic panic of 1873.
The Italianate style was immensely popular
in late-nineteenth century commercial buildings as well. These were
rectangular commercial blocks, two or three stories in height, with flat
roofs and large storefront windows.
Cast iron vertical members
supported the large glazed areas of the storefront. Italianate detail was
found in the often elaborate
cornices, round or segmental-head
upper-story windows and moldings, and sometimes in additional ornamentation
such as
ashlar block veneer and
quoins. While cornice detail
and window-hood moldings were first executed in wood and stone, they were
later manufactured in pre-fabricated
stamped metal. This allowed for lavish ornamentation at an
economical price. Metal cornices and window hoods can be found on some
Italianate homes as well.
Coinciding with the growth of the railroad
and the ensuing prosperity, the Italianate style was quite popular in Morgan
County. The house at 219 North Ohio Street in Martinsville is one of the
county's finest examples. The round-arched windows with stone trim, hipped
roof with wide eaves, and decorative stone quoins are characteristic of the
style. Another fine example is the Shirley-Bray House at 489 North Jefferson
Street in Martinsville. It has distinctive windows in the frieze.
Italianate:
House, 219 South Ohio Street (c.1875), Martinsville.
Italianate: Shirley-Bray
House (1871), 489 North Jefferson Street, Martinsville
Italianate: House, East
Highland Street (c.1880)
Italianate style commercial buildings were
popular in Morgan County and are found in the county's many railroad-era
towns. The commercial building on East Morgan Street in Martinsville is a
typical example. The building's decorative, pressed metal cornice, window
hoods and wall covering made to resemble cut stone are representative of the
county's many late-nineteenth century commercial buildings.
Italianate: Commercial
Building, 86-88 East Morgan Street (c.1875), Martinsville
The Italianate style
also lends itself to public buildings such as the Morgan County Courthouse
in Martinsville. Built between 1857 and 1859, the Courthouse features
quoins, arched windows, brackets under the eaves and a
campanile on
its south façade.
Italianate: Morgan County
Courthouse (1857-59), Martinsville
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