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American Foursquare
Some architectural historians consider the
American Foursquare (c.1890-1930) house to be a
vernacular derivative
of the
Prairie style. The Foursquare, sometimes classified as
"Vernacular Prairie," "Midwest Box," and "Cornbelt Cube," has a boxlike
form. Its floor plan consists of four rooms on the first floor and four
rooms on the second. Other characteristic features are a low-pitch hipped
roof with hipped attic dormers, wide, enclosed eaves, and a one-story porch
spanning the width of the front facade. The American Foursquare is often
combined with
Craftsman elements such as
knee braces.
Many American Foursquares and bungalows
were prefabricated and marketed through catalogue sales. There certainly
must be some of these catalogue, or kit, houses in Martinsville, but none
have yet been identified.
American Foursquare:
House (c.1910), 40 West Harrison Street, Martinsville
American Foursquare:
House (c.1920), 89 West Sumner Avenue
American Foursquare:
Jenkins House (c.1920), 610 South Main Street |
