The four lessons set up for this unit involve the use of slides and or a walking tour of the New Haven area to view, first hand, the varied styles of Victorian architecture. There are some sixty slides covering the styles to be found in New Haven. The slides are available through the Yale New Haven Teachers Institute along with step by step directions. Seeing a style first hand is more impressive then a slide so three walking tours have been mapped out to correspond to the slides: TOUR A—covers the Hillhouse, Whitney, Orange Street area; TOUR B—Wooster Square; TOUR C—Westville. This unit also includes a Key to The Identification of Architectural Styles that can be reproduced and handed out to the students. There is also a blank activity sheet to be filled in by the students as they progress through the unit. A sample lesson follows.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE:
Through the use of slides and or a walking tour showing the various styles of architecture, in New Haven, during the Victorian Age students will develop an appreciation and understanding of the people—their attitudes, values and beliefs as reflected in their architecture.
LESSONS ONE GREEK REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE 1820-1850
Objective
Students will be able to explain the similarities between ancient Greek architecture and homes built in New Haven during this period.
Handouts
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1. Key to Identification of Architectural Styles
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2. Blank activity sheet (duplicate for each lesson) to be filled in by students.
Characteristic Details to Look For
: emphasis on columns, capitals and triangles all used to create the effect of a Greek temple.
TOUR A: HILLHOUSE AVENUE—LINCOLN STREET
STOP ONE
HILLHOUSE AVENUE
was laid out by James Hillhouse in the late 1700’s. Beginning in the late 1820’s his son James with the help of architects like Town and Davis made the street one of the most beautiful in the region and the most prestigious in the city.
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1. #46 Hillhouse Avenue. (fill in activity sheet)
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New Haven’s best example of the Greek Revival style, the Aaron Skinner House was built in 1822 by Alexander Davis.
Slide 1.
Designed after a Greek temple, the house is constructed of brick faced stucco that has been penciled marked to make the stucco look like stone. In the 1850’s the house was remodeled by Henry Austin, filling in the second story to the right and left of the entrance.
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(A). Students sketch house
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(B). Identify the type of capital
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2. #35 Hillhouse Avenue. Mary Prichard House, built in 1836 by Alexander Davis
Slide 2.
It is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture.
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(A). Students sketch house
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(B). Identify the type of capital.
STOP TWO
LINCOLN STREET
was opened up in the mid 1830’s (originally Clinton Place). This is an area of basic middle class homes, built in the Greek Revival style. These homes were the type of respectable home in a respectable part of town that the average Victorian strove for. A home the would give them an air of importance and dignity.
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(A). Have students compare these homes to the homes on Hillhouse Avenue.
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3. #10 Lincoln Street, built about 1840.
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(A). Note Doric Columns on porch.
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(B). Have Students sketch columns.
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(C). The bay window was added in the 1890’s.
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4. #16 and 18 Lincoln Street, built 1836.
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(A). Note columns and classic roof line.
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(B). Have students sketch homes.
TOUR B. WOOSTER SQUARE AREA
This area was originally called the New Township. After the Revolutionary War the area developed into a maritime center. Many of the homes were built for the wealthy sea captains of the day. Wooster Square was named after General David Wooster, a hero of the American Revolution who grew up in the area.
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5. #600 Chapel Street, built in 1844 for Henchman Soule.
Slide 5
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(A). Excellent example of the high period in Greek Revival.
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(B). Note columns on porch, classic lines of the house.
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(C). This house was in the transition period from Greek Revival to Italian Villa, note cupola top center.
TOUR C: WESTVILLE
This area was west of the West River and was not very populated at this time. Westville was not part of New Haven and had the name Hotchkissville.
STOP ONE
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6. #512 Blake Street, built in the early 1840’s an example copied from Minard LaFever’s builders guide.
Slide 6
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(A). Sketch basic structure.
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(B). Sketch honeysuckle pattern on piedmont and down side of building.
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STOP TWO
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7. #131 Oliver Road, built 1840’s. very formal Greek Revival.
Slide 7.
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(A). Note unusual capital—great bunch of plumey ferns—only two others like it in New Haven—1108 Whitney Avenue and 19 Lyon Street.
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(B). Sketch columns and capital.
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Lessons Two, Three and Four can be found with the slides
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Lesson Two; Gothic Revival 1840-1860
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Lesson Three; Italianate 1840-1880
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Lesson Four; The Gilded Age 18-70-1900
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The following are three suggested trips outside of the New Haven area.
Hartford
Mark Twain—Harriet Beecher Stowe Houses
For information—Nook Farm Visitors Center
77 Forest St. Hartford CT 06105
(203) 525-9317
Norwalk
Lockwood Mathews Mansion
For information—295 West Avenue Norwalk, CT
(203) 838-2434
HANDOUT: KEY TO IDENTIFICATION OF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
GREEK REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE
Pediment
: A wide low-pitched gable surmounting the facade of a building in a classical style triangle.
Column
: An upright shaft serving as a support
(figure available in print form)
Classical Greek Columns
(figure available in print form)
GOTHIC REVIVAL
Tracery
: Ornate stonework.
(figure available in print form)
Lancet
: A window generally tall in proportion and topped by a sharply pointed arch.
(figure available in print form)
Oriel
: A bay window located at an upper floor level, and supported by piers attached to the main wall.
(figure available in print form)
The Tower
(figure available in print form)
Pinnacle
(figure available in print form)
Grouped Chimneys
(figure available in print form)
Design XXX
: Large country house.—Downing, Andrew J.
Cottage Residence
. New York; D. Appleton Co., 1850.
(figure available in print form)
Furniture also reflected Gothic style features.
(figure available in print form)
Design VII
: Symmetrical Cottage.—Downing, Andrew J.,
Cottage Residence
.
(figure available in print form)
ITALIANTE STYLE
Design XXII
: Villa in the Italian Style.—Downing, Andrew J.,
Cottage Residence
.
(figure available in print form)
Design XXVII
: Villa in the Italian Style.—Downing, Andrew J.,
Cottage Residence
.
(figure available in print form)
Design VI
: From, Downing’s
Cottage Residence
.
(figure available in print form)
Lantern
: Structure built on top of roof with open or windowed walls.
(figure available in print form)
QUEEN ANN
Types of Windows
(figure available in print form)
Spindle Work Brackets
(Gingerbread)
Furniture also reflects spindle work brackets.
(figure available in print form)
SHINGLE STYLE
(figure available in print form)
RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE
(figure available in print form)
CHATEAUESQUE
(figure available in print form)
ACTIVITY SHEET ____________________
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Style of Architecture
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1. Background information and characteristics of style.
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2. Notes on Homes
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