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STYLE INFORMATION

Name

Federal

General Range

1800-1840


HISTORIC OVERVIEW OF THIS STYLE

The Federal Style, sometimes called the Adam Style, encompasses the early architecture of the American republic. The style is a refinement of the earlier Georgian and colonial architecture, with less texture and a focus on symmetry. Federal style resources almost always feature an end-gabled roof, end chimneys, and multi-light windows with shutters (although the shutters do not always survive). In the early 19th century, it was becoming more common to have two separate chimney flues on an end wall rather than a single chimney venting separate interior fireplaces. While some houses dating well into the 19th century are often considered to be Federal, those built after 1840 should not be called Federal because new houses took advantage of new construction techniques and technologies.
 
Three subtypes of the Federal style were noted in Erie County. The main Federal style house features the center hall plan. These 2-story, 5-bay buildings houses have a door centered on the main elevation that opens into a center hall with two rooms in each end. The house at 12646 McChesney Road is an example. This particular house has two interior chimneys, a design that points to New England antecedents.
 
A second subtype is the side hall plan. These 2-story, 3-bay houses have the door near a corner, opening into a hall running the width of the house and connecting two rooms in the opposite end. The house at 146 East 5th Street at Federal Row in Erie City is a side hall Federal house. Side hall houses usually feature the chimney on the end wall opposite the entrance.
 
The third subtype of Federal houses in Erie County is the saltbox. These houses also point to antecedents from New England. The Sturgeon House in Fairview is a very well-preserved saltbox house in Erie County. The house dates to 1838, near the end of the Federal period. A handful of other saltbox houses were identified during the survey.


UPDATE

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.


EXAMPLE


HISTORIC RESOURCES OF THIS STYLE

Municipality

Historic Name

Address

Elk Creek Township

 

8951 MILLER RD

City of Erie

Wallace House

3528 SASSAFRAS ST

City of Erie

 

2620 CHARLOTTE ST

City of Erie

Judah Colt House

343 345 East Front St

City of Erie

The Dickson Tavern

201 French Street

City of Erie

Kennedy Row Houses

158 E 5 Street

City of Erie

 

430 HOLLAND ST

City of Erie

C.M. Tibbals

146 E 5 St

City of Erie

Kennedy Double House

424-26 Holland Street

City of Erie

Kennedy Row Houses

156 E 5 Street

City of Erie

Kennedy Row Houses

160 E 5 Street

City of Erie

 

129 W 6 ST

City of Erie

Pierre S.V. Hamot House

302 French St

Fairview Township

Sturgeon House

4302 Avonia Drive

Girard Township

Frederick E. Blair House

9260 W LAKE RD

Girard Township

 

9905 OLD RIDGE RD

Greene Township

 

9833 DEWEY RD

Harborcreek Township

 

7680 BUFFALO RD

Harborcreek Township

 

5661 BUFFALO RD

Harborcreek Township

Moorehead House

8721 Buffalo Rd.

Harborcreek Township

Joseph M. Moorehead House

8014 E LAKE RD

Harborcreek Township

Mack, Elisha House

4215 STATION RD

LeBoeuf Township

 

13575 OLD RT 19N

LeBoeuf Township

 

2300 STONE QUARRY RD

LeBoeuf Township

 

3160 OLD MEADVILLE RD

McKean Township

Dunn, Oliver House

2832 DUNN VALLEY RD

Millcreek Township

Nicholson House

4838 W Ridge Road

Millcreek Township

 

5622 LAKE PLEASANT RD

North East Borough

Bestor Town House

51 E Main St

North East Township

 

12090 E MIDDLE RD

North East Township

Mead Farms

11725 E MIDDLE RD

North East Township

Philetus Glass House

101 Freeport Rd

Springfield Township

 

12646 MCCHESNEY RD

Springfield Township

Samuel Holliday House

747 Holliday Rd

Springfield Township

 

13752 OLD LAKE RD

Washington Township

 

10841 OLIVER RD

Waterford Borough

 

121 E 1ST ST

Waterford Borough

Eagle Hotel

32 High Street

Waterford Township

 

11362 DONATION RD

Waterford Township

 

12165 TRASK RD

Waterford Township

 

TRASK TR 401 RD


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