Earl Moore
Victoria front porch on a spring morning - Salisbury, NC

In my previous post I featured an image of a couple of historical homes. Today I want to share some of the beautiful architectural details of one of these homes, a mostly victorian style home which also has some colonial features. In the United States, ‘Victorian’ architecture generally describes styles that were most popular between 1860 and 1900.

I’m certainly no architectural expert and can only point out a few of the interesting details which caught my photographic eye. Any architects out there please feel free to correct me…I welcome the chance to learn.

The first image is of the front porch with ornate scroll cut railing between multiple porch posts and exquisite detailed wrought iron hand rails on the steps. The steps themselves are solid granite slabs.

Earl Moore
Wrought Iron Details - 2nd Floor

This second image show some of the details of the wrought iron on the second level along with the use of solid granite slab upper and lower window sills. Notice also these are real storm shutters not the fake ones which adorn so many homes these days.

This home is extremely well kept — no small feat. I sometimes thing of living in a home such as this but couldn’t even begin to imagine what renovating or the day-to-day upkeep must cost. It’s out of my league.

I’ve noted the last two years many for sale or for rent signs in the yards of many historic homes in this neighborhood. The recession may be hitting especially hard for the owners of these high maintenance houses — much like owning a large SUV when gasoline hit’s $5 a gallon.

Earl Moore
Eves and cornices - Roof Line

The third image gives more detail to the roof eves/overhang. Notice the very ornate roof eve cornices and the fact the gutter downspout comes through the eve instead of on the outside of the eve.

It’s very much about the details.

As I’ve mentioned before, red bricks are among the most available and affordable building material in this area due to the abundance of red clay. During a dry and hot summer much of the soil here can become almost as hard as a brick and it’s coloring is very reddish.

17 Comments

  1. I love big and ornate houses until it’s time to paint them!

    • Steve, That’s why I’ll never own one. I’m not a painter and I couldn’t afford to hire anyone else to do all that work. ;-)

  2. These classic homes certainly outshine most, if not all, newer homes. These were built during a time when it was just fine to take your time and do quality, detailed work. Now, it’s all about schedule and cost, even for million dollar homes. Beautiful light here, Earl. That first shot is particularly lovely and well framed.

    • Paul, they are beautiful but everytime I see homes like this I can’t help but think of the movie “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks and Shelly Long.

      Wonderful morning light…thanks!

  3. That place would fit in perfect here in PT. We have a whole town that is based on Victorian architecture to the point of this last weekend it was Victorian Days the streets were filled with top hats and costumes. Love the images Earl and hope you get a chance to visit here sometime and shoot the boats and homes.

    • Ray, come to think of it I’ve seen photos of Port Towsend and with Victorian style homes. I wasn’t aware it was as popular as you say.

      Thanks, and I hope you get that chance. If we’re ever in the same neighborhood I’d love to meet up. I’d like to get back out that way, I’m just not sure when that would be.

  4. You’ve given us a fine tour of the main architectural things to see on this fine, old home. A fine series and informative explanation.

  5. These are wonderful detail shots of those fascinating houses. I particularly like the first image, the interplay between light and shade is just fabulous. Thank you very much for your interesting article, I really enjoyed reading it. Have a wonderful start to the new week!

    • Martina, thank you. The early morning light was wonderful. Sometimes my photos and posts turn into something akin to photo journalism as i strive to share what I found fascinating. After the fact I wonder if I’m boring everyone? :-)

      • Well, it doesn’t bore me, for sure. I rather like the stories that accompany the photos. It adds something to it. Keep on typing, my friend.

  6. The early morning light is beautiful on these, Earl. It looks like that neighborhood was an upper-class area when this was built. Matter of fact, it looks like an upper-class area now!

    • Ken, thanks. It’s still considered upper-class mainly because of the cost of purchase and maintenance of the homes. There’s also rules, being a declared historical area, that the owners must keep them withing their original period with any renovations, pre-approval required. However, I’ve noticed that they are not in as good of condition as they were before this latest economical downturn.

  7. First, I like the composition of the first image. I also agree with Paul in that most construction is done to schedule and cost while craftsmanship is almost non-existent. And, as for maintenance, I’m in the same boat as you, not much a painter, too much paint on me, nor am I a carpenter, would have smashed thumbs on a daily basis. I’d have to hire it out and unless I win the lottery that won’t happen.

    Ray brings up a note I did not know about Port Townsend. I spent my time there along the port. Will have to go back there.

    • Monte, I use to be handy with doing most of the work around home but with age my priorities and physical abilities have changed. If affordable I’d rather hire some now to do that work so I can be out taking photographs. :-)

  8. Its a shame many of these details seem to be lost in modern homebuilding. I see many very large houses in my area that are just big large boxes. I would much rather have a smaller house with more character to it.

    You show here one of the things I wish I had – a nice big porch!

    Your images do a great job at showing us the sense of character missing in many of today’s homes Earl.

    • Mark, I agreed that we’re losing a lot of craftsmanship these days. Part of it is the cost of labor to do this type of quality craftsman work isn’t affordable by the average citizen…me.

      We do happen to have a nice porch on our current home…and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

      Thanks