One can tell a lot about the economic history of a community by looking at the houses. If one style predominates, that reveals when the fortunes of the town were at their peak. Architecture styles change over time, showing the preferences of the people based on convenience, availability of materials, and outside influences. Bennington is no different, as eight distinct styles were employed from late 1700s to the 1950s: the Cape; the Colonial; the Federal; the Gable-Front; American Gothic; Italianate; Second Empire; the Queen Anne; and the Ranch.

The ‘Federal Period’ of US history coincides with the years after the Revolutionary War. Our nation was then deciding what type of government to use, and eventually, it was agreed that a Federal System would work best. From about 1780 to 1840, a style of architecture emerged called “Federal.” An evolution of ”Georgian Style“, it is very similar. What makes a house of this era Federal instead of Georgian is that it is built in America — Georgian Style is named after the British king against whom we rebelled. No way was anyone going to name a house style after him any more! 

There were two stories, like a Colonial, five windows above, two windows flanking the central door. Often built of brick, these buildings had two or four chimneys and were highly symmetrical. One of the hallmark features surrounds the doorway: above the door is a ‘fan’ of wooden slats or often a fan-shaped window. Alongside of the door, on both sides, are small-paned, narrow windows. You see that fan-light, you are seeing a Federal.

Inside of the rectangular or square building were rooms at each corner: four upstairs, four downstairs. There was a large central hall that featured a graceful staircase to the upstairs. Often, a two-story wooden El was built on the back, for more bedrooms and for work space for the servants. The roof is gable-ended or hip-style.

When the Federal Style was popular, owners of older houses would ‘up-date’ their Capes or Colonials by adding windows around the front door to look more modern. That sure muddies the waters when trying to guess the age of an old house!

The next installment of the Bennington NH Historical Society Blog will be posted on March 25, 2024. If you click the ‘Subscribe’ button, all future posts will be sent straight to your inbox every month.