A Home for Everyman: The Greek Revival and Maine Domestic Architecture

While romantic Gothic and Italianate buildings first appeared in Maine in the pre-Civil War decades, the predominant style of the period was the Greek Revival. Its bold classical vocabulary translated easily and practically into local wood, brick, and stone to create a dignified appearance for any building type. Despite the large number of Greek Revival structures which survive in 20th century Maine, architectural historians have been slow to address this remarkable heritage. "A Home for Everyman" addresses this historical deficit. Rather than simply tracing the evolution of stylistic treatments, the author has chosen to analyze a building type-domestic architecture-and to consider how style, traditions, and advances in building technology blended to create housing in Maine during the second quarter of the 19th century. The Greek Revival house is considered as a whole and in detail, both inside and out, for its structure, plan, stylistic characteristics, and decorative finishes. Mechanical systems such as heating and plumbing are also investigated. Finally, consideration is given to the carpenters, builders, and architects who were responsible for the construction of these homes. The use of line drawings provides a clear focus for the reader and enables the author to convey the essence of each feature.