During the first four decades of the twentieth century, prefabricated and catalogue homes grew in popularity and number. Built and occupied by farmers, merchants, the new armies of factory workers and other lower- and middle-class families, these are the modest homes that today line American streets. Using mail-order house catalogues from the time, Robert Schweitzer and Michael W. R. Davis chart the development of catalogue houses and their variations and include floor plans for many models. Students of architecture, whether amateur of professional, preservationists and academics will find in America's Favorite Homes a handy reference to those homes that soon will be eligible for historic designation.

Many homes across America have designs based on plans taken from pattern books or mail-order catalogs. In Houses from Books, Daniel D. Reiff traces the history of published plans and offers the first comprehensive survey of their influence on the structure and the style of American houses from 1738 to 1950. Houses from Books shows that architectural publications, from Palladio&’s I Quattro Libri to Aladdin's Readi-Cut Homes, played a decisive role in every aspect of American domestic building. Reiff discusses the people and the firms who produced the books as well as the ways in which builders and architects adapted the designs in communities throughout the country. His book also offers a wide-ranging analysis of the economic and social conditions shaping American building practices. As architectural publication developed and grew more sophisticated, it played an increasingly prominent part in the design and the construction of domestic buildings. In villages and small towns, which often did not have professional architects, the publications became basic resources for carpenters and builders at all levels of expertise. Through the use of published designs, they were able to choose among a variety of plans, styles, and individual motifs and engage in a fruitful dialogue with past and present architects. Houses from Books reconstructs this dialogue by examining the links between the published designs and the houses themselves. Reiff&’s book will be indispensable to architectural historians, architects, preservationists, and regional historians. Realtors and homeowners will also find it of great interest. A catalog at the end of the book can function as a guide for those attempting to locate a model and a date for a particular design. Houses from Books contains a wealth of photographs, many by the author, that enhance its importance as a history and guide.

Every home has a story to tell! Whether you own an elaborate Victorian, cozy bungalow or cottage, ranch style, or are part of a newer subdivision, your house and property have a unique history that is just waiting to be uncovered. Part treasure hunt and part jigsaw puzzle, researching the history of your house is a fascinating and rewarding experience. In Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood, author Betsy J. Green will show you how easy it is to create a cherished legacy for future generations to enjoy. You'll learn about: Beginning your search Finding and contacting former owners of your house Discovering the architect who designed your house Finding the original plans for your house Re-creating long-lost woodwork, porches, even historic landscaping Locating building permits for your house Finding the original price of your house Researching subdivisions and neighborhoods Finding deeds for your house and land Getting information from a deed Finding old photos of your house and neighborhood Using old maps to learn about your neighborhood Discovering your house on a postcard Using vintage architectural magazines Writing up your house history Includes a state-by-state guide to resources

The first and only full-scale technical and stylistic analysis of 200 years of architectural evolution in northern New England

"In the pivotal decades around the turn of the century, American domestic life underwent dramatic alteration. From backstairs to front stairs, spaces and the activities within them were radically affected by shifts in the larger social and material environments. This volume, while taking account of architecture and decoration, moves us beyond the study of buildings to the study of behaviors, particularly the behaviors of those who peopled the middle-class, single-family, detached American home between 1880 and 1930." "The book's contributors study transformations in services (such as home utilities of power, heat, light, water, and waste removal) in servicing (for example, the impact of home appliances such as gas and electric ranges, washing machines, and refrigerators), and in serving (changes in domestic servants' duties, hours of work, racial and ethnic backgrounds)." "In blending intellectual and home history, these essays both examine and exemplify the perennial American enthusiasm for, as well as anxiety about, the meaning of modernity."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved