Spartanburg Presbyterian Church – Demolished, Image courtesy of Martin Meek
Prototype of the Spartanburg Pres. Church, first constructed in N.C.
Roots and Recall’s founders have long been interested in the wide distribution and use of architectural pattern books throughout the Southeastern region. These books appear to have been routinely used by mechanics and carpenters to construct homes of distinction. The printed pattern book offered numerous choices to their clients. Builders often repeated the same layouts due to skill levels, technical restraints, availability of resources, carpentry tools, and their familiarity with specific designs which they had previously executed.
Figure 1 – The Allison home in western York County, S.C. This simple “four square” design with a double Greek Revival porch was repeatedly used by local builders.
Enjoy this limited number of links to historic pattern books which were often used in the Carolinas for building in the 19th century. Visit the other resource links to see numerous design books for architects, builders, country homes, and package houses, which became very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These are only a few of the hundreds of similar historic research materials which can easily be be found and accessed on many public websites. Perhaps you will discover the your grandparents’ home in the Sear’s Honor Bilt system or in Asher Benjamin’s mid 19th century pattern book. It is fun to explore these sources and learn what varieties were truly available to the home designer and owner.
Mail Order (pre-cut) Houses
Pattern Books
- Victorian Cottage Architecture: An American Catalog of Designs, 1891
- The Architect: or a Practical House Carpenter (1843)
- American Country Houses of today … (1911)
- Woodward’s Cottages and Farm Houses (1867)
- The Half-Timber House; its origin, design, modern plan, and construction
- Downing the Architecture of Country Houses: Including Designs for Cottages, Farm-houses, and Villas … (1859)
House Plans
- 100 Plans of Southern Homes … – 1922
- Ogilvy’s House Plans, or, How to Build a House (1885)
- Twenty-four Craftsman houses, with floor plans. (1911)
- American Country Houses of today … (1911) Woodward’s Cottages and Farm Houses (1867)
- Modern Homes – Sears (1936)
- Plans for Concrete Houses… – 1925
- Bungalow Homes : the world’s most popular plan book. Craftsman Bungalows : a collection of the latest designs dedicated to the lover of a convenient home by Jud Yoho.
- Designs for Low-cost Wood Homes By Leroy Oscar Anderson, Harold F. Zornig
Trim and Decoration
- Architectural Interior and Exterior Woodwork Standardized: The Permanent… By Curtis Companies
- Roberts’ Illustrated Millwork Catalog: A Sourcebook of Turn-of-the-century … By E.L. Roberts & Co
- Universal Millwork Catalog, 1927: Over 500 Designs for Doors, Windows …edited by Victor M. Linoff
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