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Choose from the districts linked on the left to see the house description and print a map for a self-guided walking tour.

Bargeboard: A board trim that is usually carved and projects from the gable line of a roof.

Bellcast: a curved shape resulting in a lower pitch at the bottom of a roof slope, thus taking the shape of the bottom rim of a large bell.

 

Casement: a window that is vertically hinged and may open either inward or outward.

 

Catslide:  a pitched roof covering one side of a roof and continuing at the same pitch over a side or rear extension of the building to a point lower than the opposite roof line.

 

Clapboards:  tapered horizontal boards used as siding, thickest on their bottom edge, each one overlapping the one below.

 

Corbel: a bracket of stone, wood, or brick projecting from the face of a wall and generally used to support a cornice or arch.

 

Cornice: any projecting ornamental molding that finishes or crowns the top of a building, wall, or arch.

 

Cornice return: the continuation of the cornice in a different direction, usually at a right angle and at the gable end of a house.

 

Cupola: a small dome-like structure situated on top of a roof or turret.

 

Dentil: A toothed, or notched decorative treatment used in molding or ornamentation

 

Dormer: a window that projects from a sloping roof and is covered with a small gable, shed or other roof structure.mer:

 

Double hung: referring to a window with two sashes that opens by means of one or both sashes sliding vertically past the other.

 

Gable: the triangular section of the end wall formed by two sloping roofs.  Sometimes refers to the whole end wall of a building or wing having a pitched roof.

 

Gable roof: a roof that has one slope on opposite sides of the ridge with gable at either end.

 

Gambrel: A variation of the gabled roof with additional space for sleeping or storage. Most commonly associated with barn roof structure.

Gingerbread: Ornate trim resembling cutwork.

Half-timbered:  in medieval times, a building with exposed wood framing whereby the spaces between the wooden timbers are filled with plaster, brick, or stone.  Houses built in the late 19th and 20th centuries imitated the early half-timbered methods; the timbers are generally not part of the structure and are for ornamental purposes only.

 

Hip Roof: A roof that has a slope on all four sides of a building; the joint where two slopes of a roof meet is called the hip. 
 

Impost: the uppermost part of a column or pillar supporting an arch.

 

Irregular massing: in the late 19th century, improved heating systems and building construction allowed for many extensions and re-entrants to a home. A "footprint" of an irregular massed home would show many corners and "nooks". 
 

Keystones: The upper most and last set stone in an arch, which completes and "locks" the construction. 

 

Lintel: a horizontal structural member at the top of a window or door that carries the load of the wall above; usually made of wood, stone, or metal. 

 

Modillion:  an ornamental bracket or scroll, generally used in a series, beneath the building or porch cornice.

 

Oriel:  a window projecting from the wall of a house.

 

Palladian window:  a three-part window where the center window is arched and wider than the other two flat topped side windows.

 

Pediment:  a triangular face of a roof gable, typically used as a decoration above a window, door, or dormer, or on porches.

 

Pendill: the carved or molded bottom end ornament of a hanging vertical member of a decorative structure or bracket; can also be a carved wood ornament that terminates the bottom end of second floor posts in frame construction.

 

Pilaster:  a flat, rectangular column projecting only slightly from a wall; usually has a base, shaft, and capital and is often fluted to simulate a classical column. Decorative more than structural.

 

Port Cochere: A doorway by which a carriage may be driven under or through a portion of the building

 

Segmental arch: a type of circular arch that does not extend on the sides to a full half circle; often found on the tops of windows.

 

Shed roof:  a roof with one sloping plane.

 

Shiplap siding:  horizontal boards used as siding, with rabbeted edges to make an overlapping joint.

 

Transom:  a small window above a door or other window, sometimes fixed and sometimes movable, that is used to provide additional natural light and ventilation.

 

Truncated: cut off or cut short, usually in reference to a roof.

 

Turret: a small tower usually found on a corner of a building.





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