Folk Victorian houses usually have these features:
- Square, symmetrical shape
- Brackets under the eaves
- Porches with spindlework or flat, jigsaw cut trim
Some Folk Victorian homes have:
- Carpenter gothic details
- Low-pitched, pyramid shaped roof
- Front gable and side wings
Industrialization and the growth of railroads meant that decorative architectural trim could be mass produced and sent to remote corners of the continent. Also, smaller towns could now obtain sophisticated woodworking machinery. A crate of scrolled brackets might find its way to Kansas or Wyoming, where carpenters could mix and match the pieces according to personal whim... Or, according to what happened to be in the latest shipment.
Many Folk Victorian houses were adorned with flat, jigsaw cut trim in a variety of patterns. Others had spindles, gingerbread and details borrowed from the Gothic Revival style.
With their spindles and porches, some Folk Victorian homes may suggest Queen Anne architecture. But unlike Queen Annes, these are orderly, symmetrical houses. They do not have towers, bay windows or elaborate moldings. Behind the trim, a Folk Victorian is still a simple house: solid, practical and enduring. |