A Free Classic Queen Anne style mansion in Mansfield, OH.
Built c. 1897 and likely designed by Vernon Redding, the J.A. Rigby House is a good example of the late Free Classic variant of the Queen Anne style. Retaining the form of earlier houses in the style, Free Classic houses replaced turned spindle work and scroll-sawn ornament with Classical columns and other features drawn from Renaissance prototypes. Often, as with this house, it is only the asymmetrical form that separates these houses from Colonial Revival style houses.
James Arthur Rigby started the the Rigby Cigar Company with his father in 1886. Rigby brands included the well-known “Dolly Dollar” five cent cigar. In addition to the cigar company, he was President of the Citizens National Bank and President of the Mansfield Telephone Company. He and his wife, Mary, raised two children in the house.
Understanding the style of a house will help you understand which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Twenty-five architectural styles are described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
The 720 page award-winning and best-selling hardcover book is available in bookstores and from online retailers.
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author in the shop on this site, https://yourhistorichouse.com/shop/.
Bookstores can order copies from W.W. Norton.
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