A Punxsutawney, PA, Queen Anne House for Groundhog Day. In honor of the most famous rodent making weather predictions every March 2nd, we’re visiting the western Pennsylvania town where Punxsutawney Phil resides.
The Groundhog Day celebration is rooted in Germanic tradition that says that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 2 winter weather will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, spring will come early. When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, they brought the tradition with them.
This masonry example of the Queen Anne style was built c. 1890. The wonderful projecting bay that forms a tower on one side of the facade was probably originally capped with a conical roof. Popularized by magazines and house plan books, houses in this style were built from coast to coast. Wood framed examples with complex forms and elaborate detail were popular for middle-class buyers, but many examples were also built in stone and brick for more wealthy homeowners. The use of both stone and brick combined with wood porches and gables with patterned shingle siding bring the mixed textures and patterns typical of the style to this house.
Understanding the style of a house will help you understand which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation. 25 styles are explored in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2024.
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