The best way to learn about historic houses is to look at them closely, and the most fun way to look at them closely is to do a puzzle showing a wonderful historic house! So, we made a unique and interesting collection of Historic House Puzzles for you to enjoy!
Ivey Cottage was built in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, as a summer cottage for Henrietta and Alvin Ivey of Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Ivey was a sister to Frank W. Woolworth and Mr. Ivey was head buyer for the Woolworth’s chain of stores before he retired in 1928.
The cottage was completed in 1908. It was later expanded with two-story wings on either side. In his excellent “Summer Cottages of the White Mountains,” architectural historian Bryant Tolles identifies the style of the original cottage as “English Tudor-type.” I am more inclined to call the expanded cottage Chateauesque.
It appears that the added porch on the near end of the house was originally open, and the one added on the other side glazed. The near one is now glazed too, but you can clearly see the difference from the historic casement windows at the far end.
Revival styles were all the rage in the early 20th century. Summer resort communities were often at the cutting edge of new trends, as wealthy summer residents brought the latest styles with them from the cities where they lived.
Understanding the style of a house will help you identify which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” will help. Signed copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
“Restoring Your Historic House” is also available in stores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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Click on the dashed box at the top-right in the puzzle box below to open the puzzle to full screen. In the top left, you can change the number of pieces (100 pieces is the default), toggle piece rotation, and change the background color. Then hit “OK” and have fun!