Mansard Monday ~ The dramatic upswept Mansardic dormers of the Charles and Mary Cummings Almy House in New Bedford, Massachusetts, help disguise its original appearance. It was built in 1847 as a Greek Revival style house. Only the corner pilasters and Doric columns of the porch reveal the original style of this house.
Charles Almy was involved in the whaling industry as a sailor and whale oil merchant before entering the insurance field in the 1860’s. Apparently, he was successful and enlarged the house by the addition of the Mansard roof visually carried on paired brackets. Other additions followed at the end of the century, resulting in a picturesque and eclectic Victorian era appearance.
Typically called a French roof in the U.S. during the 19th century, Mansard roofs were popular during a period when all things French were “en vogue” for fashionable middle- and upper-class Americans. Second Empire buildings are essentially Italianate in style from the eave line down, but their roof gives them a different identity.
Many examples of the style are shown in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
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© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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