At a glance, this c. 1895 house in the trolley suburb of Green Ridge, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, could easily be identified as a Shingle Style house due to the prominence of the shingled gables with typical shingle style detailing. But the main body of the house below is clad in clapboards and features a wonderful Palladian window and a porch with Doric columns – all Classical elements associated with the Colonial Revival style.
The house is a beautiful example of a design that has elements drawing from both styles harmoniously blended into a cohesive whole that doesn’t fall entirely into one category or the other.
A wonderful feature on this house, now sadly lost from most, are the retractable canvas awnings the shade the porch during the summer. These were a common feature on houses in the late 19th and early 20th century. On cloudy days and during the colder seasons they could be rolled up to allow more daylight into the rooms of the house.
Understanding these stylistic elements is key to identifying the character-defining features of the house, which should be the first step in any restoration plan.
Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” explores architectural style identification.
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© Scott t. Hanson 2025.
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