Mansard Monday ~ This Second Empire style house in New Bedford, Massachusetts, was built in 1855 by Captain Henry Taber for his daughter, Abby, and her new husband. After 1862, the home was rented to John and Catherine Melville Hoadley. She was the sister of “Moby Dick” author Herman Melville.
New Bedford was the leading port in the U.S. for the whaling fleet that supplied the nation with oil for industry and illumination. It also provided Melville inspiration for his most famous novel.
The Mansard roof that is the defining feature of the Second Empire style appears in several forms. This example has a concave curve to the roof. Convex curves, s-shaped curves, and straight roofs can also be found. Below the roof, Second Empire style shares the same character-defining features as the Italianate style.
Understanding the style of a house is the essential first step in developing a restoration plan that prioritizes the preservation and restoration of character-defining features while making changes necessary for modern life in an old house.
Many examples of the Second Empire style and 24 other styles are included in Chapter 2 of “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 online shop at: YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Select preservation titles by other authors, including “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester, are also available in our shop! Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book Combo Packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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