The document discusses different styles of colonial houses in various regions of 18th century America. In New England, common styles included saltbox houses and Georgian houses, which were typically made of wood with central chimneys. The Mid-Atlantic states featured stone or brick Dutch colonials and German colonials with central chimneys. Southern plantation houses tended to be large with features like porches to stay cool, while poorer southern homes were usually only one or two small rooms. Floor plans and characteristics of different house styles are provided for reference in choosing a colonial house.

1. Choosing Your Colonial House

2. Choosing Your House Think about your character Are you wealthy? Where do you live? What materials are available for building? How big is your family? Keep these answers in mind when you learn about the different houses of the 18th century. Hmmm… what house should I buy?

3. New England Characteristics Wooden houses Timber frames covered with wooden boards and shingles

4. The “Saltbox” Style 1620-1740 Central chimney Central wooden door 3-4 rooms on ground floor Equal number of windows on either side of the door 2 1/2 rooms second floor

5. Moreton House Hatfield, Massachusetts

6. Traditional Saltbox Floor Plan

7. The Georgian Design 1700-1780 Chimneys on the ends Made of both brick and wood Paneled central door with decorative crown Symmetrical window design This house was built in 1760 by Captain Richard Derby of Salem, MA. Brick was rare in New England; this shows how wealthy of a merchant he was. It was a gift to his son. This style was found in all 13 colonies with various differences

8. A Wooden Georgian Can you find the features from the previous page?

9. Georgian Floor Plan 4 rooms upstairs 4 rooms downstairs Central hallway - allows public and private space Kitchen 3 rooms downstairs used as work rooms, entertaining rooms, or eating spaces. Second story rooms were mainly used for sleeping and storage

10. The Mid Atlantic States Mostly stone or brick Look more like New England houses rather than Southern houses A lot of Dutch and German influence

11. Dutch Colonial 1625-1840 Little or no overhang Usually 1 floor Dutch door: the door has an upper and lower half. High peaked roof Made of brick or field stone 2 rooms

12. German Colonial 1680-1800 Central chimney Field stone with wooden framing Similar to the Georgian Style These houses would have been common in rural Pennsylvania

13. Philadelphia Townhouse Looks like a German Colonial cut in half 2 room house 1 room on each floor This is Betsy Ross’s house - the creator of the American Flag

14. Southern States Large plantation houses Farmers had main house, smaller slave houses Plantations could be miles apart Usually made of wood, sometimes brick Wealthy houses had many designs Poorer houses were very small

15. Drayton Hall Plantation House Large, open porch to stay cool in the heat 4-5 large rooms on each floor Georgian - Palladian Style

16. Drawing of Drayton Hall

17. First Floor Plan Large doors at both ends allow for cross ventilation. The Grand Staircase This room gives a remarkable first impression for anyone arriving from the Ashley River. The Great Hall This room was the primary welcoming space. Most southern homes did not have a kitchen in the living space in order to keep the heat down.

18. Second Floor Plan The second floor has four large bedrooms. Upper Great Hall This room was used for entertaining. 1 2 3 4

19. Outside Drayton Hall Guests would have arrived from the Ashley River. Most work houses would have been separate from the main house.

20. Slave Cabins Very simple 1 room houses

21. Inside a Slave Cabin

22. Charleston Courtyard House Gable end of the house faces the street. By changing the alignment of the house, builders were able to fit more houses into the city.

23. Charleston Courtyard House Side View Long piazzas (porches) on every floor 1-2 rooms on the second floor 1 room and a kitchen on the first floor.

24. Street Facing Charleston House

25. Simple Southern Home 2 Rooms Central breezeway with a door on both sides of the house Small attic space for sleeping or storage

26. Your Assignment Choose the style of your house Draw a picture of it or design a floor plan On the back of your picture, write a paragraph explaining the decisions you made in planning your house. Remember, only buy a house that you can “revere.”