The American 4-Square Style

Though not actually a "style", another 20th century house type worth considering is American 4-Square. As its name indicates, these houses are based on the repetition of squares and square masses. Typically, the main part of the house is a large square block topped by a pointed "hipped" roof. Boxy dormers with hipped roofs project from the center of one or perhaps all sides of the roof. Window openings may be tall, but the sash is divided to emphasize squareness. The front of the house is occupied by a long, deep porch supported by simple square columns of brick, wood or a combination of the two.

Here is an American 4-Square in brick with a slate roof. Limestone or cast concrete trim is commonly used in brick 4-squares, primarily above windows in lintels and sills. The long front porch here is supported by brick columns with stone caps. The roof has one hipped dormer. The roof of the adjacent "Summer Kitchen" gives us a "bird's-eye view" of the hipped roof found on 4-square houses. This house is located on 300W, Huntington County.

This is a frame example with a single dormer, sided in wooden shingles, even on the porch supports. Note the square windows on the second floor. This house, located on Madison Street in Huntington, was built about 1910.

SUMMARY

Designed with simplicity and practicality, American 4-Square houses provided affordable homes for many Huntington County residents in the years between the two World Wars.

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