24
23
20
22
19
21
16
18
17
15
14
12
13
9
8
10
11
6
7
2
5
4
3
2
Selected Greek Revival
Styles
Town of Ellery
1
From 1820 until the Civil War, architectural adaptations of the Greek Revival style were popular in both large and small homes
throughout Chautauqua County. Even in the early 21st century, the Town of Ellery still features many homes of this historic period.
According to SUNY Fredonia’s Professor Emeritus Daniel D. Reiff in Houses from Books (The Pennsylvania State University Press,
2000), “The first book with the new Greek orders available to ordinary builders and carpenters was John Haviland’s The Builder’s
Assistant, in three volumes (Philadelphia, 1818 – 21),” but books with even more impact on the spread of the Greek Revival style
were The American Builder’s Companion by Asher Benjamin (sixth edition, 1827) and The Practical House Carpenter, also by Asher
Benjamin (Boston, 1830). Equally influential, according to Reiff, was The Modern Builder’s Guide by Minard Lafever (New York,
1833) and The Beauties of Modern Architecture, also by Minard Lafever (New York, 1835). “The Greek Revival style, as is
immediately apparent, is based mainly on the Greek temple form, though it did not, except in a few rare cases, attempt to reproduce
the exact temple shape – rectangular, with columns around all four sides,” Reiff explained.
In the larger examples in Chautauqua County, a triangular pediment was supported by free-standing Doric columns. These homes
were usually symmetric, and painted white to suggest marble. However, in the smaller homes, churches, and commercial buildings of
Chautauqua County, the Greek Revival style was adapted for a more diminutive structure. According to Reiff in Architecture in
Fredonia, New York, 1811 – 1997 (The Fredonia Preservation Society, 1997), “Although no free-standing columns are used, (a) the
pediment form is adapted for the gable; (b) the cornice edges turn inward for a couple of feet to suggest the lower cornice of a full
pediment. (c) The door is framed by a casing which takes the form of a section of entablature held up by tall pilasters at either side of
the door.” There were also decorative frieze bands with closely spaced dentils in many of these small structures, Reiff pointed out,
giving the structure “greater archeological correctness and enriched visual appeal.” Approximate addresses for examples in the Town
of Ellery include the following:
(1) 4836 Hale, featuring columns and (b) above in three portions of the structure;
(2) 5013 Route 430, featuring cornice returns in three portions of the telescoping structure, and (c) above;
(3) 4374 Johnson Road, featuring and (b) above;
(4) 4884 Westman, featuring (b) and (c) above;
(5) 5128 Route 430, the 19th century David Brownell farm, featuring (a) above;
(6) 4887 Miller Hill, featuring (b) and (c) above;
(7) 5403 Fenner, featuring (b) above;
(8) 4907 Fluvanna Townline Road, featuring (b) above;
(9) 2970 Route 430, featuring (c) above, with small pediment and cornice returns above door;
(10)
3489 Fluvanna Townline Road, featuring (c) above;
(11)
3810 Route 430, featuring (c) above, with small pediment above door;
(12)
4622 Fluvanna Townline Road, featuring (b) above;
(13)
4316 Pancake Hill, featuring (b) above;
(14)
3146 Route 430, featuring (b) above;
(15)
5237 Casselman Luce Road, featuring (c) above;
(16)
3854 Westman, featuring (c) above;
(17)
5145 Route 380, featuring (b) above;
(18)
4403 Belleview, featuring (b) above;
(19)
4960 Route 430, featuring (b) above;
(20)
4854 Walker, featuring (b) above;
(21)
4441 Lakeside, featuring (b) and (c) above;
(22)
3171 Dutch Hollow, featuring (b) above;
(23)
5214 Pickard Hill, featuring (b) above;
(24)
3963 Fluvanna Townline Road, featuring (b) above.
Compiled by the Historic Structures Data Team, volunteers for the office of the Chautauqua County Historian.