Federal Style House Plans?

Clues • The American Federal House Style • Federalist Architecture • Find Original House Plans • Trace the Genealogy of your Home

"I'm attaching some photos of our home which was built in 1823 and is located in the historic district of our town. We know it is Federal Style and we can track the genealogy of the home. In fact, we even walk to the nearby cemetery to visit the original owners! (This keeps them from haunting us. LOL)

"Anyway, over the years the interior of this house has been totally overhauled. Walls have been added and removed, door openings have been closed and others opened, bath rooms have been installed, and all fireplaces have been taken out completely. We even found a second set of stairs walled in behind a closet with the floor upstairs covering over where they came out on the upper level.

"Additionally, some Victorian elements have been introduced, such as lighting fixtures, the entrance hall bannister, etc. I have called the town hall and also visited the town library, and have not been able to get any information at all on what the original layout was like. I've even spoken to neighbors and some of the people who lived in the house prior to us and they said it was pretty much the way it is now when they lived there.

"What I do know is that there used to be an entrance door where the window facing the front is on the left side extended alcove of the house. Would this be original to the house? I also know that the back of the house with the covered porch is an addition which was added about 100 years ago.

"I'd also like to know if the trim molding surrounding the front door is original to the house. I've tried to find any books on the basic floor plans of this type of home, feeling it must be fairly typical of the period, but haven't found any, either in the library or the book stores. Can anyone recommend a source for me where I could find the layout of a house such as ours? Right now, what I'm sure used to be the entrance parlor is totally closed off from the entry hall due to an added bathroom.

"We really want to restore this home to its true period style. Any help I can get as to a good source on typical Federal home layouts of the period would be greatly appreciated." ~Maggie72150

• Respond to this house
• Submit your house questions
• See more houses

Photos copyright © the homeowner