Key Concepts for Colonial Boston 1. 2. 3. 4. English Puritans founded Boston in 1630. The Puritans were officially members of the Church of England, but wanted to purify it of what they regarded as traditional Catholic institutions such as bishops, statues, and elaborate rituals. They were also believers in the Calvinist doctrine of predestination the teaching that God predetermines before birth who will be saved and who will be damned. Believing that a life of moral virtue and exemplary moral behavior were outward signs of those who had been saved, they imposed strict standards of behavior and censured ornamentation of their persons and their buildings as waste and frivolity. The town of Boston originally occupied a relatively small peninsula. Starting as early as the 17 th century, when more land was needed, it was created. For example, in the 19 th century part of Copp s Hill in the North End and some of Beacon Hill went to expand the shores of the peninsula by filling a large cove on the north side of the peninsula called the Mill Pond. Archaeologists call land created in this way made land. The Colonial Period in Boston lasted from approximately 1630 to about the mid 1780s, the time of the establishment of the United States of America. Two of the most prominent architectural styles from the Colonial Period in Boston were the Postmedieval style (c. 1630 - c. 1710) and the Georgian style (c. 1700 - c. mid- 1780s). In Boston, the earliest neighborhoods settled were the North End, and today s Downtown/Financial District, both on original land. During the early years of Boston s history, the people of the colony were identified strongly with their origins in southeastern England. They relied on English medieval/tudor models based on the buildings they had known in England, not on their own original designs. Carpenters, joiners, and masons, rather than people specifically known as architects, performed the work of designing and building. Related Boston By Foot Classic Tours The Heart of the Freedom Trail tour includes several sites from Boston s history as a British colony, including the Old State House, Old South Meeting House, and King s Chapel, as well as more current buildings. BBF s North End: The Gateway to Boston tour also includes many sites from this era, such as the Paul Revere House, downtown Boston s only Postmedieval house, along with two early Georgian style houses, and Christ Church (Old North Church). The Freedom Trail, a well- marked trail of Boston s historic sites that is roughly 2.5 miles long, runs prominently through the routes of both of these tours. The Freedom Trail begins on Boston Common and ends in Charlestown. The 16 Freedom Trail sites date from Boston s founding in 1630 through approximately 1812. Key Concepts for Colonial Boston 1
Colonial Architectural Styles Postmedieval style This is the architecture of the early colonial period in the English colonies, based on English medieval and Tudor architecture. Not designed by architects, it was built by skilled carpenters and joiners and adapted for use with local building materials and to accommodate local climate. In New England it is also referred to as First Period style. The English styles of the mid- Atlantic colonies are similar, but have some different characteristics. Two- story houses were characteristically one- room deep with a large central chimney. Later in the 17 th century the saltbox house, which had a longer rear roof slope than front roof slope, was created by adding rooms along the rear and extending the rear roof over them. The front, or façade, of Postmedieval houses may look symmetrical or asymmetrical on the exterior. Approximate dates: 1630 c. 1710. Materials: Almost exclusively wood, which was so abundant in the forests of New England. Fenestration (windows): casement with small diamond panes. Glass was expensive and small panes were cheaper to replace. Roof: gable with the side gable (the long side) facing front. Exterior ornamentation: minimal. Carved wood drop- like forms called pendants or pendils were sometimes hung from eaves and/or second story overhangs. The overhangs were called jetties by their 17 th century builders and added visual dimension to postmedieval houses. Boardman House, Saugus, MA, 1692 Key Concepts for Colonial Boston 2
Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey Paul Revere House, North End, c. 1680 Photo: Dayl Cohen Key Concepts for Colonial Boston 3
Georgian style An English style named for the 18 th century Kings George I - IV of England, it became the first formal style in American architecture. It was based on a classical vocabulary, meaning its inspiration was the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome (such as columns and arched forms), as interpreted by the 16th C. Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Less highly ornate decoration was used in the American colonies than in England due to the colonists relative lack of great wealth and the deficiency of highly skilled artisans. Many buildings were still designed by carpenters and masons or by others working from pattern books. One prominent New England architect was Peter Harrison of Newport. Approximate dates: c.1710 - c. 1780. Materials: Brick; outside of the city of Boston wooden Georgian buildings are common. Fenestration: multi- paned, double- hung windows, regularly spaced, symmetrically placed. Windows on upper floors are directly above those on lower floors. In public buildings, windows often arched. Palladian windows (named for Palladio) may be placed to call out a prominent point on the exterior or interior. Roof: gable with the side gable (the long side) facing front, gambrel, or hipped. Chimneys are more often on the sides or ends, but can also be in the center in New England. Exterior ornamentation: tended to be very simple on early 18 th century middle class houses, more elaborate as the century progressed; public buildings have more ornamentation. Usually found on door surrounds of main entrance and at the cornice line. More elaborate ornamentation depends on the date of the building, and the wealth and religious orientation of the building owner. Often found: string courses, quoins, pilasters, molded cornices. Derby House (Salem), 1762 (Photo: Daderot at en.wikipedia.com) Key Concepts for Colonial Boston 4
Vassall- Craigie- Longfellow House (Cambridge), 1759 Photo: Dayl Cohen Key Concepts for Colonial Boston 5