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Here you will find resources to help understand the home styles found in New England and more specifically Rye, N.H., as well as tools to help you research your home and discover its history.
American Architectural Styles - Found in NE and Rye
1. 1st Period 1630s–mid 1700s: 1/2 house; 1 ½ story (cape style) or 2 ½ story center. chimney. 30x40’; Garrison 2nd fl. overhangs 1st fl., fort; Gambrel roof– 2 roof angles; “Saltbox style” one roof low to ground; Note: church, other public buildings.: classical architect., Palladian windows
2. 1700s –same styles continue with adornment: i.e. sidelights around front door, pilasters, crown molding, trim boards, Palladian large arched windows bet 1st and 2nd floor
3. Georgian, late 1700 early 1800's, center. hall, 4 chimneys, more elegant, distinct hip roof
4. Federalist, early 1800s, 3 full stories, Palladian window, adorned, widow's walk; 50 Red Mill
5. Greek Revival,1830-1860, Gr. col. ext. entry, fancy woodwork, gable or hip roof, Rye Town Hall
6. 1800s Farmhouses- carry on First period styles, narrower/taller, 2 chimneys either side w/ center hall; later 1800s some connected to cottage industry in middle and barn; many in Rye
7. Victorian 1800s (generic term)- several styles: i.e. Gothic Revival 1840 1880; large porches, towers with windows, bay windows, dormers, cupolas, gingerbread woodwork, very adorned
8. Mansard Roof/2nd French Empire -1855- 1885, 1 ½ / 2 ½ story, distinctive roof with windows part of the roof/top floor, many in Rye, especially on Straw’s Pt. Rd.; think Paris!
9. Italianate- 1840-1880, often with square, tower w/ windows in middle of hip or flat roof
10. New Englander-(generic term) turn of 1900s, 2 1/2 story, gable face rd. many in Rye, Shotgun?
11. Shingle late 1800s; large shingled, w/ rambling porches – i.e. Green Gables, South Rd.
12. Stick – 1870-1890, elaborate use of flourishing woodwork on front façade
13. Queen Anne Revival- 1875-1910, wrap around porch, elaborate front gables, tower
14. Romanesque revival -1840- 1900, stone or brick; dormers, bay windows, arches, etc.
15. Col. Revival:1885-1910, repros of 1700’s styles; also, narrow, 2 ½ story, hip roof style
16. Tudor Revival early 1900s – exterior shows timber frame adorned against stucco wall
17. American Craftsman (from arts & crafts mvt. - porch, wide eaves, exposed beams
18. Sears and Roebuck pre-fab – 1908-1942; (70,000 sold) one near Rye Center; 1/1/2 story
19. Bungalow-early 1900s, var. of craftsman style, porch, open, 1 1/2 story; also, Cottage style
20. Mid-Century modern- mid 1900s, open concept-bring nature inside, clean lines; the most distinguished mid 1900s style as opposed to more plain styles such as ranch, split level, etc.
Resources for Researching the Approximate Year Built (AYB) of a House
1. Rye Advocates "Dating Your House" Workshops
Rye Advocates (RA) has hosted "Dating Your House" workshops and is willing to offer another session upon request through the Rye Public Library (RPL).
2. Historic Town Maps at the Rye Museum
The Rye Museum maintains historic town maps from 1805, 1851, 1857, 1892, and 1900. These maps often identify property owners and can help establish an Approximate Year Built (AYB) within a few decades. The museum is open by request.
3. Deed Research
Deed research documents land transfers and may also indicate the presence of buildings on a property at the time of sale. Rye Advocates has a volunteer who assists with online deed research through the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds. However, she notes that the system is user-friendly and encourages homeowners to try the research themselves.
4. Architectural Style Analysis
Architectural style can help determine a property's construction period, as well as identify later additions and modifications. For example, Greek Revival architecture was common in the mid-1800s. A local example is an 1839 church that was converted into the Town Hall in 1873. Typical characteristics include a two-and-a-half-story structure with the gable end facing the road and columns along the sides.
5. Architectural Historians and Historic Restoration Specialists
Consulting an architectural historian or restoration specialist can help narrow down a home's construction date. Professionals evaluate features such as window size, spacing between floors, roofline proportions, trim details, doors, and chimney placement and dimensions.
An interior assessment can reveal even more information, particularly in attics where original roof framing may still be visible. Rye Historical Society (RHS) has previously hosted presentations by such professionals. Rye Advocates may wish to reconnect with a specialist such as Richard Candee of Portsmouth, whose 1992 book, Building Portsmouth, provides detailed histories of many of Portsmouth's historic homes.
6. Professional House Researchers
Homeowners may also consider hiring a professional house researcher, such as someone affiliated with Historic New England, an organization that owns and manages many of New England's most significant historic properties. RHS is aware of a Historic New England researcher who previously completed research on an older Rye home.
7. State Historic Preservation Agencies
State agencies, such as the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, may provide useful information and guidance for historic house research.
8. Rye Tax Assessor Records and AYB Information
The Approximate Year Built (AYB) listed in tax assessor records is often based on information passed down from previous owners or estimated by the town based on architectural style. These dates are not always supported by documentation.
For example, assessor records may show dozens of houses listed simply as "1900," indicating that the date was estimated rather than verified. In many cases, the town or property owner assigned an approximate year based on the home's appearance and architectural characteristics.
9. Genealogical Records
Genealogical research can provide valuable clues. Marriage dates, family histories, and other records may help establish an AYB. The second half of Parsons' History of Rye (1905) contains extensive genealogical information that may assist researchers.
10. Town Records at the Museum
Town records, including tax records, probate records, and other municipal documents housed at the museum, may provide information relevant to house histories and ownership timelines.
11. Bound House Histories at the Museum
The museum maintains seven bound house histories. Some were prepared by professional researchers, while others were compiled by homeowners.
12. New York Times Article on Dating Old Houses
A New York Times article published on September 19, 2021 (Real Estate section, p. 16), discusses many of the research methods listed above. The article focuses particularly on dendrochronology—the scientific study of tree rings in large wooden beams—to determine a home's age. In some cases, this method has shifted estimated construction dates by as much as fifty years.
13. Rye Museum House History Binders
The town museum houses four three-ring binders containing photographs and histories of all 317 pre-1905 houses in Rye. Rye Advocates also maintains a substantial library of books and reference materials on the subject.
14. Rye Advocates Website
Information from the museum's three-ring binders is also available through the Rye Advocates website: RyeAdvocates.com.
