What Defines an America Four Square Home?
The Foursquare Houses an Industrializing Nation
The American Foursquare is a truly American home design that was a reaction to the overly ornate Victorians that were popular during the 1800s.
Foursquares were a popular home design in the mail-order home catalogs by the early 1900s The design helped house industrializing America.
The design became very popular, due to its simple design, affordability and ease of construction.
HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY AN AMERICAN FOURSQUARE?
CUBE SHAPE DESIGN
Often the Foursquare is cupeshaped in design
For the most part, a foursquare is cube-shaped from its facade to its foundation and even the interior floor space is split in to quarters on each level.
HIP ROOF
One identifying feature is the hip roof with large overhangs
The American foursquare was a two-story design with a walk-up attic often with a small knee wall to allow for thrid floor expansion
CENTRAL DORMER
Almost all Foursquare designs featured a dormer center in the front roof. Fun fact- by 1920 the American Foursquare was one of Sears and Roebuck's most popular house designs. Purchased through a catalog and shipped complete and ready to assemble.
FRONT PORCH
The Foursquare had a porch that spanned the entire front of the home.
If you find a Foursquare without a porch today, it was most likely removed because of disrepair.
SHAPING AMERICA
A True American Classic
There are still many American Foursquare homes from the early 1900s for sale across the country. In my part of the world, Haverhill MA and the Greater Boston area Foursquares make up established neighborhoods. They are the perfect design for small urban lots in the Greater Boston area. But because of their affordability, they can be found all across American from rural farm homes to homes making up an urban neighborhood.
The American Foursquares go by other names based on various regions around the country... Cornbelt Cube, Prairie Box, Midwest Cube, Denver Square and more.
Provided by Kevin VItali- Massachusetts REALTOR 978-360-0422