Homes For Evaluation
Do you know of a home that resembles those shown here on this site? If so, then this is the place to post a comment about it. We here at “Cottage Souvenirs” continue to develop a master inventory of Barber designed homes. So naturally, we want to consider any plausible home, even if it is no longer extant. So with that in mind, we invite you to please post candidate homes here, in the form of a comment. If at all possible, please include as much info as possible with your comment, so that we can research the candidate home further, and try to make a determination as to whether or not George Barber was responsible for the design used to build it. Key info to include with your comment would be, current street address, original street address (in case the house is no longer extant, or if it is known to have been moved), original or early homeowners (if known), year of construction (if known), local, county & state historical marker info or NRHP designation, links to current photos and or historic photos, and any previous or current publication that may document the home, including title, author, page numbers, etc. With your help, we can track down these undiscovered examples and record them in our inventory. And in doing so, we can help to restore and preserve them, through documentation and public awareness. Once again, thanks for contributing.
Hi, I live in the north of México in a mormon colony. I have been restoring a home, I suspect to be a George Barber design. There is another house (sadly falling to pieces) that may also be a George Barber, pretty much in the same block. Both homes were built in 1897 by the Cardon Family. I will share the link here although the information regarding to the homes is in “mexico trip” and currently under costruction.
Calle 5ta, 305
Colonia Dublán
C.p.31710
https://cardonfamilies.org
https://cardonfamilies.org/histories/louis-paul-cardon-and-edith-jemima-done/
There are two houses I suspect to be Barber’s designs. Built by Louis Cardon in 1897 in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, they are unique in their style and stand out from regular american homes built by mormons in the area. I hope you can help me find out if they are indeed George Barber’S. I have been restoring a Queen Anne for 9 year now, but sadly he other home is falling to pieces.
Calle 5ta, 305
Col. Dublán, Nvo. Casas Grandes
Chihuahua, México
https://cardonfamilies.org/travel/
The mexico trip part is still underconstruction.
http://www.lascolonias.org/2015/05/28/louis-philip-cardon/
The house I grew up in seems to have a ton of similarities with Barber homes from the 1890s and I’m very curious to see if I can track down the plans it was built from.
Address: 900 N Franklin St Manchester, IA
The house was not moved, but the street was renumbered at some point in time, the window above the front door had a different number but I don’t remember what it was, perhaps 1100?
I believe the house was built in 1895.
Still wondering if 1015 N Main St Bonham Texas is a Barber Home. We were told it was a mail order home by a town historian years ago and the wood was brought to Jefferson on boat, then carried by wagon to Bonham. It was originally built by the Dunn family in 1901. My mom and dad bought the house in 84’ are about to list the home for sale, as they are older and can no longer tackle the stairs. I feel so thankful to be able to call this beautiful timepiece “my childhood home”.I’ve been so intrigued by all the Barber Architecture and just wondering if my childhood home was in fact an original Barber. Thank you
Hello, we recently purchase a Queen Anne style home on Main Street in Reedville, Va. It was built in 1920/21 by William Tankard Covington. We believe the house may be a George Barber design, or an adaptation on one. Thanks for your help,
Muriel
Could it be possible that the illustration for Design No. 36 in 1893’s Artistic Homes, referencing a house in Chicago, could be a house in Oak Lawn built around 1891 for a Chicago real estate developer?
https://www.localarchitecturechicago.com/real-estate-broker-discovers-george-f-barber-house-in-oak-lawn-il/
We are under contract to purchase a home called the McMullin Warren house on the national historic registry. We are beginning to peel back the layers through our research, so I am wondering if it is a Barber home. It was built in 1901 in Sebree, KY by David Mcmullin, the local builder and lathe mill owner. I would love any feedback, thank you!
https://npgallery.nps.gov/SearchResults/b9af9244016a48008d7b9be8a3b1451b?view=grid
Thanks for reaching out. I will take a look and post another reply here. Stay tuned . . .
245 Decatur Street in Corning, NY. Looking for an original floor plan for this beauty as it has been botched and we’d like to restore it as best we can!
Jordan, thanks for reaching out. Please send me an email message to [email protected] so I can send you some info that might help you.
Chris DiMattei
Thanks so much for your reply! That’s great to confirm that Barber indeed designed our house. Your theory about the construction dates makes sense– there is a record of a renovation in 1901. We assumed they just removed the back porch, but I guess it was a whole new house! 😀 I’m planning to have a copy of the original floor plan framed, and give it along with your book to my husband for his upcoming birthday. We’re very excited to own such a “cool” house, and knowing the history of Barber’s designs and catalog company really adds to it.
I will definitely email you re: other upstate Barber homes. We are new to the region, and a house treasure hunt would be a fun way to get to know it.
Hello– We recently purchased a home in Corning, NY, and were told it was designed by Barber. The listing actually said it was featured in Architectural Ragtime, but I can’t find any mention of the home! Wikipedia claims it was MD3 #37, but I can’t find any other confirmation. City records indicate it was built in 1874, which seemed early for a Barber home? I was wondering if you might be able to verify this info. The listing includes recent pictures: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/308-W-Pulteney-St-Corning-NY-14830/32563354_zpid/ (we are right around the corner from the other Corning, NY house featured on this site!)
Thanks much. I very much enjoyed the book, regardless of whether my house is in it! 🙂
Thanks for the comment and congratulations on the purchase of this important home. I can assure you that your home is most definitely an example of a George Barber designed home. As for the real estate listing, I think the real estate agent meant to infer that the Barber design used for this home was featured in “Architectural Ragtime”, not the home itself. Regarding the city records recording a construction year of 1874, I have two theories on this. First and foremost, this house, as constructed according to the Barber design, was not built in 1874. It was more likely built between 1895 and 1900. So my theories regarding the 1874 year go like this. Perhaps a house on that site that was originally constructed in 1874, was later substantially renovated in the late 1890’s according to plans created by Barber? This would account for the city’s record of that year. Or, perhaps the 1874 year of construction is merely a typo for 1894, as the difference between a 7 and a 9 is minimal when considering hand written documentation? And even an 1894 year of construction would be suspect as that is the year before the first Barber publication to include that particular design. Either way, your home as it exists right now, was not built in 1874. Perhaps the only way to find a definitive year of construction would be for you to do a deed search within the county deed records? Let me know if you undertake that effort and come up with a more plausible year of construction.
You may be interested to learn that there are Barber house examples all over upstate NY. If you are ever interested in a Sunday drive, I can share with you some destinations in your regional area. Just email me at [email protected] and I will set you up.
Glad you enjoyed the book. Your home never made it into the book as the manuscript was written quite a few years ago. Perhaps there will be a supplemental edition in the future that will include your beautiful home?
Kind regards,
Hi , we bought & moved into our Victorian home 4 months ago and are curious as to whether it could be a George Barber home.
Details:
1250 Byron St., Huntington, IN 46750.
Built in 1904, original owner John Thoney.
Link to recent photos: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1250-Byron-St_Huntington_IN_46750_M40624-81864#photo0
Hi Chris. The last time we corresponded, I had just bought Architectural Ragtime. I’ve been in it a 100 times. You previously provided some info and pics for a presentation I made in Florida.
Drove past this house recently in Millersburg, Ohio.
484 Wooster Road
Millersburg, OH 44654
https://www.holmeshistory.com/victorian-house
It’s owned by the local historical society and is run as a museum. The build date is contemporary to GFB and the front view implies some similar influences. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Tom, it is not one I recognize immediately, but I agree it does share some similarities with Barber’s work. I will dig a little deeper into this one and post another comment if I can come to any conclusions here. Thanks for posting this one.