Cottage Souvenirs

Author: Christopher DiMattei

  • George T. Alger Residence

    George T. Alger Residence

    60 E. Fassett St. Wellsville, NY

    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger Residence, Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    alt text Photo of the George T. Alger residence in Wellsville, NY
    George T. Alger Residence – Southwest Corner
    George T. Alger Residence – Northwest Corner
    George T. Alger Residence – North Facade
    George T. Alger Residence – Northeast Corner
    George T. Alger Residence – Stair Hall
    George T. Alger Residence – Stair Hall
    George T. Alger Residence – Parlor from Stair Landing
    George T. Alger Residence – Parlor View
    George T. Alger Residence – Dining Room
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    The George T. Alger residence is a beautifully maintained “custom” design that exemplifies Barber’s artistic taste and design philosophy. It is a “must see” for any Barber house enthusiast. This design, although not published, was also used to construct a similar example for Mr. David A. Davis in Laurens, South Carolina. The Davis house was constructed first, so this example reflects some changes to the design likely to have come from a Barber & Alger collaboration. Barber also employed the use of the same tower finial as the one he created for the Joy house in Keokuk, Iowa, built around the same timeframe as the Davis house in Laurens. This home is truly remarkable and the current homeowner is to be commended for her respect and care for this gem.

  • Unknown Residence

    Unknown Residence

    38 Broadway Fonda, NY

    alt text Photo of a Fonda, NY Victorian.
    alt text Architect's sketch of design 128.
    alt text Photo of a Fonda, NY house.
    alt text Photo of a Fonda, NY residence.
    alt text Photo of a Fonda, NY home.
    alt text Photo of residence in Fonda, NY
    Fonda, NY Residence – Catalog View
    Architects Sketch Design 128
    Fonda, NY Residence – Front View
    Fonda, NY Residence – Left Side View
    Fonda, NY Residence – Tower View
    Fonda, NY Residence – Right Side View
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    The Victorian house at 38 Broadway in Fonda, NY is a beautifully maintained example of design 128, as published in Barber’s 1892 pattern book entitled, “The Cottage Souvenir No. 2, Revised and Enlarged”. This home features a different style tower than what Barber published for this design, which gives it a taller, more prominent focal point as you approach the house, heading north on NY 30A. Unfortunately, I did not get into this gem to see the interior, but someday soon, I hope.

  • Unknown Residence

    Unknown Residence

    252 W. William St. Corning, NY

    alt text Photo of the house located at 252 W. William Street in Corning, NY
    alt text Architect's illustration of design 28, as published in "The Cottage Souvenir No. 2, Revised & Enlarged".
    alt text Photo of the house located at 252 W. William Street in Corning, NY
    alt text Photo of the house located at 252 W. William Street in Corning, NY
    alt text Photo of the house located at 252 W. William Street in Corning, NY
    Unknown Residence, Corning, NY, Catalog View
    Barber’s illustration of Design 28, Cottage Souvenir Revised & Enlarged
    Unknown Residence, Corning, NY, Front View
    Unknown Residence, Corning, NY, Corner View
    Unknown Residence, Corning, NY, Side View
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    This historic house at 252 W. William Street in Corning, NY is a beautiful example of design 28, as published in Barber’s 1892 pattern book entitled, “The Cottage Souvenir No. 2, Revised and Enlarged”. Miraculously, this home retains much of its original character, at least on the exterior. The interior could be a different story as this home currently serves as a rental unit, perhaps multiple rental units. Still, this home could be a wonderful restoration and preservation project, located in a nice residential neighborhood. If only I could find a billionaire who cared more about historic architecture, than say, littering space with useless automobiles. If only . . .

  • Theodore J. Hook Residence

    Theodore J. Hook Residence

    904 N. George St. Rome, NY

    alt text Photo of the Theodore J. Hook Residence.
    alt text Architect's sketch of the front elevation of Design 23
    alt text Photo of the Theodore J. Hook Residence.
    alt text Photo of the first example of design 39, built in Knoxville, TN
    alt text Photo of the Theodore J. Hook Residence.
    alt text Photo of the Theo. J. Hook residence, Rome, NY
    Front view of the Theo. J. Hook Residence
    Front elevation sketch of Design 39, Cottage Souvenir No. 2
    Catalog view of the Theo. J. Hook Residence
    Published photo of Design 39, Cottage Souvenir No. 2
    Side view of the Theo. J. Hook Residence
    Corner view of the Theo. J. Hook Residence
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    The Theodore J. Hook residence in Rome, NY is another example of a Barber design that appealed to the rising middle class of home owners, in the early 1890’s. Mr. Hook was a fire insurance agent at a time where fire was the principal risk to property. This design experienced a rather short period of popularity, so there are precious few examples left for our study and appreciation. The exterior of this home is slightly altered but could easily be returned to its former glory. I was not able to get inside this home for interior photos. Perhaps on my next trip to upstate New York.

  • Luther Ross Dean Residence

    Luther Ross Dean Residence

    Brocton, New York

    alt text Photo of the Luther R. Dean Residence - Photo courtesy of the Chautauqua County Historical Society, Westfield, NY
    alt text Architect's illustration of Design 33, Cottage Souvenir No. 2.
    Luther R. Dean Residence – Photo courtesy of the Chautauqua County Historical Society, Westfield, NY
    Barber’s illustration of Design 33 from “The Cottage Souvenir No. 2”
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    Luther Ross Dean was a very successful businessman and farmer, being the proprietor of a vineyard and also a commercial fruit grower. He built his classic version of Barber’s design no. 33, on top of a gentle slope, set back from the northern side of Main Street. His home was striking from any distance and although the house was lost, it lives on in historic photos like this one that comes to our BLOG, courtesy of the Chautauqua County Historical Society, Westfield, NY.

  • Wilbur Aldrich Residence

    Wilbur Aldrich Residence

    Staten Island, NY

    alt text Photo of the Wilbur Aldrich residence, Staten Island, NY
    alt text Architect's illustration of design 126 from the "revised & Enlarged" edition of "The Cottage Souvenir No. 2"
    Wilbur Aldrich Residence, Staten Island, NY – Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library
    Design 126, “The Cottage Souvenir No. 2, Revised & Enlarged”
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    The Wilbur Aldrich residence was built in the “Prohibition Park” area of Staten Island, but research to date has not uncovered this home. And while it is possible that the home no longer exists, I struggle to find any evidence of a residence that was associated with Wilbur Aldrich, that resembles this design or footprint. Therefore, I speculate that perhaps this home was intended for someone else, like say a child of Aldrich that was maybe getting married around the mid 1890’s? Anyway, I consider this home MIA, until I can track it down somehow.  If anyone local to the Prohibition Park area of Staten Island recognizes this home, please comment on this page or email me with the address and any photos you can get for me. Any help along these lines would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks and happy hunting!

  • Martin T. Gunderson Residence

    Martin T. Gunderson Residence

    101 Gunderson Blvd. Kenyon, MN

    Martin T. Gunderson Residence – Photo courtesy of Ms. Barbara Matul
    Barber published the Gunderson house in “Modern Dwellings”, using this photo of the completed residence.
    Martin T. Gunderson Residence – Photo courtesy of Ms. Barbara Matul
    Martin T. Gunderson Residence – Photo courtesy of Ms. Barbara Matul
    Stair Hall & Nook of the Martin T. Gunderson Residence – Photo courtesy of Ms. Barbara Matul
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    The Martin T. Gunderson house is a spectacularly maintained house museum that currently serves as the location of the Kenyon Area Historical Society. The KAHS loves and cares for this gem. House tours are scheduled regularly so the house is accessible to the public. Trust me, if you are within 100 miles of Kenyon, you owe it to yourself to visit this home, and when you do, please support the KAHS. This Barber design borrows the corner box bay and tower combination from his earlier published design no. 128, seen in the revised edition of “The Cottage Souvenir No. 2”. This house began to appear in Barber’s post-fire publications like the “Modern Dwellings” series of pattern books.

  • Barney Burton Residence

    Barney Burton Residence

    606 First Street SE Little Falls, MN

    Barney Burton Residence – Photo courtesy of the Morrison County Historical Society
    Barber’s illustration, as published in the 3rd edition of “Modern Dwellings”
    Barney Burton Residence – Photo courtesy of Tom Ringold
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    Barney & Josephine Burton built a smaller version of Barber’s design 01, as published in the third edition of the “Modern Dwellings” series of pattern books. This classic colonial home currently serves as the Welcome Center for the Little Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau, so it should be generally accessible to the public. If so, I would love for someone local to shoot some interior photos of this home for me, so I can add the photos to this post. If you are willing to help me out in this regard, please comment below. Mr. Burton was the proprietor of a clothing and dry goods store, making him a very typical (rising middle class) client of George Barber.

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