The Benton County Historical Museums exhibit “This Old House”
closes Saturday. There are a lot more
interesting old houses in Benton County.
There are several ways you can see more of these houses. You could go on a free Historic Homes Trolley
tour offered at 1:00 on Saturdays during August. To get more information and to
make a reservation call 541-757-1544.
Walking tours are often offered during historic preservation month
(May). The museum also has many more photographs than could be included in the
exhibition. Here are some of my
favorites.
The Biddle house (6th and Harrison) is
a good example of a Gothic Revival house. The second photograph is a close-up
showing the gable detailing typical of this style.
Tudor Revival houses such as the Bexell house at 3009 NW Van
Buren also have steep roofs but not the elaborate carvings.
The Wilson house has some of the elaborate spindle work and
other “gingerbread” that make Queen Anne style houses fun to look at.
There a number of Italianate houses in Corvallis, but I like
this photograph of the James and Mary Martin Italianate house in Irish Bend.
Craftsman style houses have a more horizontal profile than
the types above. Many are one story or have a dormered half story like the
Hartsock house.
Riding or walking around Corvallis, you can see many other
examples of craftsman style houses.
However, probably the most common style here is the ranch house. It
seems like most of the houses north of Buchanan Street are one-story ranch
style homes. Once you enter the hillier sections of town, you start to see more
split-level ranches.
My own house is what's called a bi-level or raised
ranch. There's a rather traditional
ranch style house on top of a garage and lower level living space that's half
underground. This type also works well on a sloping lot.
By
Martha Fraundorf, Volunteer for Benton County Historical Society, Philomath,
Oregon
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