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by Jeffrey Marshall
In addition to its robust eighteenth century history, Newtown contains a rich collection of Victorian period buildings. Despite the name, there is no single Victorian style. Newtown has scores of classic examples of many Victorian-period styles such as Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne styles. Each of these styles have hallmark features. A house with cross gables and decorative bargeboard is likely to be Gothic Revival. If a house has a low pitched roof supported by heavy brackets and windows with elaborate rounded surrounds, think Italianate. A house with a boxy Mansard roof with dormers is a Second Empire structure. If you see a house with turrets, towers, wraparound porches and stained glass windows, consider it Queen Anne Style. Information about Newtown’s houses is easier to trace after the Newtown Enterprise newspaper began publication in 1868. Interestingly, contemporary period newspapers did not use the same names for styles that we use today.
Newtown has elaborate, architect-designed houses and their less-expensive carpenter-designed cousins. Philadelphia architects designed several Newtown houses while Newtown’s own local architect J. B. Chamberlain (1825-1905) designed others. The houses designed by professional architects were built mostly by the wealthy. The average middle class homeowner certainly shared the same urge to live in a fashionable Victorian house, even if they couldn't afford a professional architect. Therefore they had houses designed by a local carpenter using standard pattern books. These houses resulted not in a textbook example of the style, but a design including elements of styles that were currently fashionable among the upper crust. These houses tended to be smaller and less ornamental than the house the more wealthy could afford.
Two carpenter-builders predominated the building of houses during the Victorian period. They were Garrett B. Girton (1831-1913) and his nephew David McClanen (c1860-1946). The two men built a large percentage of all the houses, stores, churches and barns built between 1865 and 1910. Girton alone is credited with building 120 houses, stores, factories and mills, as well a large number of additions, in and around Newtown, at the time of his 70th birthday in 1901. He went on to construct more up until his death in 1913.
Perhaps the first group of Victorian Period houses were those in the 200 block of East Washington Avenue. The group of similar looking houses with Victorian Gothic cross gables were constructed between 1861 and 1872 by Hutchinson C. Girton and his brother Garret B. Girton. A similar house was built across the street in 1866.
A dramatic change to houses in the town occurred after the opening of the Worstall brickyard along Washington Avenue in 1868. Grand houses and stores, many three stories tall, were constructed over the next decade. Dr. Lettie A. Smith had a large brick house with modern conveniences and eleven bed rooms, suitable for boarders in 1872. A year later, John K. Torbert, a retired farmer from Upper Makefield, built a similar house next to Smith’s house.
Washington Avenue has several example of houses with Mansard roofs which had become fashionable. One is an ornate double house built for Samuel T. Buckman and Stephen B. Cornell. The August 17, 1869 Bucks County Intelligencer reported that the double house of Samuel T. Buckman and Stephen B. Cornell has been covered with a fine French (Mansard) roof, and now looks quite imposing. It is regarded as the finest private dwelling about Newtown. There are now some six or eight houses with French roofs in the Borough, and they seem to be liked.”
The Newtown Enterprise often followed the construction of individual houses. The April 28, 1888 edition announced that a “One of the finest houses erected in Newtown is that of Samuel C. Case, on East Washington Avenue”The house, which is built of dressed Newtown brown stone, was designed by Mr. Case with George H. Fettus, a Philadelphia architect, perfecting the plans. Garrett B. Girton was the contractor. On the first floor there are four large rooms and spacious hall. The parlor is finished in cherry, while the sitting-room and dining-room have an oil finish. All the rooms were connected by sliding doors. The kitchen was supplied with all modern conveniences, including dumb waiter, hot and cold water. A beautifully carved red oak stairway in the hall led up to the second floor. It is regarded as a very comfortably arranged dwelling in the interior and presents an imposing appearance from the outside.”
The local supply of Newtown brownstone resulted in the construction of two unique houses built of Newtown brownstone along South Chancellor Street. In 1873, Hannah Bunting had a new house featuring a Mansard roof and Romanesque arched windows built at 28 South Chancellor Street. George C. Blackfan purchased an adjoining lot the same year (32 South Chancellor Street), but did not build his ornate Mansard roof house with a tall tower until he retired from his farm in Wrightstown in 1880.
One of the houses that created a stir was the house at 205 South Chancellor Street. The April 16, 1882 Newtown Enterprise reported that H. C. Worstall would build a house at corner of Penn and Chancellor as soon as weather settled. “It will be built of brick, dashed and blocked off.” Work was delayed when a July fire at the Watson & Buckman lumberyard nearly destroyed the material for what was described as H. C. Worstall’s “new Queen Anne Cottage” that was in the mill. Worstall moved into the house at the end of March, 1883.
Between 1894 and 1895 two classic Queen Anne style houses were built at 120 and 128 North Chancellor Street by Garret B. Girton for J. C. Hutchinson and Sarah A. McCown. The Hutchinson house was described October, 1894 as “a frame structure built on a modification of the colonial style of architecture. There is nothing like it in Newtown, and Mr. Girton says ‘nothing equal to it.’ in town.”
Mrs. McCown purchased a building lot on from Samuel Willard next to J. C. Hutchinson. By December 12, 1894 Girton’s crew was working on the weather board exterior with the goal of getting the house under roof and the heater in place before the cold weather sets in. Mrs. Sarah A. McCown and niece, Miss Mamie L. Carey, moved into the house by the next April 1st.
Perhaps the most “Victorian” of streets in Newtown is North Lincoln Avenue. Here David J. McClanen built numerous large houses. In October of 1895 he began work on a new house for Edward Horne. McClanen stated that the work would be completed by February first. According to the newspaper “The drawings and plans prepared by Mr. McClanen and J. B. Chamberlin indicate a house quite different from anything else in town. It will contain ten rooms and will be supplied with hot and cold water and electric lights. The four rooms on the first floor will be so arranged that they can be one when so desired. On the southeast corner of the building there will be a tower commencing with the second floor. There will be porches in front and on the south side.”
The newspaper reported in April, 1896 that “The design of Edward Horne’s house is very different from any other residence in town and is much admired by many who have seen it…heated by hot water….piped for the use of acetylene, which will be used as soon as that new illuminant is available.” This was one of three houses McClanen was building at the same time. The houses were described as being “well built in every particular and are among the most substantial structures in town, and reflect great credit on their builder.” All were designed by Chamberlin. The second house was built for James T. Keith. Keith’s house is larger than the other two. It contained about the same number of rooms as the other houses, but they were more commodious. The third house was intended for McClanen’s own use. It was “a modern dwelling in all particulars and a credit to that section of the town of which Mr. McClanen might be styled the father, as he has built nearly all the house in that locality.” He decided to rent the house and eventually sold it to Mrs. Abbie K. Rice who, with her daughters, occupied the house.
In 1899 McClanen advertised two houses for sale. The December 31, 1899 Newtown Enterprise even had photographs of them with the notice: “For Sale. 2 NEW FRAME HOUSES, of my own building on North Lincoln Avenue, Newtown. They are finished in hard wood and have all modern improvements. Hot water heating. Electric lights. The above cuts are from photographs of these houses. Prices reasonable; part of purchase money can remain on bond and mortgages. Apply to David J. McClanen, or Horace G. Reeder, his agent.” Reeder was McClanen’s cousin Horace Girton Reeder.
Horace G. Reeder had his own new house constructed at 105 South Chancellor Street in 1895. Plans were drawn by Newtown’s own J. B. Chamberlin. The October 19, 1895 Enterprise indicated that “Horace’s house is a combination of the Queen Anne and Old Colonial styles of architecture. It contains twelve rooms and bath, will be heated by hot water, and is wired for electric lighting. The house and barn are connected by a complete system of electric bells. The house is finished in white and yellow pine with the exception of the hallways, where chestnut has been used.” Horace G. Reeder contracted his uncle Garret B. Girton for the house, and his cousin McClanen for the barn “they being respectively the lowest bidders on each”.
One of the largest Victorian period houses in Newtown is what was originally known as the Anna M. Skeer residence called “The Golden Rod.”The August 4, 1900 Newtown Enterprise noted that “the Golden Rod” was designed by architect J. Sheldon Kunkle and built by Charles Wilson of Philadelphia. “The building will be 40 by 41 feet, with verandas around three sides. A circular veranda, with tower, will be built on the southwest corner. A handsome balustrade will surmount the top of the house. When completed, the building will be the finest of its kind in town, and will be supplied with the most modern and up-to-date conveniences.”
While the Victorian Era can be considered as ending with the Queen’s death in 1901, there are a number of large houses that reflect the architecture of the era. A large house was built at 125 North Chancellor Street for J. Herman Barnsley in 1903. It was described in the April 18, 1903 Newtown Enterprise “as the most commodious dwelling in town measuring 42’ by 64’ with 16 rooms and 4 baths. It was designed by Architect Henry L. Reinhold of Philadelphia. Reinhold also designed the bell tower for St. Luke’s church and the Newtown Library.
The houses at 322 and 323 East Washington Avenue represent Newtown landmarks. In 1904 David J. McClanen began building a house for Mary T. Copper lot on northwest corner of Washington and Lincoln avenues. The architect was R. C. Luce of Philadelphia who had designed the Methodist Church on Green Street. The local newspaper prophesied that “it will be an important addition to that part of town.” The house was built on a lot formerly occupied by Robert Pidcock’s blacksmith shop. Towards the end of 1906, Garret B. Girton began building a house for William M. Watson, on his lot at the corner of Washington and Lincoln avenues. James B Chamberlin was the architect.
Newtown property owners, the borough Historical and Architectural Review Board and the Newtown Historic Association have done a remarkable job in preserving its architectural and historical legacy. It is a credit to its residents who have gone the extra mile to keep its heritage intact for all of us to enjoy.
Jeffrey Marshall is an historian and past director of the Heritage Conservancy.