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 CAPE COD COLONIAL
Key Distinguishing Characteristics
This is a small , symmetrical 1 ½ story, compact house
with a central entrance. The roof is the steep gable covered with shingles. The
authentic types have low central chimneys, but end chimneys are very common in
the new versions. Bedrooms are on the first floor. The attic may be finished
into additional bedrooms and a bath. A vine-covered picket fence is traditional.
Other Distinguishing Characteristics
Traditionally, exterior walls were white
clapboard, natural shingles or brick; modern versions have exterior walls made
of a wide variety of materials
Simple double-hung windows
Shutters the same length as the windows
Simple cornice with gutters immediately above the
first-floor windows
Easy to build, maintain and heat
Inherent in the design is the necessity to walk through one
room to reach another
History
The Cape Cod Colonial is the earliest dwelling type
built by the American colonists that still is popular today. The early Cape Cod
was very crude. It usually had one room on the first floor and a sleeping loft
above. The modern version was the most popular house style in the U.S. from the
1920s through the 1950s.
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