Will County Farmhouses from a Country Mile
I love old Farmhouses. This is the beginning of an occasional series documenting many differing types of farmhouses throughout Will County. We will begin with the American Foursquare.
According to the Will County Historic Preservation Rural Structure Survery:
"The American Foursquare was introduced around 1900 and continued to be popular until the 1920s. It consists of a two to two-and-a-half story block with a roughly square floor plan with four rooms on each floor. Roofs are hipped or pyramidal, with dormer windows (hipped and gable) on at least the
front elevation and sometimes the side and rear elevations. Foursquares usually have front porches, but they may also have bay windows (some extending both stories) and one story rear additions.
Many Foursquares were built from plans developed by local lumber companies or mail order sources that
advertised in farm journals; others were purchased whole and delivered as pre-cut, ready-to-assemble
houses from Sears, Roebuck and Company or home manufacturers.
The term “American Foursquare” was coined by Clem Labine, former editor of the Old-House Journal. (Gordon, How to Complete the Ohio Historic Inventory, 137.) "
The Survey was completed by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. for the Will County Land Use Department.
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| American Foursquare Farmhouse near Peotone, Illinois Video of American Foursquare Farmhouse near Peotone, Illinois: |
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| American Foursquare Farmhouse near Manhattan, Illinois, front view |
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| American Fousquare Farmhouse near Manhattan, Illinois, rear view |
