rural architecture : maine
CAPE COD HOUSE
The Maine farmer built the Cape Cod style house when his farmstead had developed beyond the stage of the original
log cabin. The form of the Cape Cod house originated in the 17th Century when early Puritan colonists to North America
needed a simple home which they adapted from the English hall-and-parlor house. The single story house has a rectangular
plan, a steep roof to shed the New England winter snow, and a large central chimney. The exterior siding was cedar shingles
or clapboards, often unpainted. The ornamentation was simple. Entry into the house was through a single door with a
transom window and flanked by multi-paned windows with wooden shutters. Various types of this style evolved over time.
The term Cape Cod House was used by Yale president Timothy Dwight after he had visited the peninsula and viewed many of
these homes.
log cabin. The form of the Cape Cod house originated in the 17th Century when early Puritan colonists to North America
needed a simple home which they adapted from the English hall-and-parlor house. The single story house has a rectangular
plan, a steep roof to shed the New England winter snow, and a large central chimney. The exterior siding was cedar shingles
or clapboards, often unpainted. The ornamentation was simple. Entry into the house was through a single door with a
transom window and flanked by multi-paned windows with wooden shutters. Various types of this style evolved over time.
The term Cape Cod House was used by Yale president Timothy Dwight after he had visited the peninsula and viewed many of
these homes.
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The size of the Cape Cod House evolved over time and was documented in four categories:
1: The "quarter Cape" had a single bay, a single door, and one window.
2: The "half Cape" had two bays, a single door on one side, and one window on the other side.
3: The "three-quarter Cape" had two bays, a single door with two windows on one side and one window on the other side.
4: The "full Cape" had two bays, and a single door with two windows on both sides of the door.
There were two plan layouts: The one room deep plan had a narrow width of between 15 & 20 feet and included two spaces separated by the chimney. One space was the "hall" which contained the kitchen and was the center of family life. The other
more formal space was the "parlor" which was often used as the master bedroom. The two-room deep plan had a width of
between 25 & 35 feet, with the normal two spaces in the front section and three rooms behind the chimney. A fireplace was
located in the main section at the back, with two small adjoining rooms for storage and/or a small bedroom.
A basement provided space for storage and protected food from freezing. Dormers were later added for space, light, and
ventilation. Single story ells were often added to the rear of the main structure, also to provide more space. This was the
beginning of the "big house, little house, back house, barn" era. Another development was the addition of a second story
which could be afforded by the most successful settlers. A later modification placed two chimneys on the gable ends.
1: The "quarter Cape" had a single bay, a single door, and one window.
2: The "half Cape" had two bays, a single door on one side, and one window on the other side.
3: The "three-quarter Cape" had two bays, a single door with two windows on one side and one window on the other side.
4: The "full Cape" had two bays, and a single door with two windows on both sides of the door.
There were two plan layouts: The one room deep plan had a narrow width of between 15 & 20 feet and included two spaces separated by the chimney. One space was the "hall" which contained the kitchen and was the center of family life. The other
more formal space was the "parlor" which was often used as the master bedroom. The two-room deep plan had a width of
between 25 & 35 feet, with the normal two spaces in the front section and three rooms behind the chimney. A fireplace was
located in the main section at the back, with two small adjoining rooms for storage and/or a small bedroom.
A basement provided space for storage and protected food from freezing. Dormers were later added for space, light, and
ventilation. Single story ells were often added to the rear of the main structure, also to provide more space. This was the
beginning of the "big house, little house, back house, barn" era. Another development was the addition of a second story
which could be afforded by the most successful settlers. A later modification placed two chimneys on the gable ends.
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The house was constructed with mortise-and-tenon framing. The main members were of hand-hewn oak timber and the studs
and braces of either hand-hewn or sawed lumber. The large chimney was built of either stone or brick. Floors were of wide wood planks. The interior walls were normally plastered.
and braces of either hand-hewn or sawed lumber. The large chimney was built of either stone or brick. Floors were of wide wood planks. The interior walls were normally plastered.
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Contact: frederick@biebesheimer.com
