319 Mansfield

The visible, front section of the house was built by a local doctor in 1861 in the center of a one acre lot. He used the front parlor for meeting with patients. The original house had a stable in the rear, an outhouse, and probably at least one exterior building for servants. The rear wing of the house was added in 1888 and included both a kitchen and quarters for a servant.

The house retains all of its original leaded glass windows. The woodwork around the front door and the front windows is all original, and has recently been repainted. The windows had shutters, and future plans include restoring these to the house. The front door originally had a smaller stoop around it.

By 1938, the house was falling into disrepair. The building was purchased, the property was subdivided into multiple lots, and the house was remodeled into an upstairs/downstairs duplex. The owners lived in one apartment and rented out the other for 65 years. The large wrap-around porch was added at this time. The original slate roof was replaced by a shingle roof.

This unique home was purchased by its current owner in 2003, at which time it was rezoned as a single occupancy home. The front brick sidewalk was installed in 2005. The front porch has been recently rebuilt, retaining the framing and footprint of the porch from 1938.

Visitors frequently argue about the architectural style of the house. Like many historic Victorian homes, the multiple phases of construction over the years led to a mixture of architectural elements. The projecting eaves and large corbels at the top, along with the triangular pediment at the front of the porch, are Italianate. The large, Roman columns on the front porch are Neoclassical. The brick construction with white trim and columns around the front door suggests the Federal style. The multiple floors with the high standing attic, as well as the multiple colors of the current paint scheme, are Victorian. These colors were selected from the Sherwin Williams historic color palette from the 1880s.

The house continues to be under renovation, and every effort is being made to preserve its beauty and unique history.