Comment by David

July 23, 2009 @ 6:55 am

Droool. Property taxes of only $2400? Heaven!

Comment by The Freeholder

July 23, 2009 @ 12:53 pm

You know, for a guy who designed such great guns, that is a sincerely ugly house.

Comment by theirritablearchitect

July 24, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

Mr.Williamson,

I’m sure that the “ugly” factor you are referencing has more to do with the era in which the house was constructed than any design that may have been dictated by Mr. Browning. In this case, I’m guessing by the dark, heavy stone work and arched windows that it’s an 1890’s design (possibly slightly later), which would have put it squarely within the style popularized by H.H. Richardson, known as Richardsonian Romanesque, of that period. It’s pretty clear to me that Browning hired an architect who was either a toady or willing imitator of Richardson.

As with most architecture in this country, styles have been run around and made popular by ceratin cliques, only to be shunned a short time later by those same hordes. It’s often like current clothes fashion, what’s in one season is looking very dated in a year of two.

The house is a bit much for my taste, and I’d never own it, but it’s pretty representative of the period, FWIW.