Southern KY Home Purchase 1870’s-1890’s?

[troyarnoldang]

Hello, so glad I found this site. My wife and I purchased this home recently. Let me introduce the Powell Place it is believed to be built between 1860 to 1890. The deed wasn't first recorded until 1890. The home is located in rural south central KY right on the TN state line. The previous owners we purchased it from worked really hard the last few years restoring the home. Not really sure what style the home is. Have been told a its italianate. We currently don't have any projects planned other than the normal maintenance to preserve the home just like it is.

[Gothichome]

Hello Troy, I would call the core of the home Georgen with a ting of the gothic creeping in in the two front bays. The section to the rear of the front elevation would that be an early addition, expanding the homes size. Colonial may be able to pin it down closer but I see absolutely no Italiante influences, at least with my understanding of Italiante.

[1918ColonialRevival]

Welcome! That looks like a nice piece of property you have!

19th Century farmhouses, especially those in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and western Virginia can be difficult to categorize. I tend to call most of them Folk Victorians, as they borrow elements from pretty much all styles popular in the second half of the 19th Century. Some would call it Vernacular, but I've always felt that's a very generic term.

I agree with Gothichome for the most part - the core structure of the house is more of a Georgian Colonial style; however, I may see some slight Italianate influence in the cornice design under the roof. The windows with the arched upper sash also have a minor Italianate influence, as some true Italianates had windows of similar shape. But that's about where it ends. People would build farmhouses and dress them up in all kinds of different trim.

The long rectangular area on the right rear of the house when facing it looks like it started life as a porch and was enclosed later on.

Given the styling of the house and the way trends ran in that area, I would say 1870s to maybe the first half of the 1880s would be a good estimate on when the house was built. I think the 1890 deed is probably just the earliest recorded instance of the property changing hands.

[mjt]

The long shot up the lawn to the front of the house is stunning!