Greek Revival Style: 1825-1860

The ancient Greek temple inspired American Greek Revival architecture. Massive cornices and columns distinguish Greek Revival details from their similar earlier Federal style neighbors. Greek Revival architecture flourished in those states with the largest population growth during this thirty-five year period with New York State experiencing the most growth.

When the Erie Canal was completed in 1825 it opened up the NY state western frontier to new settlers from the east and to the prevailing eastern home building style of Greek Revival architecture. Fairport, along with many other communities along the Erie Canal, owe their existence to commerce conducted on the canal. It is no surprise then that Greek Revival is a common house style in Fairport and indeed the rest of the state.

Features of 106 Hulburt Rd. common for this style; frieze band windows, decorative grills, wide cornice band, door with side Lights, 6 over 6 windows, and corner pilasters

Characteristic Details:

Form

One and a half or two story front gable facades with a side entrance is common. 79 West Avenue and 42 West Street are good examples of this style.

Structures with one side wing are prevalent. Two side wings less so. 10 Clinton Place is a good example of a house with two side wings. The wings as 177 South Main Street are not original but blend well with the style of the original structure.

Roofs and Cornice

Roofs were either hipped or gabled with a wide band of trim under the main roof called the cornice. This is often decorated with small windows covered by a grille. At the gable end the cornice can extend across the entire width to form a full pediment or it can be discontinuous across the gable front and extend only a few feet into the facade. This combination of a decorated cornice and a front gable facade is the most common feature of Greek Revival houses within the Village. Sometimes pediments are used as decorative features in the roof line as can be seen at 205 South Main Street and 24 West Street.

Property at 110 Hulburt has porches that are one story and supported by classical columns

Porch

Mainly one story, often with a wide cornice and supported by classical columns. Because the Greek Revival homes in Fairport are considered vernacular (of local design) the columns are usually square. The home pictured above is located at 110 Hulburt Road. 42 and 25 West Street and 79 West Avenue show square columns.A full pediment may occur at the top of the porch roof.

Doorways

Characterized by narrow sidelights and a rectangular transom over the top of the door frame. Sometimes doorways are recessed with half columns, pilasters or wide cornices decorating the entry. A recessed doorway with half columns can be seen at 62 West Avenue and pilasters are located at the front house corners at 106 Hulburt Avenue.

Windows

6 panes over 6 panes will be seen on most of the Greek Revival houses within the Village. Also common for this style are the frieze band windows with decorative grills on a wide cornice band.

Home at 33 East Church Street was built 1930-50.
It has a broken pediment and frieze band windows

This home, built 1840-1850 was moved from the canal to South Main and then to its current location at 10 Clinton Place