Historic Homes in The Lehigh Valley

If you’ve ever taken a drive in the Lehigh Valley you have seen a mixture of new and older homes. Many of the older homes in the area were created with a similar architectural style that new homes often mimic. The decorate elements of historic homes are often detailed and ornate making them fascinating to look at. The mixture of architectural styles leans heavily toward the ornate with homes often showcasing detailed and unique decorative fixtures. Here are a few of the ornamental elements that you can find in a historic Lehigh Valley home…how many have you seen?

Widow’s Walk

Have you ever seen a small, flat, seemingly fenced area on the top of a roof? This is called a widow’s walk. These were spaces used by the wives of sailors to watch for their loved ones returning from sea. These are most often found on homes along the coast but the style has traveled inland and can be found on some styles of older homes.

Finials

A significant aspect of historical architecture is decoration. Finials are the ornament often found at the apex of a gable roof. You can also find examples of finials on the tops of fencing on the main support beams. The roof finials are often pointy and thought to have been used to ward off witches from landing on the roof. You can find roof finials of a myriad of styles all over the Lehigh Valley.

Bargeboard

Also called vergeboard or gingerbread, bargeboard is the ornamental board that frames the peak of a gable roof. They are often triangular in shape and feature ornate designs. These decorative elements are generally white and look like they belong on a gingerbread home, hence the name.

Dentils

If you’ve ever seen architectural detailing that looks like teeth you have likely seen dentils. Dentils are a piece of Greek architecture brought in to enhance historic American homes. They are a series of rectangles used to decorate cornices and often look like teeth. You can find plenty of dentils Nazareth, College Hill and Bethlehem.

Door Lights

Door lights are not lights but small windows that decorate the area around a front door. You can often find door lights in a fan shape at the top of a doorway or in a rectangle on top and beside a doorway. In Renaissance Classical homes the door lights can be extremely ornate and detailed. You can find many homes with door lights in Bethlehem and Easton.

Turrets and Pinnacles

Have you ever seen an older home that looks kind of like a castle? That is because they often have decorative turrets and pinnacles. Turrets are a section of roof that is cone-shaped and the pinnacle is the spire on top. These can be seen in medieval or medieval inspired homes. You can see a lot of these in Bethlehem and College Hill.

Have a question about the Lehigh Valley? Contact our Home Team today.