Mid-West 1860's school house...

19 years ago

First time I have stopped by here. Read many of the existing posts and found all quite interesting.

Our home was originally a private school built in 1868. I realize that as a school it would not have had "flower" gardens, however we are adding gardens. We are contemplating adding a cottage-type garden along the side by the street. We have been searching for pictures of garden fences that might be appropriate for the time. We know from an article in a local paper that the school did indeed have a fence, as the paper mentioned the fence being completed. We have been unable to find any pictures of our home prior to the 1960's. (Where did 100 years of pictures go?)

This picture was taken in the late 1980's and much has since been done to restore the house. It is considered a local historical site and we could register it, but we decided not to as we would then be restricted on what we could do.

{{gwi:1187732}}
We thought perhaps some type of picket fence? Any suggestions?

Mary Lu

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Comments (16)

SandL
19 years ago
I can't tell if your house is made of brick based on the picture, but I was thinking that a brick wall going around the house would look awesome. To make it look like it has been there for years you could use brick that has been tumbled and in different shades of reds, blacks and brown. It would go great with your idea of a cottage garden. You could also grow honeysuckle vines or some other flowering vine (wysteria comes to mind) along with wall too.
What a great house you have!! I love old houses like that.

Heather
mary_lu_gw
Original Author
19 years ago
Heather,
Yes the house is mostly brick. We considered brick for a fenceline, but thought it might be too heavy with that much brick.
Am including a more current picture taken this summer. Hope it helps to give a better idea of the direction we are moving or trying to achieve.
{{gwi:1187733}}
Mary Lu
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inkognito
19 years ago
Most picket fences that are made today are really simple with two crossmembers attached to posts and then the pickets are fixed leaving a gap between them. Earlier it was not uncommon for the gap to be filled with intermediate pieces that made a pattern and I think this style might be what you are looking for. The turret would make an appropriate motif.
Let me see if I can explain without a picture: The fence is about 3' 6" high the pickets are 3" - 4 " wide they have a bluntes point at the top, making a shape like one panel of the turret. There is a gap of the same width as the picket there are two intermediate pickets, half the height, that go in the gap one above the other. These intermediates are flat at one end but the other end has a notch cut in of the same shape as the turret, when placed one above the other, the bottom one with the notch on top and the top one with the notch on the bottom this makes a hole shaped like one panel of the turret and its reflection i.e. a flat ended diamond. Paint it the same grey as the house with the inside of the diamond and the sides of the picket tops painted dull brick red.
HomeMaker
19 years ago
What a fabulous house! I am absolutely GREEN!
If you are still undecided, here are a few options that might inspire you.

Maybe a combination of brick and picket (this one has stone on the bottom)?
{{gwi:1187734}}

Wrought iron?
{{gwi:1187735}}

Pickets (could be green to match your house)?
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Split rail (kinda too country for your house IMHO)?
{{gwi:1187737}}

Hope you find these useful.
mary_lu_gw
Original Author
19 years ago
INKognito...thank you for your suggestion, but I have to 'fess up. I just can't quite picture what you described for a fence. Sorry if I seem dense! It does sound like it would be charming. I have not come across a fence like that yet during my research. (at least I don't think I have) Oh, it is hard to tell, but the trim on the house is a sagey green.(or as my DH calls it "grandma green!") Had thought to paint the fence the same color?

homey...thanks for the mock ups. I have seen some of the others you have done for various posters. Great job! I appreciate your taking the time to do the same for me.

Like the idea of brick/picket combined....but DH does not. We had considered wrought iron, but if we did wrought iron, we would want it to be period, and have you seen the prices of "antique" iron fences? (Actually looking back at your mockups, I like the iron the best!)

I think we will probably go with some kind of picket fence. However, I had not realized how many styles of picket fence there are!! Once I started researching fences, I was amazed. DH is thinking of building the fence with posts to somewhat mimic the bottom of the dining room porch posts, as the fence will be on that side of the house. He thinks that would possibly help to tie it all together?

Please ignore the green lawn chairs on the porch. I haven't found the right old chairs to put there yet. Also we have a period sceen door, but just haven't gotten it hung yet as we need to put new screening on it. Getting so late in the year, will probably wait until next year.
{{gwi:1187739}}
Mary Lu
ginny12
19 years ago
What a charming house with so many interesting details. It is great that you are saving it. I was going to suggest iron as a true Victorian solution. Cast iron might be heavy looking--and expensive, as you mention. But there are lighter, wire fences that would be appropriate and cheaper. You would have to hunt for a source on Google or thru a magazine like Old House Journal.
Saypoint zone 6 CT
19 years ago
Really adorable house! I agree with you that an iron fence would be my first choice, but the cost would be huge. A well-crafted wood picket fence would also be nice, whether plain or fancy.
If I understand Ink's description, it would be a fence with decorative cutouts in every other picket that echoed the shape of the tops of the remaining pickets, resulting in two pieces if the cutouts went all the way thru. These were often used on Victorian porch railings as well, and I think the look would be very appropriate for your house, if a bit labor intensive. If you are handy and have a band saw, you could make this type of picket yourself.
Jo
SandL
19 years ago
Okay, here I am again. It takes me a while to get back to these posts. I was looking at homemaker's computer renditions and LOVE the split rail fence with the flowers intwined around it. It seems to fit the feel of your house.

I had also thought of the wrought iron fence, but now that I see what it would look like, I think it is too modern.
Picket fences seem to suite Victorian styled homes better than colonial types (which is what it seems you have).

If you are going for a more cottagy feel, I think the split-rail fence or the brick would be great. Ultimately, though, the decision rests on what you want this fence to do and your own personal tastes. So many decisions!!

Heather

P.S. How about adorandack (sp?) chairs for your front porch? Those have a period feel to them too.
mjsee
19 years ago
I wouldn't do adirondack chairs for the front porch....too rustic. Also--Adirondack style didn't come into play until the (late?) 1890's...don't knwo how "period" you want to go. I think wicker would be period...and more in keeping with the scale of the porch.

If you want to cheat--get the all weather wicker. LOTS of places have it these days, and it's quite comfortable.

BUT that's just my NOT so humble opinion.

And I would investigate some of the black "wrought-iron-LOOK" fences; I think some of the pre-fab ones look OK--and are relatively reasonable. (Or so I hear--haven't actually PRICED one!)

Have included a link to Lowes fencing page--perhaps you can enquire about the polymer product (scroll down.)

melanie

Here is a link that might be useful: Polymer
schoolhouse_gw
19 years ago
Mary Lu, have you visited the Old House forum yet? There are two of us who own schoolhouses on that forum, we love to talk about them! I absolutely LOVE yours! And that front porch, is to die for.
I like the wrought iron fence idea or the picket.
mary_lu_gw
Original Author
19 years ago
Schoolhouse...no, I didn't know about it! Just took a quick peek! I will be back to visit and read soon.
Mary Lu
MegNYC
19 years ago
That house is to die for!
If it were mine, I'd use fencing that mimics the 'balustrade' (is that the right word?) of the top of the front porch.
tressa
19 years ago
Although I am from California, my grandmother built a house in the early 1900s similar to your schoolhouse. It was red brick (made on site)and the fence was somewhat like homemaker's first mock-up - wood fencing between brick pillars; however, the wood ran diagonal - more like the split-rail look.

Your house is just beautiful. Please post pictures after you add the fencing!
mary_lu_gw
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks everyone. We love our old house and consider that we are its keepers, not owners. I like the idea of mimicing the front porch, but don't think DH would like the idea of building the fence! :o)

As it is getting so close to winter now, this project will probably end up waiting until spring. Darn.

But thanks for all the good ideas to think about. Will post a picture next spring when we get it done.
Mary Lu
manda_2008
16 years ago
Hello,

For some reason I can't see the pic of the house. Could you send it to me? Thanks

mandav
mary_lu_gw
Original Author
16 years ago
Wow! Didn't think this post was anywhere around anymore!
Sorry mandav, I reorganized my online photo albums quite some time ago, so that is why the pictures are not showing up.

To update everyone, we did build a picket fence in spring of '05 and did create a garden along the side walk. We only went part way with the fence, but are hoping to finish it to the corner and then built a low stone wall around the corner next spring. I already started the flower bed to the corner last spring. Within the corner (behind the stone wall) we will build some type of arch and mount an 1859 bronze school bell that we purchased last year.

This picture was taken in 2005. The fence is built out of cedar and we have left it to weather without painting or staining it.

I will link to my web page below if you would like to see more pictures. The pages for 2005, 2006 and 2007 should have some pictures where you can see the fence as it ages and the flower bed as it fills in.
Marylu

Here is a link that might be useful: Our Gardens

Mid-West 1860's school house...

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