I think they are most likely structural. How bout painting them a lighter color? If you still wish. To box them in it is an easy job for someone to do ( handy man)

yeah, maybe I'll just ask a handyperson to do it. (i.e., not me.) I'd have to be sure we could really get rid of those side brackets though...

If I were replacing it, I'd absolutely use a professional (not just a handyman) and I would NOT use wood - use fiberglass. Wood posts tend to rot quickly.

good to know, anglophilia! What sort of professional would I use?

I kinda like the wrought iron in a period-kinda way.

It might be suggested to replace this with a metal post of some sort underneath, ( I think there are steel columns like in a basement inside our porch columns) rather than just boxing in the existing piece. One, that will give you an awfully fat post, and two, the post would be so square that you would have to modify the interior porch roof because the column will be a lot fatter than the beams it supports. so at least in that corner it will need to be all tied together somehow.

Hire a contractor. He will need to jack the roof up about 1/16" inch and place a brace while he removes the wrought iron and inserts the new post. Brands like TimberTech, Azek etc all have posts that will match the style of your home. Go to a good dealer, not a box store, for advice. Take along photos of your home and tell them your plans. If you are handy you could do this but it requires jacking, trimming, screwing into concrete, caulking... We used pine turned posts but they sit on matching pvc blocks made to let water run underneath and won't wick into the posts. We just didn't like the look of some of the posts that look plastic. We needed 14 so that played into our financial reality too. Good coat of primer and then two coats of paint and they work great.

Sorry, I like them!

Use a good carpenter or a contractor.

thanks everyone! I think I will call a few carpenters for their thoughts. I'll also express a preference for at least partial fiberglass or other material.

I like them too! But if you do decide to replace, you might want to consider selling them on Craigslist. They would be very nice in a garden pergola setting as well.

Purrus, I just read your other thread about building a garden trellis. This would be perfect for that!

I'd leave them alone, except for maybe painting them. They're entirely appropriate for your house.

Purrus, in some ways I agree with Writer but to me having the one lone original corner post doesn't really do much as far as paying homage. Maybe if there were more of it?

Anyway, order a full catalog from Azek. It is great fun looking at all the architectural things available.

https://azek.com/products/moulding

Here is their trim visualizer where you can upload your home picture.

https://azek.com/products/trim/column-wrap-trim

Yes, fiberglass. Not diy project but an easy handyman job. However find one who has done it b4 and ck references on those specific column projects. If your columns are structural, they just put a temporary right next to old one BEFORE removing old one, then proceed with replacement.

HST, seems like what you have would become invisible if painted same color as house. A very economical update. I think one of those pretty wraparound columns might make the column too much of a feature (chunky). The wrought iron is frilly, yet strong. Then again, big porch stairs will take center stage so wraparound column won't appear chunky.

im vacillating but I think I'm leaning towards just painting.

to me having the one lone original corner post doesn't really do much as far as paying homage. Maybe if there were more of it?

Is there any indication that it's just a survivor? I've seen plenty of houses from that era with just the one column like that.

Just a personal preference Writer : ) I like either a lot or none. However, one could continue that look.

The gardener in me wants to wrap 1-2-3 clematises (?) around that iron column ASAP. Or some perennial vine hardy in your area.

I actually like the column in black. But to minimize it, I'd paint it the color of the house and do as bossy suggests:

great idea,olychick! Only issue is not a lot of light...

You can grow clematis without a lot of light....or some other flowering vines. I have clematis in full sun (with shaded roots) and also with just some morning sun and bright shade the rest of the day. Which direction does the porch/door face?

Olychick, you helped me completely transform my bedroom last summer with an offhand remark about a possible layout that I had never even considered, so I am inclined to do whatever you say!

That part of the house faces north and does get bright sun in the late afternoon/early evening. Not the strongest sun, but OK. Maybe I'll try a clematis--it's not like it'd be expensive.

I have not grown this vine but I have seen it, Climbing Hydrangea. It is supposed to do well in semi shaded areas. Good luck.

I like the post as is but do think if you want a new look go with a clematis! I love climbers and the really are not hard to train and maintain. My house and step railings are covered in vines so I am probably biased.