Melrose Spotlight: the Queen Anne building style

In our architectural tour of Melrose, we now come to a misnomer: “Queen Anne.” This style began in England as a revival of elements popular during the reign of Queen Anne, but in America it evolved into a flamboyant fusion of fantastic elements that bore only passing resemblance to structures built in early 18^th century England.

Familiar to most Melrosians is 647 Main Street, the former Methodist parsonage, now Follow Your Art Community Studios. It is a study in contrasting planes and textures. The tower is the most recognizable Queen Anne element, in this case an octagon topped by a faceted dome. To the right of the tower, the third-story gable has prominent overhanging eaves, and is itself cantilevered over bay windows below. The three small casement windows give the gable a Tudor feel, and contrast with the large, double-hung panes of glass that make up the fenestration on the rest of the house. The main gable of the house is covered in fish scale shingles, whereas elsewhere there is horizontal clapboarding.  As this early postcard attests, the house’s original color was the bright yellow we see today, which was in marked contrast to the dark wood found in its interior.

At 283 Vinton Street we find a welcoming wraparound porch, fenced in with delicate spindles. The three front-facing gables bring a Classical sensibility. But most remarkable here is the varied fenestration. Most of the windows are of the typical double-hung sash type, in great contrast to the exquisite design of the windows in the center gable. That centerpiece is set off by the round window to its right, and the shell pattern carving above the three windows to its left. When we come around the corner, we find a Palladian window, a window surmounted with Georgian style scrollwork, and bay windows in two different styles. This is a glazier’s delight.

When you think of “Victorian Melrose,” chances are that you picture Queen Anne houses, in all of their exuberant colors and shapes. But there was a time not long ago when realtors struggled to sell these “ugly Victorians.” That is why we support historic preservation. What we consider ugly today might just be beloved by the next generation.