Alpheus Gay House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Alpheus Gay House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 184 Myrtle St., Manchester, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Built by | Gay, Alpheus |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001682 |
| Added to NRHP | March 9, 1982 |
The Alpheus Gay House is a special old home located at 184 Myrtle Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. It was built around 1870 by Alpheus Gay, who was a local builder. This house is known for being one of the most fancy Italianate style homes in New Hampshire.
For a while, the house was owned by the Currier Gallery of Art, which is a nearby art museum. Now, it is a private home again. Because of its history and unique style, the Alpheus Gay House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This list helps protect important historical places across the country.
Contents
What Does the Alpheus Gay House Look Like?
The Alpheus Gay House is in a neighborhood with many homes, just northeast of downtown Manchester. It stands at the corner of Myrtle and Beach streets.
Building Style and Features
- Size: The house is 2½ stories tall. This means it has two full floors and a smaller half-floor, often in the attic space.
- Material: It is made of wood. The outside walls are covered with smooth, flat boards.
- Roof: The roof has pointed sections, called gables.
- Tower: A cool three-story tower rises above the main front door.
- Details: The roof has decorative blocks called brackets. These are often seen in Italian-style buildings. The servants' wing, which was a part of the house where staff worked, has smaller decorative blocks called modillions.
- Entrance: The main entrance has a porch. This porch has square posts and pretty arches.
- Windows: The windows are all different shapes. Some have rounded tops, while others have pointed or flat tops with decorative ledges.
Attached Carriage House
A carriage house is connected to the eastern side of the main house. In the past, people kept horse-drawn carriages here. This building has simple wooden siding. Its style matches the main house, but it is less fancy.
History of the Alpheus Gay House
The Alpheus Gay House was built around 1870. It was the personal home of Alpheus Gay, who was a well-known builder in the area.
Design Inspiration
The design of the house seems to have been inspired by famous architects like Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux. They were known for promoting the "Italian villa" style. This style was popular for its grand look and decorative details. The Alpheus Gay House is a great example of this style, even though it was built a bit later than some other Italian villas.
Changes Over Time
Since it was built, the house has not changed much. This means it still looks very similar to how it did when Alpheus Gay lived there. This helps us see what homes looked like in the late 1800s.
