William J. Rotch Gothic Cottage facts for kids
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William J. Rotch Gothic Cottage
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | New Bedford, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1845 |
| Part of | County Street Historic District (ID76000229) |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000236 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 17, 2006 |
| Designated CP | August 11, 1976 |
The William J. Rotch Gothic Cottage is a special old house located at 19 Irving Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was built in 1845. This cottage is a great example of the Gothic Revival style. A famous architect from New York City, Alexander Jackson Davis, designed it.
The house was built for William J. Rotch. His family was one of the most important whaling families in New Bedford. The cottage is famous for two main reasons: its amazing design by Davis and its connection to the Rotch family. It became a National Historic Landmark in 2006. This house is one of the few Gothic cottage designs by Davis that still exist. It also has special features not found in his other designs. The cottage was even shown in a book called The Architecture of Country Houses in 1850. This made it very well-known and a classic example of the style.
Contents
What is Gothic Revival Style?
The Gothic Revival style was popular in the 1800s. It brought back ideas from medieval Gothic buildings. Think of old castles and cathedrals with pointed arches and fancy decorations.
- This style often includes steep roofs.
- It uses decorative trim called "vergeboard" along the edges of gables.
- Windows often have a tall, narrow shape, sometimes with pointed tops.
- The goal was to make homes look romantic and charming, like something from a storybook.
Who was William J. Rotch?
The Rotch family played a huge role in the history of whaling in the United States. They helped New Bedford become a major center for whaling.
- William Rotch, Jr., who was William J. Rotch's grandfather, started the family's whaling business in the late 1700s.
- The land where the cottage stands was once a country part of the family's large estate in New Bedford.
- William J. Rotch received the house and land as a gift from his grandfather.
- He then hired Alexander Jackson Davis to design his new home.
The Cottage's Design
The William J. Rotch Gothic Cottage has a unique shape. It looks a bit like the letter "L".
- The main part of the house has a hip roof, which slopes on all four sides.
- Another section is a bit taller and has a steeply sloped gable roof. A gable roof has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge.
- The outside of the house is covered with smooth, flat wooden boards. The roof is made of wood shingles.
- The house was moved a short distance on its original property in 1908.
- The area around the house used to be open countryside. Now, it's filled with other houses.
- The taller part of the house sticks out and holds the main entrance. It has beautiful, hand-carved wooden decorations called vergeboard.
- On each side of this sticking-out section, there are two small windows called gabled dormers. These have Gothic-style windows. The Rotch family added these later to make the upstairs bedrooms brighter.
- Inside, the house has elegant decorations that are typical of the Gothic Revival style.
Why is it Important?
The William J. Rotch Gothic Cottage is important for several reasons.
- It is a rare example of a Gothic Revival cottage designed by Alexander Jackson Davis.
- It shows the wealth and importance of the Rotch family in New Bedford's whaling history.
- Its inclusion in a famous book helped spread the popularity of the Gothic Revival style.
- It was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it's a very special historic place in the United States.
