Descriptions of
Architectural Styles in the Harrison Park Area

Architectural styles often give us a clue to the tastes and values of many different periods in our history. It is important to be able to discern the differences in the styles of homes not only to be able to "categorize" a particular building, but also to be able to tell what the mood of the era was. Victorian styles were characterized by extravagant details. Intricately carved wood and stone cornices, towers, "gingerbread" porches and carefully designed clapboard exteriors are all hallmarks of the era. The mood expressed by these homes was one of pride and exuberance in the growing America of the 1800's. Homes were designed as showplaces, and each home was to be as individual on the exterior as as well as the interior. At the turn of the century, tastes began to change. People began to want to relate to "natural" things. There was a longing for simple, straight forward lifestyles away from the crowed city. People of this era began to look at the Victorian styles as "old fashioned" and pretentious. The new styles which evolved stressed the blending in of surroundings. Although homes were still showplaces, the ornate, elaborate detailing gave way to crisp, simple and natural details. American Four Square and Bungalow architecture are two resultant styles which clearly broke from Victorian traditions. At the same time new styles were expressing a changing America, there was a movement to return to our earlier heritage of Colonial times. Revivals of classic and Colonial architectural styles gained great popularity as these styles also stressed symentry and order. Revival styles include the Dutch Colonial Revival, Georgian Revival, and English Tudor Revival.

As you look at the homes in the Harrison Park area, you will see these changes in taste expressed in the styles which exist on each street. The illustrations and explanations which follow will help you to distinguish the various post-Victorian styles which abound in the Harrison Park area. More importantly, you may begin to understand the cultural impact of the architecture, as well as the individual styles which occurred during the period.

	The American Four Square The basic American Four Square has two stories, a square boxlike shape, and a low hipped roof with broad overhanging eaves. The exterior is unadorned, relying for its impact on its shape and proportion, there is usually a broad porch extending the full width of the facade. Most often, there is a dormer window in the roof facing the front. The most common siding materials are wood shingles, stucco and clapboards. A craftsman effect can be found in those Four Squares with exposed rafter ends along the eaves.
	The Bungalow The basic bungalow was a picturesque, one-story house with a low overhanging roof and broad porches. A fieldstone foundation or chimney, exposed rafter ends, knee braces under the eaves, and shingle siding often gave the bungalow a "Craftsman" effect. The example shown here has a second story and was often called a semi-bungalow. The large elephantine columns on the front porch are characteristic of many bungalows, and can be found throughout Hammond as well as the Harrison Park Area.
	The Dutch Colonial Revival The Dutch Colonial Revival house is usually two-story structure with an end chimney. Clapboard and shingle siding was often used on the exterior - many times the shingle siding was used on the upper level of the house, while the lower level featured clapboards. The most characteristic trait of these homes was the gambrel roof, shed dormer and portico entryways. Many homes of this style can be found not only in the Harrison Park Area, but also in many other older sections of Hammond.
	The Homestead The most popular style of home built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was the Homestead house. This style evolved from numerous farm houses that were common place during this era. The home is square or rectangular in shape and topped off by a simple gable roof. The lack of any "style details", such as towers or cornices, makes this structure a style unto itself.
	The Princess Anne The Princess Anne house retains the asymmetrical massing of the Queen Anne style, but the surface treatment is much simpler. The decorative, multiple bands of shingles are replaced by simple clapboards or straight art shingles. Like the Queen Anne, the Princess Anne style features an elaborate roof line, however the "gingerbread" ornaments have been removed. towers still exist, though not as elaborate, as do bays and veranda porches. Also porch no longer has the elaborate decorations of the Queen Anne porch.

Historic Homes of
Early Prominent Hammond Citizens along Hohman Avenue

Thomas Hammond Hohman Avenue and Warren Street

Frank Betz Hohman Avenue and Warren Street

Frank Deming Hohman Avenue and Waltham Street

J. G. Ibach Hohman Avenue and Ruth Street

Carl Kaufman Hohman Avenue and Ruth Street

Note: Some of the content / photos for this page was obtained from brochures distributed for the Hammond City Centennial by the Hammond Centennial Committee.

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