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[Foxxee]

General Howe, member of the British military during the Revolutionary War, spent time in these houses, recently sold, located in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

You know they’re old when the address is a crossroads.  Corner Of Rt 23 And Pawlings Road, Valley Forge, PA.

Both of these buildings were built in the 1700’s, and the listing claims that General Howe of the British Army stayed here at some point during the American War of Independence.  Price sold together for $475,000. 3/4 acre.  What a deal.  

These lovely ladies were recently listed together for $475,000.

The homes have been used for a number of different businesses over the years, most recently as an upholstery/restoration workshop and antique shop.

The Old Stone House

Known as a “Chester County Field Stone Farm House”, this house dates back to 1760-1770 with a stone addition,1810-1820. Inside are three fireplaces, original beams, deep window sills, and antique hardware/shutters.

Scattered about the houses are several styles of furniture. 

Below, the green chair may be Queen Anne or Chippendale.  Legs and feet are hidden.  I think very high backs like this are Queen Anne, but not sure. Anyone know?  Wooden chests look Chippendale made in small rural towns.  Oriental rug so often found in Colonial houses.

Wide plank wooden floors.  

It’s a fabulous period home (minus the glaringly out-of-place track lighting).  The walls and ceiling appear to have been redone.  

Furniture looks Chippendale except possibly green chair.  Can't see it's feet and legs well, but legs look straight...Chippendale. 

The problem with identifying furniture during these times is often during transition in England, American cabinetmakers incorporated both styles in one piece making it difficult to assign it to either style.

Below is an example of a dining chair below I own. (I do not own the one in the photo. I chose this photo because it is very clear allowing viewers to see the definition of the carving in the wood.)

What is it, Queen Anne or Chippendale?  

Notice it has a Queen Anne back, and seat, and Chippendale legs and ball and claw feet.  Queen Anne's reign came before the Chippendale era.  The English moved on to the next era, while Americans (not Americans, yet) were stuck in the same era, in this case, Queen Anne, but the cabinetmaker might have tried to appeal to these still favoring the Queen Anne style and those who wanted to move on to Chippendale.  

This exact reproduction below was handmade by Kindel in the United States for Winterthur.  See the Queen Anne back, seat, and Chippendale, legs and ball and claw feet.  

Chippendale chair.  See the difference on the back and squarish seat.

Queen Anne

Queen Anne back, roundish seat, and it's own unique feet.  

Camel back sofa on the left.  Red Victorian on the right?  Who knows the style opposite the camel back?  

Look at the steep narrow staircase:

Below, the tall chest or wardrobe looks kind of early American, colonial, primitive.  The other chest looks Chippendale. Can't see the feet, though.  Can't tell by the drawer handles.  

Those stairs are fun!

Upstairs

Very nice looking Chippenale tea table.  Victorian sofa and chair?

The Thatched Roof House

The thatched roof building is a pre-1750 house featuring antique hardware/shutters, an original beehive oven, a walk-in fireplace with sycamore beams, and sleeping quarters on the second floor with original fireplace.

Hearths so big you can walk right in!

Chippendale writing desk. Looks like very old bricks for the floor.  

Queen Anne slipper chair.  Buffet to the left.  I wonder about the woodwork being replaced.  

Here’s the upper floor:

Notice that you can see the thatch decking right through the rafters!

Chippendale dining chairs in the back.  

Together the houses have 4 bedrooms and 2 (not original) bathrooms in a combination of 4,900 square feet.

The lot is a 3/4 acre parcel… imagine the fun things you could do with this unique property!

Source:  House Crazy Sarah

[SaveTheTurtles]

Very cool, thanks for posting!

[Shihtzursqmom]

Beautiful homes I hope someone restores them as family homes

[Oznell]

@Foxxee ,  what a wonderful, enlightening tour of architectural treasures in historic Valley Forge--- thanks so much for bringing us through! 

[Patriot3]

@FoxxeeThanks for the great pics!  I love history.

[ECBG]

@Foxxee 

Love your post!  How interesting.

May I give you a hand?  I taught Interior Design and wrote the state's curriculum for a number of years.

The green velvet wing back, forward from castle furniture because the wings hold your body heat to you, is Chippendale's straight leg, good call!

If the green chair's leg had started to curve a little at the top, you would have had Queen Anne.

Your Victorian  pieces and Chippendale tea table are correct.

The gold wing back is Queen Anne's club foot.

Wing back is a style, so early it belongs to no designer; it goes by the style of foot.

This is Queen Anne's Fiddle back with Chippendale's ball and claw foot.  It even has a carved Queen Anne shell in front of the center of the seat.

Chippendale Ribbon back with his ball and claw foot; the designer added a curve in the leg.  Chippendale's standard leg is straight.  

The seat is more square than Queen Anne, more masculine.

Queen Ann Fiddle Back with club foot.

The feminine curve in this style, created for the ruler at the time, Queen Anne, had a wider seat for ladie's petticoats!

Chippendale Camel back on the left.  The red is what became early Victorian.  The middle is a mix.

The tall piece to the left is a corner china cabinet.

Your second floor is correct.  The beige settee is generic.

Thank you so much for the post!  I enjoyed discussing it with you a lot!

[stevieb]

Wonderful historical homes and furniture designs. 

[haddon9]

I love seeing old houses & buildings.  There are several older homes right in the heart of my town dating back to the 1600s & 1700s. 

The historical association in town allows home owners to make modern improvements to the backs  of the homes like adding an addition but the fronts & exteriors must follow certain historical guidelines.

I went on the local house tour in early December and it was really interesting to see how small and old they were from the fronts but many added beautiful additions with large modern kitchens open to family rooms in the back but kept the historical vibe of the homes.  The lots are narrow but deep.

[Foxxee]

---

@ECBG wrote:

Love your post!  How interesting.

May I give you a hand?  I taught Interior Design and wrote the state's curriculum for a number of years.

The green velvet wing back, forward from castle furniture because the wings hold your body heat to you, is Chippendale's straight leg, good call!

If the green chair's leg had started to curve a little at the top, you would have had Queen Anne.

Your Victorian  pieces and Chippendale tea table are correct.

The gold wing back is Queen Anne's club foot.

Wing back is a style, so early it belongs to no designer; it goes by the style of foot.

This is Queen Anne's Fiddle back with Chippendale's ball and claw foot.  It even has a carved Queen Anne shell in front of the center of the seat.

Chippendale Ribbon back with his ball and claw foot; the designer added a curve in the leg.  Chippendale's standard leg is straight.  

The seat is more square than Queen Anne, more masculine.

Queen Ann Fiddle Back with club foot.

The feminine curve in this style, created for the ruler at the time, Queen Anne, had a wider seat for ladie's petticoats!

Chippendale Camel back on the left.  The red is what became early Victorian.  The middle is a mix.

The tall piece to the left is a corner china cabinet.

Your second floor is correct.  The beige settee is generic.

Thank you so much for the post!  I enjoyed discussing it with you a lot!

---

@ECBG 

Thanks for your help.  

[ECBG]

@Oznell 

Would you happen to know the location of the video I sent you with the evolution of furniture styles?

Being on the computer all day working on my back my youtube history is miles long.