Savannah Victorian Historic District, 521 East Henry Street (House), Savannah

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,26-SAV,53W-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This house represents an early 20th-century two-story plain Edwardian style house. It is being restored by its owner under the City of Savannah's loan and grant program. Part I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: Ca. No house appears on this lot on the Sanborn Map, but one does appear on the Sanborn. 2. Architect: Not known. 3. Original owner: Not known. The house stands on Lot H, Waring Ward. 4. Alterations and additions: The two-story back porch has been en- closed. New windows have been installed on the kitchen's south wall. B.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,26-SAV,53W-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

a. Primary and unpublished sources: Insurance Haps of Savannah, and Sanborn Map Co., Located at Georgia Historical Society. For background information, see Savannah Victorian Historic District, HABS No. GA-1169. Prepared by: Beth Lattimore Reiter Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey Summer 521 EAST HENRY STREET HABS No. GA-1169 W (Page 2) FART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: This is a simple freestanding Edwardian house with gable end towards the street. 2. Condition: Good. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The two-story house measures 23' 5" (N front) x deep. 2. Foundations: Brick pier foundations over a crawl space. 3. Wall construction and finish: Wood frame with clapboard siding 4.

Structural system, framing: Wood frame construction. 5. Porches, steps: A one-story wooden porch on a brick foundation ex- tends across the front facade. It is approached from the west end by six concrete steps, flanked on either side by large planter boxes. The gabled canopy with box eaves is supported by large square chamfered columns which rest on brick bases. The rear porch, located at the southwest corner, was originally - open but is now enclosed. The back door is approached by seven metal steps and protected by a metal canopy. 6. Chimneys: There is one plain interior brick chimney. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The front door is topped by a three-light transom and flanked by side panels.

The door has a glass panel on the top half and three panels below, arranged in one horizon- tal tier and two vertical panels. b. Windows: The front facade has double window openings with one- over-one-light double-hung sash. Metal windows are installed:-'in the kitchen and the second story of the enclosed rear porch. 8. :.r.Roof: a. Shape, covering: Gable roof with standing seam tin sheathing. The gable end faces the street. b. Cornice, eaves: The front gable has box eaves with a decorative louvered vent. There are wide overhanging eaves with no brackets 521 EAST HENRY STREET HABS No. GA-1169 W (Page 3) C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: a. First floor: Side hall plan, three rooms deep. b. Second floor: Side hall plan. 2.

Stairway: A three-flight open well, with a square newel at each landing 3. Flooring: Wooden floors throughout except in the kitchen and second- story bedrooms which are covered with vinyl tile. The second story back porch has a plywood floor. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: There are plaster walls throughout except the kitchen and back hall room D on the first floor which is paneled in pre-finished plywood. The second floor has pre-finished plywood on the east wall of the hall. All rooms have picture molding next to the ceiling. Ceiling of the second floor enclosed porch M is" covered with narrow wood strips. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: French doors are between the hall and front parlor, and the rear parlor and dining room. All other doors are five-panel wooden doors. b.

Windows: Two windows are located in the stair well, one at each landing, with one-over-one lights. 6. Decorative features: The mantels in the parlor and dining room are plain with boxed shelves supported on brackets. White tiles surround the rectangular opening. The fireplaces are closed on the second story and the mantels have been removed. 7. Mechanical systems: a. Heating: Gas space heaters. b. Plumbing: The original bath is located on the second floor. A new bath has been installed on the first floor. c. Lighting: Electric wiring. D. Site: General setting and orientation: The house is set a few feet back from the lot line which allows for a planting area in front of the porch.

Prepared by: Beth Lattimore Reiter Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey Summer 521 EAST HENRY STREET HABS No. GA-1169 W (Page 4) PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION This project was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey in cooper- ation with the City of Savannah, the Historic Preservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project, Inc., and Historic Savannah Foundation. The recording project was completed dur- ing the summer of under the general direction of John Poppeliers, Chief of HABS; Kenneth L.

Anderson, Principal Architect; Eric Delony, Project Coordinator, Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project, Inc.; Beth Lattimore Reiter, Project Historian, Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project, Inc.; and Susan Dornbusch, Project Supervisor, University of Virginia; with student architects Gregori Ander- son (Howard University), David Fixler (Columbia University), Stephen Lauf (Temple University), and Tamara Peacock (University of Florida), at the HABS Office in Savannah, Georgia. The drawings were edited in the Washington office in September by architects Susan Dornbusch and Gregori Anderson. The historical and archi- tectural data was reviewed and edited during October-November by staff histo- rian Jan Cigliano.

Photographs were taken in September by Walter Smalling, a staff photographer with the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. The doc- umentation on the historic district will be used in the rehabilitation of the resi- dences and in developing design guidelines for the area.