Nick Prevost House, 105 North Prevost Street, Anderson

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,4-AND,6-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

An early example of the Neoclassical Revival style, with notable Renaissance derived details. The house is also significant because it's design is based directly upon a house type displayed at the Centennial Exposition. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect: Not known. 3. Original and subsequent owners: Nick Prevost bought land and constructed house c. K. H. Campbell, was a later owner and Raymond Cochran obtained it from him. Records not researched. 4. Original plans, construction, etc: None. Based on house on display at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. B. Historical Context: Shortly after their marriage, Nick Prevost and his wife visited the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

A model of this house was on display there, and Prevost obtained plans for the house type before returning to Anderson. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: Architectural character: A large century house with notable Renaissance-derived details and with character appropriate to a southern climate. ^ Condition of fabric: Fairly good. NICK PREVOST HOUSE HABS No. (Page 2) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: Square, one-story, three bay house. 2. Foundations: Stuccoed brick, about three feet high. 3. Walls: Frame sheathed with clapboards. Simulated quoins. The lower portion, to window-sill height, consists of three facias, each with a moulded cap. 4.

Porches: Across the south front is an arcaded porch, its central portion projecting slightly from the pair of bays at each side. Segmental arches with archivolt and key block are supported on unfluted, engaged columns of Roman Doric type. The central portion consists of a wider segmental arch flanked by a narrow semicircular arch on each side. Eight masonry steps lead up to the centrall bay; other bays contain a railing with widely spaced, turned, inverted balusters. The porch cornice is slender and carried on a modillion course; above it is a railing with turned balusters. Pedastals are slender, and are crowned by an acorn set on a scotia. The cornice and railing return against the house just inside the quoins.

Along the north side, filling in the two corners flanking a central projection, are a pair of two-bay porches with identical details. 5. Chimneys: There are two central chimneys, stuccoed. 6. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: At the center of the south front is an entrance motif of three bays, marked by slender, engaged colonnettes. The central bay contains a door having two inlaid panels above two ovoid panels. Each side bay contains a rectangular glazed panel above an ovoid panel. There is a thin cornice crowning the whole. Glazing is of colored glass. b. Windows: Windows are double hung, two lights over two lights. They are framed by paneled pilaster strips, capped by a moulded impost, and have semi-circular arched heads with an archivolt and key block, the lunette being paneled.

Under each sill is a panel resembling a classic pedestal, recessed between paneled plinths. Windows not covered by the porches also have paneled spandrels above the arch, the whole motif crowned by a cornice, as are the windows of the main story of the Cancelleria Palace in Rome, NICK PREVOST HOUSE HABS No. (Page 3) 7. Roof: a. Shape, covering: The roof is flat, that of the central portion (along the N-S axis) being raised several feet above the rest. There is a simple moulded cornice, above which is a balustrade like that above the porches. The central raised portion has a modillioned cornice like that of the porches. C. Description of Interior: No access to interior of building. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: The house faces south.

It's grounds, originally larger, have been encroached upon by Prevost Street and houses built along it. It is now entered from the east, on the Prevost Street side. 2. Landscaping: There are remains of a curving walk, which formerly led to the south entrance from Whitner Street. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Bibiliography: 1. Primary and unpublished sources: Cooley, Billie J., "A Survey of Anderson, South Carolina," Student Report, Clemson College. Prepared by: Harely J. McKee, Architect FAIA National Park Service April 16, Edited by: Druscilla J. Null Historian Historic American Buildings Survey July,