Federal Style

 

Federal c. 1780 - c. 1830

From The Salem Handbook, Historic Salem Incorporated, 1977

Plan

Usually a central hall plan, five-bay facade arrangement with central front door. Symmetry of Georgian style retained.

Doorway

Often semi-elliptical or semi-circular fanlight with flanking sidelights. Frequently decorated by pilasters and/or columns with a flat entablature. Semi-circular or rectangular porticos were common. Usually a six-panel door.

Windows

Narrow proportions with simple casing and slender mullions. ( often stone lintels over windows in brick examples)

Roofline

Gable or shallow hip roof often hidden by balustrade. Tall, slender chimneys appeared at ends of building. 1770.

Materials

Executed in wood or brick. Sometimes flatboards on the front facade with brick on the sides and read.

Decoration

Simplicity and lightness of detail. Much more refined than the heavier Georgian style.