History of Folk Victorian Styling

• The development of railroad connections between states made woodworking machinery accessible to local carpenters, who could then produce wood Victorian details for porches economically. Lumberyards began to stock prefabricated detailing from other mills, making more options available to homeowners and builders. The Folk Victorian style developed, which held a similarity to the Queen Anne Victorian style. However, while the spindle work on Folk Victorian porches is comparable to Queen Anne styling, the Folk Victorian homes are more symmetrical and lack the towers and elaborate moldings of Queen Anne-style homes.
  
  

Folk Victorian Porch Supports

• Folk Victorian style was an American middle-class version of the elaborate Victorian homes of the upper classes. Decorative elements on the porch added an ornamental touch to the otherwise plain and simple home. Many of these houses were built by the owners themselves when they couldn't afford to hire an architect. The turned-wood spindles used as porch supports for Folk Victorian porches resembled the porch supports of Queen Anne Victorian homes. In addition, square posts with beveled corners, called "chamfered" corners, were also used, inspired by Italianate homes.
  
  

Gingerbread

• Elaborate wooden decorative elements made Folk Victorian porches an interesting and decorative addition to the home. Running trim featured such design elements as repetitive fan designs, spindles or scrollwork. Fretwork "spandrals" combined ornate corner brackets and openwork running trim, often with a scroll design. Headers with a crowning effect were used over doors, under windows and under running trim.
  
  

Railings

• The railings on a Folk Victorian porch also added a decorative element to the home. Balusters in many different designs were placed between a top and bottom rail. Turned wood, fluting and rope designs were used for porch railings. Delicate spandrels with open designs were used in combination with porch railings. The variety of options led to imaginative designs on the part of the homeowner in decorating the Folk Victorian porch.