Two days before horrific floods devastated parts of Eastern Kentucky in July 2022, I wound my way up some tiny hollows and over bridges in Floyd County for a work project. The road network, like the earlier rail lines, curves to follow the meanders of the Levisa Fork of the Kentucky River, which in turn is fed by a complicated and diverse group of small streams, all cascading through the hills. One house, its rear elevation turned to the street, caught my eye. Its form and massing marked it as older than most of its companions.
The view from the road.
It’s not unusual to find a historic house oriented toward a water source rather than a later paved roadway. Dry creekbeds served as roads long before highway departments carved routes into and out of mountain communities. But this house faced onward, not toward a stream, or the road, but looking toward the hillside.
The facade.
The front of the house reveals a confection of late 19th influences not at all visible from the staid, utilitarian rear elevation. The asymmetrical, two-story frame house has the rough shape of the T-plan, in which one room extends out in front of the central entry. The original first-story wraparound porch has been partially enclosed, but the details that remain are delightful.
Trim on the first story porch.
The icing on the cake is, of course, the second story porch (more a balcony), with hearts adorning the balustrade and ball and spindle fretwork.
Second story balcony.
The gables on the two-story squared, projecting bays on the side elevations have fishscale shingles, and some ornamentation over the cut-away bays.
One of the two-story bays on the side elevation.
Regrettably, the nature of traveling to and fro in one day means long hours on the road, and not much time for sleuthing. No neighbors answered my knocks, and the house itself appears uninhabited.
I’d love to know the original owner and builder and their story. What dreams did they entertain as they gazed out the hills from their porch? This house is markedly different from what survives in the immediate area; the changes it has witnessed over the years must seem as complex and layered as the waterways that snake through the surrounding mountains.
If anyone recognizes this house and knows anything of its history, you can reach me at gardens2gables@gmail.com
What an interesting combination of forms and decorative details! It would be a fun project to determine the history of the building including the who, what and why. The oldest part (Victorian) of the residence displays the wide variety of decorative details that were available. It almost looks as if the rear portion (The view from the road) was added later as a Mother in law suite or care taker housing. So, what does the interior look like? All those changes peak my interest about the interior and exterior. Thank you Janie-Rice Brothers for sharing this building!
If it doesn’t face the creek or road, what was it oriented to, could you tell?
That is what is so weird! I looked at early topographic maps, and it just seems to face…into the mountains.
terrific
Great sleuthing just finding this place. So sad it is just wearing away.
A time gone by!