Early American Architecture

[mishmish3000]

Hey, I'm reading (and enjoying) Hugh Morrison's Early American Architecture, and wondered if anyone else had read it.

He mentions the Aptucxet Trading Post in Bourne, MA... I was wondering if it's still around. The book was written in 1952. The trading post had been rebuilt but dates from 1627!

Morrison also mentions windmills along the coast of New England. There are only a few left (one was in use up until WW2, though). Anyone ever spotted any? The Old Mill in Nantucket might still be there.

It's an interesting book from a historical perspective, but also sort of fun because every so often, Morrison works in a little snarkiness and/or sarcasm into his writing. It's as though you were being walked around old buildings with a cantankerous uncle who explained things to you but also let you know when he thought people were just plain idiots.

[Rudi]

Nope, not read it. Sorry Anne
I think the last book I read from cover to cover was a Marvel Comic. Superman was cantankerous from time to time, but I wouldn't have minded having him as an uncle.

[jstevens]

Morrison also mentions windmills along the coast of New England. There are only a few left (one was in use up until WW2, though). Anyone ever spotted any? The Old Mill in Nantucket might still be there.

I have only seen them on farms.

el_pic.jpg

Regards,
John

[John Gray]

1627? Why over here that would come under modern history!

Here are some windmills. See if you can work out whether there was any convention for the sails to rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise, when viewed from the front.

[viking33]

Anne,
The Aptucxet Trading Post is still there, along with a few other old village buildings. Big tourist attraction along with the Sandwich village buildings and old glass works.
The Cape has a number of remaining working windmills but they are also tourist sites that grind corn for resale. One in Orleans, Brewster, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Bourne, that I can think of, off hand. More that have been converted into resident houses.

[viking33]

1627? Why over here that would come under modern history!

Here are some windmills. See if you can work out whether there was any convention for the sails to rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise, when viewed from the front.

On the older ones, it would determine if the grain is ground fine or coarsely. The direction of rotation would produce that result, depending on how the mill stones were cut, with one stone having rougher cuts and the other a finer surface.
( the newer power turbine types produce either AC or DC, depending on direction )

[mishmish3000]

Having a windmill as a house would be interesting!!!
Thanks VikingBob!

[Rudi]

There's quite a few of them in Google Images...

S11.jpg

S11.jpg

[mishmish3000]

I wonder if those were actual windmills or houses that were built to look like windmills?
Boy, as windy as it was here today, a windmill would have been quite busy!

[mishmish3000]

Meanwhile, in the UK: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-30004491" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[John Gray]

Woodchester Mansion is quite a fascinating place because it was abandoned before the inside was properly fitted out. In the main hall, and probably other parts of the building, the tools and equipment of the builders were simply left untouched. Quite intriguing!

[viking33]

Woodchester Mansion is quite a fascinating place because it was abandoned before the inside was properly fitted out. In the main hall, and probably other parts of the building, the tools and equipment of the builders were simply left untouched. Quite intriguing!

I read your post before I read Anne's link that had some explanations and right off, thought that it has to be because of some English ghost haunting the place. Guess I was right?