This is located near the Riverbend community, and I’ve stopped many times over the years to photograph it. The “striped’ roof always catches my eye. With so many photographs, I don’t know why I’ve never published it, but I’m finding quite a few Irwin County images as I re-edit posts, and perhaps it got overlooked. I believe Diana Griffin identified it for me on social media years ago, but since I’m not on those spaces much anymore, I don’t have access to that information. It is a double-pen house, indicated by the two front doors, and in that respect a relatively rare form. Double-pen houses are most often associated with tenancy, but not always. A shed room at the rear of the house is also visible, which was a common amendment to these types of structures.
What a classic! So interesting with the double front doors!
Where was the chimney ?
I believe it was on the left side but will have to look at other photographs to be sure. I was wondering as well, thinking it could have been a saddlebag if an older chimney was covered by the newer roof. Of course, a saddlebag is a double-pen, too.
Thanks. Left side is what I was guessing. Would like to know if you don’t see any evidence from your other pictures.
My dad can give you the entire history. He lived there until he was 7. My great grandfather owned that house and 3 others that the families lived in until my great grandparents died. The farm land (200 acres) was purchased with money my grandaddy sent back from WWII. My grandfather agreed to the purchase and my great grandfather reimbursed him when he came back from the war.
The “stripes” look like rust; interesting that they appeared in parallel strips like this.
I have seen many such houses in the countrysides with sheet-metal roofs like this one. I suppose it was a big advancement over whatever roof types preceded them. The panels were crimped, so they would easily nestle on top of each other, and were easy to fasten to the boards underneath with a few roofing nails.
I don’t have any idea what the cost would have been, compared to wooden boards and shingles; but they would certainly have been much easier to install; and one imagines the metal panels would have lasted much longer.
Cinder-block or brick would have been the next step up in durable building materials; but the cost would have been a lot more.
Brian, my grandfather’s house built before 1900 is still occupied – last I heard was by John L Sumner’s grandson. Mr Sumner worked for my grandfather and was like an unc