Northern New England in the late nineteenth
century saw an explosion of what we now call "new home construction."
The railroads had opened up the mountains to tourists while steamers
regularly plied the coast. The concept of a paid summer vacation was
gaining traction, and families, both rich and poor, were eager to
rusticate in small villages where, close to nature, they would enjoy the
blessings of a salubrious climate. Middle-class families could afford
to build homes, and since their budgets precluded
"name" architects, the need was answered by native builders, talented
craftsmen familiar with the local resources who could draw the basic
lines, muster and supervise a building crew, and meet the needs of
clients. These weren't the fancy summer "cottages"
of Newport or Bar Harbor, but simple structures erected on modest
budgets for comfortable summer living. Many were, and still appear, very
beautiful, and the best examples are shown in this striking survey of
houses built by self-taught architects whose work
survives as testaments to their skill.The men behind the developments
were far more than builders; they acted as land speculators, developers,
and architects. They ran the typical three-man crews, house-sat over
the winter, and were the liaisons with the "summer
people" who would arrive in June and leave in early September. The
houses they built were sensitive to the local topography and connected
to the landscape as masterpieces of vernacular design. From the seacoast
and islands of Maine to the hill towns, lakes,
and rivers of Vermont and New Hampshire, Pfeffer has thoroughly
researched and thoughtfully photographed the best examples. His text is
rich with history and commentary. Far more than a pretty picture book,
this is a scholarly and richly documented survey
of master craftsmen whose subtle but powerful influence on the northern
New England landscape is poignantly recorded in these pages.
