Yesterday and Today

Yesterday I received a most wonderful gift from my adopted daughter, Belle.  She was at the hospital visiting my best friend, her mother, Carol.  Carol was having a good day and  Belle called and said “Pepper, here’s mom.”  That meant a lot to just hear her voice.  We have been friends for 28 years.  She will be in the hospital for a couple of weeks.  Hopefully she will improve enough to be sent home and if not, to a nursing home that is closer to home.  Belle, thank you so much.  I will be seeing you on Wednesday!!!!

Getting sick is not a good thing because I am behind in my blogging.  I need to stop taking so many pictures but there are so many interesting things in the world.  Mom and I went from Oolitic Indiana to Vincennes, Indiana.  We stopped at a Baptist Church in Washington Indiana with a marvelous historical cemetery.  Beautiful old stones rich in symbolism.   Spent way to much time there and took way to many pictures.

We didn’t get to Vincennes until late but I still went out.  Mom and I walked the main street and just got lost in the architecture.  At the end of Main Street is the Lincoln Memorial Bridge and the Clark Memorial.  I was taking pictures left and right.  I thoroughly enjoy being a tourist.  Vincennes is a town rich in history and is just a beautiful river town.   I definitely could go back.

Now I am going to try to learn something about architecture.  I love walking the Main Streets and driving the side roads but I have no idea of what I am looking at.  I just know what I like but I don’t know what it is…. The only cure for that is to learn.  Bear with me folks this is another long one….  This is what I have learned.

  Federal Style 1790 – 1820

The Federal Style became popular in the U.S. in the early years following independence. It has little ornament and is strictly symmetrical.

Greek Revival – 1820 – 1860

Patterned after Greek Temples. A bolder and more vigorous style than Federal. It had a cubical mass, a low pitched roof, dental decoration on the eaves and often an attic half story.

Italianate Commercial 1850 – 1890

Inspired by Italians villas this style was characterized by over-hanging eaves, supported by decorative brackets. This style from the Victorian era emphasized picturesque massing and exuberant designs. This was aided by use of cast iron, which allowed intricate designs to be produced cheaply and quickly.

Romanesque Revival 1880 – 1900

This style is part of the Victorian era, which began in the last half of the 1800’s and lasted through the turn of the century. This style is inspired by medieval Romanesque architecture and was very popular in Germany and among German immigrants. This style has heavy, rough masonry, bold appearance with big round arches. It often has a stair-step gable.

Neoclassical 1893 – 1930

Following the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, people began to favor more controlled, classically inspired designs. These buildings have more refined ornament, which typically includes columns, cornices and decorative swags. Tall buildings are typically separated into three parts: the street level, middle stories, and the upper zone, which is supported by a cornice skyline. Simplified classical motifs enliven the building surface.

Period Revival Styles 1895 – 1930

The revival styles were a mix of historically inspired styles, characterized by using carefully studied historical details in a free, eclectic manner.

Art Deco 1925 – 1940

Art deco was born in Europe at an International Expo In Paris. Forms are simple and cubic, with a mechanized feel, very streamlined and smooth. This style abandoned Neoclassicism and was popular not only in architecture but in designs for cars and jewelry.

Now Click Here For Pictures of Vincennes Main Street.

Click here for Washington Indiana Cemetery.

Tomorrow we are back on the road heading to Highland IL.  To quote my daughter, Hannah “WOOT”…. Woot is a good thing.