Historic Savannah Homes - French Eclectic.
Monday, January 14, 2008 at 01:24PM 
This is an example of a French Eclectic style built in the late 19th century. You can't tell from the picture (the one in the middle with the dormers) , but it has flared eaves that were common to Dutch colonial houses. This roof is not as sharply pitched as some I've seen, but it is suspected flared eaves were an innovation in the states to direct water from going directly down the sides of houses with steeply pitched rooves.
It's very likely the porch and the dormers are later additions. There are basically three subtypes: symmetrical, asymmetrical and towered. This is asymmetrical with the door to the side and the windows not symmetrically paired on both sides of the door. The towerd substyle is more fanciful with large rounded towers in the front or to the side.
Because building in France shared much with the Medieval English tradition, there is a resemblance to the Tudor style. It is an uncommon style and went out of fashion during the 1930s and 1940s, although a neo-eclectic movement has been going in the US since the 1960s.
It probably gained popularity in the late 19th century and early 20th century due to America's involvement in France during WW1. This is the only French Eclectic style I've seen In Savannah, but I'm sure there are other examples -- I just need to search more diligently.
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