Greek Revival or Federal Style?

            I’ve been visiting Hale Farm and Village for years and the Goldsmith House is one of my favorites.   It is an important part of the setting that helps teach visitors about the history of the Western Reserve.  Its history was extensively researched and Hale Farm presents the house as an example of Greek Revival architecture.  I realize how that could be your first impression but as often as I studied the house, there was always something bothering me about that classification.

When I studied American Architecture, Nick Fagan gave an assignment to identify houses of fifteen different styles, including an explanation of the distinguishing features.  I wanted to include the Goldsmith House but I struggled with the architectural elements.  Hale Farm interpreters label it Greek Revival but I could never justify the front door.  As Nick discussed in class, this house has many elements of the Greek Revival style, like the symmetrical side wings, the front gable with pediment, the wide entablature, and the ionic columns.  But, the front door with side lights and transom lights, along with the stretched columns and swags definitely do not fit into the Greek order.

Last year, the Western Reserve Historical Society published a small book, Hale Farm and Village, describing the history of the museum and the structures that were moved there.  The section about the Goldsmith House states that it “is most accurately described as a Classical Revival home because it features elements of both Federal and Greek Revival Styles of architecture” (26).  However, there is no further explanation of those elements.  I feel like they have finally addressed the issue of the blended styles in this house.

One thing Nick mentioned in class is the fact that styles were often blended, especially during the transition periods.  When the Goldsmith house was built, around 1827, the Federal Style was on its way out of popularity in the Western Reserve and Greek Revival was on its way in.  It’s easy to see how people would choose the elements they liked best when designing their homes.  The top architects would mix architectural styles at the direction of the paying client.  However, since there are several Goldsmith houses in existence, it appears that Goldsmith may have liked this particular mix of elements.  I have to agree.  I like it, too.