Transitional Architecture

c. 1900-1910

Turn-of-the-century transitional architecture in Arcata combines elements of the past classical forms and Victorian styles with future Craftsman features. Bays and modest ornamentation spilled over into the 1900’s, Colonial Revival features made a brief appearance, and the first bungalow-type houses previewed what was to come. This was also a period when remodeling brought older houses into the 20th century

The Hipped-Roof Box made its appearance in Arcata at the turn-of-the century. They are modest, one story cottages with central entrances and stoops. A dressed-up version has paired bays, flanking a recessed entrance.

Workingman’s Queen Anne describes a popular house built in the Humboldt Bay region during the 1900’s. Usually one-and-a-half stories, it has patterned shingles on the projecting upper story, gabled roofline with cornice returns, cutaway bays, and modest ornamentation usually applied to the porch–definitely a simplified version of the Victorian Queen Anne house.

The Gablet Cottage also recalls its Queen Anne heritage in the pedimented gable above the cutaway bay, porch decoration and a gable-on-hip roofline. These cottages are generally one-story, have 1/1 windows along with artistic window borders of colored glass and shiplap siding.

Colonial Revival elements were added to Arcata houses during this period, most notably in the form of grouped, porch columns.

The Bungaloid House announced Arcata’s entry into the modern world of the California Bungalow. These first houses had sweeping hipped roofs, curved and extended eaves lined with false rafters and upper-sash window divisions.