In addition to homes from the Antebellum and Colonial eras, the Victorian era is also represented in Sweet Bottom. The Victorian era of architecture occurred in America primarily between 1865 and 1900 during which time Queen Victoria reigned in England. However, due to its popularity in America, the period continued to have influence into the 1920s. The great variety of styles during this era can be overwhelming making it difficult to find a “pure‟ example of Victorian architecture due to the mixing and matching of many designs.
Several styles differing widely in appearance make up the Victorian era including: Italianate, Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Second Empire, Eastlake and Romanesque Revival. In general, common elements between these styles include an emphasis on variation and exaggeration.
Fundamentally, architecture and design embody tension between structure, utility and appearance –in other words, between stability, usefulness and delight. This triad represents the fundamental dilemma continually addressed by architects and designers. However, during the last half of the 19th century this condition was compounded by changing demands, advancing technology and the Industrial Revolution making possible a multiplication of stylistic choices.
The result was an era expressing the contradictory factors of “uncertainty” and “boldness”. Uncertainty equated to “dilemma of style” and boldness to “display of confidence”. This contrary combination resulted in eclectic and extreme, yet delightful and compelling, architecture and design. The Victorian era houses in Sweet Bottom are represented by Italianate and Colonial Revival styles.
