The American Foursquare home is a true classic American design. It was a plain symmetrical home design, that was in reaction to the ornate Victorian os the time. Appearing on the scene around 1895 the popularity of the Foursquare home become prevalent as catalog homes from Sears, Montgomery Ward and Alladin Homes becoame popular as well. The American Foursquare became popular because of it low cost, simple design and ease of construction. It helped house industrializing America and many Foursquare homes can be found as resale homes all across the country.

1. What
Defines an
America
Four
Square
Home?

2. The American Foursquare is a truly American
home design that was a reaction to the overly
ornate Victorians that were popular
during the 1800s.
Foursquares were by the catalog homes of
the early 1900s and helped shaped America's
towns and cities. during the rise of
industrializing America.
The design became very popular, due to its
simple design, affordability and ease of
construction.
The Foursquare Houses an
Industrializing Nation

3. HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY
AN AMERICAN
FOURSQUARE?

4. CUBE SHAPE
DESIGN
Often the Foursquare is
cupeshaped in design
For the most part, a foursquare is
cube-shaped from its facade to its
foundation and even the interior floor
space is split in to quarters on each
level.

5. HIP ROOF
One identifying feature is the
hip roof with large
overhangs
The American foursquare was a
two-story design with a walk-up
attic often with a small knee wall to
allow for thrid floor expansion

6. CENTRAL
DORMER
Almost all Foursquare designs
featured a dormer center in
the front roof.
Fun fact- by 1920 the American
Foursquare was one of Sears and
Roebuck's most popular house
designs. Purchased through a catalog
and shipped complete and ready to
assemble.

7. FRONT
PORCH
The Foursquare had a porch
that spanned the entire front
of the home.
If you find a Foursquare without a
porch today, it was most likely
removed because of disrepair.

8. SHAPING AMERICA
A True American Classic
There are still many American Foursquare homes from the early 1900s for sale across the
country.
In my part of the world, Haverhill MA and the Greater Boston area Foursquares make up
established neighborhoods.
They are the perfect design for small urban lots in the Greater Boston area. But because of
their affordability, they can be found all across American from rural farm homes to homes
making up an urban neighborhood.
The American Foursquares go by other names based on various regions around the
country... Cornbelt Cube, Prairie Box, Midwest Cube, Denver Square and more.
Provided by Kevin VItali- Massachusetts REALTOR 978-360-0422