9 Norfolk Rd: The History of the Garrison Colonial Style House

One of our current projects, 9 Norfolk Road in Winchester, MA, has an iconic style. One most Bostonians will be familiar with – the Garrison Colonial. There should be one famous house in particular that comes to mind.

Know it? No? We’ll reveal the famous house later, so keep reading!

The Garrison Colonial house style emerged in the 17th century in New England during the early English settlers. It is characterized by a second story that overhangs the first. This style reflects both practical and cultural influences from the colonial period, rooted in English building traditions and adapted to the New England environment.

In Massachusetts, Garrison houses were built in early American frontier towns. The overhang allowed defenders to drop projectiles or shoot downward, enhancing the house’s fortification. However, many Garrison homes in settled areas like Boston were primarily domestic, with the overhang serving aesthetic and spatial purposes rather than defense.

Key features of early Garrison Colonials include:

• Second-story overhang: Typically, on the front facade, sometimes decorated with carved pendants (e.g., pineapples or acorns).
• Timber-frame construction: Using heavy oak or pine beams, often exposed internally.
• Central or end chimney: Unlike other colonial styles, Garrisons often had a single chimney at one end.
• Small casement windows: Leaded glass with diamond panes, due to glass scarcity.
• Steep roofs: Designed to shed heavy snow, common in New England winters.

Today, the Garrison Colonial style remains a symbol of New England’s early architectural heritage, embodying practicality and resilience. While few original 17th-century Garrison houses survive due to their early wooden construction, the style’s influence persists in neo-Colonial homes. However, modern construction rarely replicates the overhang.

The Garrison Colonial’s enduring appeal lies in its balance of functionality and historical charm, reflecting Massachusetts’ early settler experience and later nostalgia for its colonial roots.

Notable examples in Massachusetts include the Boardman House in Saugus (c. 1692) and the Parson Capen House in Topsfield (c. 1683). But those aren’t the one we were thinking of…

Have you guessed it…no?

Drum roll please...The Paul Revere House (c. 1680)

Cool right?! We are excited to be able to keep the roots and character of the Garrison Colonial Style in our 9 Norfolk Road property. It will have all the historical charm and functionality mixed with modern convenience and design.

Stay tuned for more on this property!