Second Empire Style Architecture located along US-12 in Saline
Hollywood has long used this house style as the setting for ghost stories and hauntings, probably due to its imposing appearance and size. But during the time of its popularity (1860s to 1880s) the Second Empire style was considered modern, very European and the height of fashion.
Characteristics
It is frequently 2½ to 3 stories in height, and cupolas often rise above the center of the roof making the structure look even larger.
The houses are built of brick, stone or wood and if painted are neutral colors.
All the decoration applied to the house and all the attention is centered from the roofline upwards.
The most distinctive characteristic of the house is the mansard roof. A mansard roof is flat on top with either a convex or concave shape to the sides. Dormers are sometimes present projecting out from the sides. Most original mansard roofs have been covered over with many layers of roofing, but the original roof was usually made up of colored shingles set in geometric patterns and ornamental iron railings are sometimes still found along the roofline.
The houses frequently have square towers.
Evenly spaced windows, tall and narrow, complete the picture.
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