Queen Anne-Kneeland Walker House

To get a closer look at the architectural style known as Queen Anne, we went to several different houses. My favorite one so far was the Kneeland Walker house in Wauwatosa. Built in 1890, the Kneeland house was the biggest house for miles around. What struck me most about the house was the use of different materials. There was brick, stone, wood, glass and copper. In comparison to the other house we have seen, this was a dramatic shift. According to Handlin, this shift in material usage was most likely brought on by the advancement of the transportation in America. Through the expansion of the shipping routes and railways, materials could now be brought in from other parts of the country at a cheaper price. As a home owner, you were no longer limited to the local materials. You could order stone from three states away and get it at fair price. The materials on the Kneeland house appeared to be divided based on the level of the house. Brick was the predominant material on the first level, but it does not make another appearance on any other level,

except for the chimney. The same could be said for the wooden siding. It is the material of choice for the upper levels but is not used on the lower level. The separation of materials, brick from wood, gives the house a very grounded feel. It makes it feel strong, sturdy, and almost temple like. The floor plan was centered around a grand stair case, which was typical for these types of houses. It appeared to be the prime location for addressing a large audience. An aspect that was not in the houses that we looked at prior to this was the idea of service. Besides the grand stair case, the floor plan was geared to hide the help from the family and there guests. There were several entrances and exits to the kitchen. Also, the third floor was well equipped to be the living quarter for the help. The house was built during the time of great financial prosperity for many Americans. People could now afford to have a staff. The key was keeping them out of sight from the guests.