Italianate Michigan II Photo

Photographer’s Note

This home is the John C. and Harriet Brewster Blanchard House built in 1880. As with its neighbor down the street this home is also faced in locally quarried Pink Ionia Sandstone. Like with other Italianate it has heavily bracketed eaves, large window heads and a low pitched roof.

John C. Blanchard arrived from New York in 1836 and started off as a migrant laborer. He eventually became a lawyer, a politician and the owner of Ionia Stone Quarry, from which the sandstone for this house was quarried. It's one of those stories of people who started small and made very prosperous lives for themselves in the then frontier. Today the house serves the public as the home Ionia Historical Society.

This is another example of Italianate homes, located just down the street from the previous post. Of all the Italianate homes I have seen in Michigan, and I have seen many, I would pick these two as among my favorites.

It's difficult to find homes like this in the larger cities, like around me in Detroit. Most of the homes from this era have been replaced by larger homes, also beautiful, due to the growth of the city. In the city of Detroit many of the homes have long since been abandoned, burned down, torn down or have fallen down. But starting in the periphery suburbs, about 50-60 km out, you start seeing these 19th century homes. And far into the state you get whole towns, like Ionia, that have remained largely untouched since the 19th century.

This was a little difficult to get a shot of since I had a tiny window to photograph it. To the left were trees and to the right were trees and in front was the gate and historical marker sign.

Roly, richtersl, kajenn, Tue, robiuk, orme, maphoto, sahmay, elihesamian, Traveller, jhm, papagolf21, supereira has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

richtersl (3544) 2005-06-13 7:51

The colors and textures really blend well together in this photo. You managed very well with this composition despite all the obstacles in your way.

What a great house!

kajenn (2325) 2005-06-13 18:24

The house most certainly is making a strong impact, Paul, and you must correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression that everything is pink. Not only the beautifully patterned sandstone, but also the bracketed eaves, the columns, the bay and the window glasses. In that case it's very special and almost 'over the top', but apart from that it's a very beautiful building - beautifully situated, where the color suites the autumn setting well. I like how you've captured it behind the fence and with the historical sign - showing this a public building - and the yellow tree adding some color perspective. Very well done!

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2005-06-14 1:24

The pinkness (is that a word) of the stone is magnificent and the detail of the carvings is just gorgeous. It is os wonderful to see that these homes are so lovingy perserved. so often, at least here in the bay area, older structures are torn down to make way for ultra modern buidings and some many of them look so boxy.
The colors of the trees and the color of the house go so well together. despite your difficulties you achieved a good photo, but that is expected from you.

billabongx (1561) 2005-06-14 7:51

Hi Paul,
The style of this built looks certainly very nice!
A great Italianate homes with wonderful colors.
Well composed picture, nice work! :-D
daniele

Tue (25608) 2005-06-14 15:57

Hi Paul,
Great capture of this beautiful house! The colours are great and very warm! Good composition as well, great work. :-D
Groetjes,
Lars

robiuk (10763) 2005-06-14 17:18

If this one was found in a luxurious real-estate brochure, I would seriously have considered buying it. Well, what if I had to spend a couple of millions, who cares!?
;-D
An excellent presentation of 19th century home, a kind of architectural solution that suits the best my taste. Maybe cold from outside but certainly warm inside, with a nice fireplace and a cozy furniture...
Paul, you did a great job with colours here - lucky you in Michigan to still have a true Fall!
Cheers,
Robi

orme (6746) 2005-06-14 23:13

The colours are excellent, Paul. The beautiful yellow leaves make a perfect match of the all pink house. Wonderful architecture and with an interesting story behind it too. Well framed.

maphoto (8076) 2005-06-15 5:34

Nice composition Paul, the colors are strong making this a wonderful automn shot, excellent details of the building, nicely framed with the fence and trees, good historical and architecture, well done.

sahmay (1287) 2005-06-15 15:43

Hi Paul, Very nice capture of beautiful architecture. Details and sharpness nice too. Congrats.

john_c (24635) 2005-06-15 21:47

A most impressive architectural shot, Paul. You have overcome a washed out sky to produce a clear, detailed and powerful scene. The colours are very effective here. The wrought iron fence provides a perfect sight line of interest, leading one to view the colourful leaves and tree to the left as a secondary scene. This almost has the texture of a Velvia 50 slide. A satisfying and well composed contribution. Well done.

elihesamian (26091) 2005-06-16 1:39

This is another admirable shot in this serie,with excellent useful note about John C.B. and the house story,very informative and I enjoy it.
The shot is captured in a great special season which is suitable for this kind of historical building and its story.it made an old atmosphere and touch for the scene,and for me every leaf on the ground is a paper of the story and happenings about the house.

The quality with details and colors are excellent here,and I like a warm color harmony at the shot,nice to see overall and it gives a fine pleasance to look at.
Very nicely worked and very well composed,too,Thanks for sharing,Paul!

Best Regards
M

taivo (1840) 2005-06-16 8:37

The building looks interesting, but IMO the overall image is a bit overexposed so the colours seem flat. Nice to see a wide range of colours in one photo.

Traveller (667) 2005-06-16 21:09

Beautiful building and wonderful colors, composition and clarity. Thank you for the useful note!

erdna (5360) 2005-06-17 0:32

I will agree that this is a very nice example of an Italianate Type of architecture that became popular a long time ago. your posting is a good example of a well composed picture, colorful and sharp.

Andre'

jhm (83378) 2005-06-17 2:40

Dear Paul,
The different colour are beautiful contrast against each other, a again so very sharp and clear, I like this wonderful shot!
Greetings,
John.

papagolf21 (56765) 2005-06-17 5:43

Bonjour Paul,
Une très intéressante vue d'une architecture très particulière du dix-neuvième siècle et particulièrement le grès rose utilisé.
Il y a dans ce bâtiment un côté anglais avec ses fenêtres à guillotine et ces décorations typiques du 19ème siècle. C'est toujours un plaisir que de partager avec vous l'intérêt que vous avez pour l'histoire.
Merci Paul.
Philippe

supereira (9576) 2005-06-26 5:52

Great composition and point of view.Very good colors,light,textures and sharpness.I like the architecture of the building.Good contrast between the building and the yellow.Good job!

Stepan (27175) 2005-06-26 16:22

For me, this lloks like a typical north-american house and image. Like the one, you find in the movies...
I like it especially with the golden leaf carpet.
Stéphane

zeca (20026) 2005-11-24 1:39

Nice composition, Paul! Sharpness are great! So are the colours! Well done!
José