Queen Anne ruled Great Britain from March 8, 1702 until May 1, 1707. During her reign, art and science progressed. The architect Sir John Vanbrugh, for example, designed many new buildings during her time. By 1870's, the name Queen Anne became a popular name for houses of a certain type of architecture in Britain. By 1880, the name Queen Anne was used to classify houses being built in the United States. None of these three architectural styles, however, have anything to do with one another.
Up until about 1910, Queen Anne-style houses were very popular in the United States. There are several distinguishing features which classify the architectural style. For the most part, Queen Anne-style houses have delicate, turned spindles. Others may just have classic columns, which are raised on piers. Often, the gables of the house will be half-timbered. Queen Anne-style houses are well-known for their elegant decorative features. Many of the houses are unique, with features skillfully placed wherever the architect may want to put them. The Queen Ann Style home is one of the more dramatic architectural styles you will find in the era in which they were constructed.
In the St. Paul's Avenue-Stapleton Heights Historic District of Staten Island, you will find many houses in the Queen Anne architectural style. These houses were built during the 1880's, with most of them being built around 1883 or
1887. Most of the Queen Anne-style houses in this historic district are actually located on St. Paul's Avenue, with the exception of some being on Cebra Avenue, Marion Avenue, and Trossach Road. While the original owners of these houses are all known, there are only two houses whose architectural designs were recorded. One of these houses, at 184 Cebra Avenue, was designed by Peter Post; the other house, at 387 St. Paul's Avenue, was designed by Hugo Kafka. On Staten Island's south shore the Kreischer Mansion (pictured above right) on Arthur Kill Road in Charleston, is one of the more notable Queen Ann Style homes.
There are also a number of Queen Ann Style Victorians in Tottenville, West Brighton, and St. George, Staten Island.
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