The Arts and Crafts Movement began in Britain during the second half of the nineteenth century. It was initiated in an attempt to promote craftsmanship and to steer people away from cookie-cutter arts. The Arts and Crafts Movement was introduced to the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Americans based their creations off of the European models, establishing their own "American Craftsman" style, a term often applied to the architecture of buildings being constructed at the time.
The Craftsman style flourished as a variant of the Bungalow, a practical, one-story home. Craftsman-style houses share some features of Bungalows, such as the low-pitched gable roof and the porches with square columns. There are many other features common, but not mandatory, in these types of houses. Below the roof, the eaves are often overhanging with exposed rafters. Decorative beams and braces are often placed above a dormer or gable window. Windows are often grouped with wide window casings, while the exterior walls can be covered with shingles, siding, or stucco.
Construction of Craftsman-style houses in the United States began to diminish by the 1920s. While they may not be constructed any long, many of the houses built in this style are still standing today. A good number of Craftsman-style houses are actually located on Staten Island. The best examples could be found in the St. George/New Brighton Historic District at 270 Richmond Terrace, 14 St. Marks Place, 18 St. Marks Place, 22 St. Marks Place, and 26 St. Marks Place.
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