The Prairie School Traveler (original) (raw)

House928 Burnett Avenue
Ames, Iowa 50010-6132

Designer unknown, c. 1918

While there are many Craftsman-inspired houses and bungalows in Ames, few have overt Prairie School hallmarks. This residence comes as close as any, though its dipped-in-mustard paint job obscures its distinctive features.

The lower part of the house is covered in clapboard siding, while the upper storey is finished with stucco. The front fenestration is all business, but the elevation facing the side street is enlivened by more adventurous windows; particularly interesting are those in the attic.

The rear of the house, with its shed dormer and (added?) lean-tos, seems a Craftsman bungalow caboose to the Purcell & Elmslie-like skin-tautness of the front and sides.