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Show Door Vital Part to Weigh in Building Frequently a house that is plain and unpretentious in itself Is distinguished distin-guished by a handsome doorway, one, needless to say, that Is In keeping with the architectural style of the house. This was true of the early colonial houses. Their builders centered cen-tered the Interest upon the entrance. The evolution of the door Is a fascinating fas-cinating study. There is the sentimental senti-mental side that might be considered ; the hospitality of the open door, the sense of security from the closed door, and on the other hand tragedies are connected with the closing of a door. There also is the historical side. This would reveal how every style of door reflects the history and social life of a country. The colonial doors of New England show chapters In our country's history. First, the stout, solid plank door was a protection against the Indians, while later, with the coming of more security and leisure leis-ure tliee plain plank doors were ornamented or-namented with nail heads and ring pulls. As the colonies prospered the rich sea captains called In skilled workmen from the shipyards to cunningly cun-ningly carve and ornament the doors of their fine mansions. Some of the'se early colonial doors stand out so conspicuously for their beauty that architects and designers have come from all over the country to copy and study their lines. Manufacturers Man-ufacturers have sent students to copy thesa doors, in full or in part, so that they might be reproduced by machine and thus brought within the means of the modest homebuilder of today. Today ' It Is possible to purchase stock doors or stock millwork from the colonial or other established architectural arch-itectural styles. These are faithful copies and wilhin Hie means of the average homebuilder. Sometimes a very plain house, as was slated in the beginning, may be given character through the use of a beautiful doorway. |
