| Additional Information: | Raycraft's residence is an excellent example of his manipulation of Classical elements. Overall the design is contained within a boxlike volume, with projections minimized. Classical details are interspersed in the form of lunette and oculus windows, thin colonettes (at the dormer) and swag motifs in the typanum of the porch pediment. The north elevation is dominated by a stair window which merges into a wall dormer. Attenuated colonettes rise the height of the dormer. Raycraft's house is one of the early experiments in the Colonial Revival style, and is much more complex in terms of massing and ornamentation than similar designs dating from the period. Compare to 705 W. New York (5/20).
Joseph T. Raycraft was a well known and prolific builder in Oshkosh. He was involved in the building industry in Oshkosh from 1890 to 1912 as a contractor and carpenter.
1994- "Originally identified as "485 Jackson," this appears to be a relatively early example of an American Foursquare. It was built on a coursed, stone block foundation and has narrow, clapboard siding. The hip roof has wide, flared eaves with brackets, beneath which are two story, three-sided, projecting bays. And the projecting eaves of the hip roof dormers are supported by two clusters of two Tuscan columns. The house also has a one-and-one-half side, wrap-around porch with bracketed eaves and a hip roof with gablet over the front steps, all of which is supported by four Tuscan columns. The gablet contains some ornamental carvings, part of which include the number "485," the house's original street address. Built around 1898 by Joseph T. Raycraft, the structure was owned by Raycraft himself. Indeed, it has been noted that this house "is an excellent example of his [Raycraft's] manipulation of Classical elements." Raycraft was also the builder of the prominent, Classical Revival structure at 404 New York [115/28]. Its ornamentation, integrity and early Foursquare form are intact, as well as its construction by a prominent, local craftsman."
- "Jackson St (Murdock to Church), Oshkosh", WisDOT ID #6432-07-00, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd (1994). |
|---|
