Last Updated on December 17, 2023

Welcome to Foursquare Friday (#foursquarefriday)! This is a little corner of the world for people who live in, work on, admire, or are just plain curious about the American Foursquare architecture style of house.

American Foursquare house #foursquarefriday — My neighbor’s larger and a bit more glamorous Foursquare

What is an Foursquare House?

I have a longer post describing Foursquare homes in more detail, but for this discussion, a Foursquare house is a type of residential architecture or style that generally has the following features:

Cube shape
Low-pitched hipped roof
Central dormer
Wide porch
Straightforward interior

Usually built between the 1890s and 1930s, these houses were affordable options for the rising middle class. Architecturally they were part of the Arts & Crafts movement that was a reaction to the elaborate Victorian architecture, with modest adornments and return to handmade craftsmanship.

What is #FoursquareFriday?

Good question! #FoursquareFriday is a social media movement for folks who love these beautiful old the opportunity to come together once a week (aka Fridays if you haven’t already guessed ?) and share this passion. I think of #FoursquareFriday (especially on Instagram and Twitter) as a recurring feature with tidbits of info about the Foursquare style of home.

Can You Participate?

YES! Good gosh YES! I would love to meet others who either have or love Foursquare homes. Doesn’t matter if you are an amateur (like me) or an expert. Although if you are an expert I warn you, I have a LOT of questions….)

If you see an interesting, unique, or shareworthy article or picture, encounter a foursquare on your travels or even own a foursquare, please post to social media on Fridays using the #FoursquareFriday hashtag.

What is #Foursquarefriday? Join a community of folks on social media every week to celebrate the great Foursquare home! #oldhouselove #americanfoursquare #foursquarehouse #americanarchitecture

Use your imagination – exterior, interiors, restorations, etc….

Personally I’m on Instagram and Twitter, so I’ll see you there! On Instagram, I usually post pictures of exteriors of Foursquares around my neighborhood or ones I encounter on my travels. On Twitter I post articles I find via Google about various topics about Foursquares.

I try to post every Friday, but well, life happens sometimes and I miss a week or two….

Why Do I Participate in #FoursquareFriday?

Why do I participate? My hope is to educate myself and maybe find a few like-minded folks who also interested in learning about Foursquares and create a community.

My husband Brad and I bought an American Foursquare in Wakefield, MA about 15 miles north of Boston in 2012. At the time I had no idea what an American Foursquare was. We were pregnant with our first child (surprise!) and we needed a place larger than our current apartment stat!

Our humblle abode #americanfoursquare — Our humble abode

We looked high and low for something that gave us more space and was within our price range. After many months we found a 1700 ft box-shaped house, somewhat plain but with a very practical layout for raising a family and a promising neighborhood.

Fast forward a few years (and a set of twins – surprise again! Geez….) to 2018 where we are taking a break from fixing up the house (until the kids get a bit older). But I didn’t want to stop learning about old homes, so I’ve put down the paintbrush and picked up a keyboard. While researching the history of my house (see my Beginner’s Guide to Researching the History of Your House) I discovered that we lived in an American Foursquare.

Shout-outs..

I’d like to thank Norman Frampton (aka Norm 2.0) who inspired me to start this Foursquare blog. He started an on-line community with his weekly series named Thursday Doors – #thursdaydoors – check it out! Who knew doors – usually a mundane building component to the average homeowner – could be so diverse and beautiful? Yup, Norm did…… And now I find myself seeking out and admiring unique doors. Thank you Norm!

I’d also like to give a shout-out to @dghistorichomes on Instagram, who is influencing historic preservation in Downers Grove, IL (a western suburb of Chicago) and so far has documented approximately 130 Foursquare homes in that area. It looks like a beautiful area. Check out their profile, and specifically under #foursquarefriday

Looking for more about Foursquares?

The What, Who, Why and Where of the Foursquare
16 Foursquare Blogs to Follow and be Inspired
Celebrities Who Grew Up in Foursquares
American Foursquare House In Need of a Lift!
And last but not least, check out my American Foursquare Pinterest board where I’ve collected 500+ pins to date of exterior photos, kits and house plans, and inspiring additions and new construction.

Want to be the first to know about new posts? Be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter of even Etsy! Or better yet… Subscribe below!

My monthly (admittedly sometimes more, sometimes less….) emails are like receiving a unexpected letter from an old friend WITHOUT needing to put on your slippers and walk out to your mailbox…. See? I got ya, my friend!)

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