Western false front architecture

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False front commercial buildings in Greenhorn, Oregon, 1913 Greenhorn 7.JPG
False front commercial buildings in Greenhorn, Oregon, 1913

Western false front architecture or false front commercial architecture is a type of commercial architecture used in the Old West of the United States. Often used on two-story buildings, the style includes a vertical facade with a square top, often hiding a gable roof.

Contents

The goal for buildings in this style is to project an image of stability and success, while in fact a business owner may not have invested much in a building that might be temporary. Four defining characteristics have been suggested:

The N. P. Smith Pioneer Hardware Store in Bend, Oregon is an example where the owner ran a store or other business on the ground floor and lived upstairs. There were many false front buildings constructed in the Bend, Oregon, area between 1900 and 1910. However, the Smith hardware store is the only surviving example in downtown Bend. [2]

See also

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References

  1. "False Front Commercial". ColoradoHistory.
  2. "Western False Front, Deschutes County Landmarks, Deschutes County, Bend, Oregon, 19 July 2009. [ dead link ]