Upjohn's Rural Architecture is a slim volume (12 1/2 by 17 inches, with 22 plates) of church, chapel, schoolhouse, and parsonage designs, all predominately in the Gothic styles. First published in 1852 by George P. Putnam, the book was reprinted by Da Capo Press in 1975.
The book is particularly detailed concerning the church designs. In addition to detailing the exact size and how many of each timber were needed, Richard Upjohn specified how the joists were to be laid, the doors to be constructed, and the paint and/or varnish to be used. He also gave information on how to build the lectern (with quatrefoil carvings); pews (with Gothic trefoil accents); the tower and spire, topped with a cross with trefoil accents; the organ case; the bishop's chair; etc.
The one-room schoolhouse design is Gothic, but not as highly ornamented as Gothic designs frequently were. The parsonage design has a piazza with brackets, more commonly found in Italian designs, but also has verge-boards and other Gothic decoration.
Copyright © 2004 Sarah E. Mitchell