MINIMAL TRADITIONAL
The Minimal Traditional house type , erected in large numbers across the United States during the 1930s and 1950s , displays a simple rectangular-like form that was based upon the Federal Housing Authority ( FHA ) minimal standards for low cost homes . In 1934 , as much of the country remained mired in the Great Depression , the government passed the National Housing Act to provide improved housing opportunities for families of modest means . The act established the FHA to administer long-term , low-interest mortgage rates to homebuyers and established minimum housing standards for comfortable small homes that needed to be met prior to the issuance of a loan .
This house type typically utilized wood-frame construction and contained two bedrooms , one bathroom , a kitchen , and a living room and was either one or two stories in height . In southern states , in most cases , heating systems were eliminated and replaced with a fireplace and front facade porch , and foundations were almost always pier-and-beam . Recessed or flush entry porches are common and porch supports are often simple posts or brackets . Typically , earlier examples displayed a form that was rectangular or square in appearance without any angles or projecting masses , avoiding the need for additional supports . Later examples , erected after the conclusion of World War II were typically wing-and-gable plan homes . Like the earlier vernacular L-plan , the post-World War II Minimal Traditional homes have a side-gabled or hipped central mass with an offset secondary projecting front wing . A smaller number display two projecting front facade wings . Additionally , roof pitches , when compared with earlier vernacular houses , typically were a bit lower pitched , alluding to the Ranch-style home . The roof ’ s eaves , however , were generally not as deep as the Ranch house type . Because these homes were constructed with simplicity and economy in mind , exterior decoration , if present , was limited to shutters , exposed rafter ends , or classically inspired or geometric porch posts . If present , garages were generally either carports or single-car detached in houses erected before 1945 and attached with postwar examples . Specific exterior materials varied according to geographic location , but primarily included 105-pattern drop wood siding or asbestos shingles siding . Some examples within the city of Arlington displayed brick veneer exterior cladding . Original windows were one-over-one or multi-light , wood-sash units . The trend towards construction of simple , side-gabled or hipped-roof houses continued after World War II and through the 1950s . Defining architectural features of this house type include :
• Rectangular or L-plans ;
• Square footage of 1200 square feet or less ;
• Side-gabled , hipped , or cross-gabled rooflines ;
• Minimal exterior ornament , limited to exposed rafter ends , shutters , scalloped vertical siding in gable ends , or decorative classical or geometric porch posts ;
• Partial width entry porches ;
• Wood-frame construction ;
• One-story heights ;
• One car garages or carports , either attached or detached ; and
• Exterior walls clad with 105-pattern wood siding , brick veneer , or asbestos shingles .
FINAL REPORT
ARLINGTON HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY UPDATE
SEPTEMBER 2007
F – 2