Farmhouse, c. 1830

The Preston-Lafreniere farmhouse is a five by two bay, Classic Cottage with a narrow, eaves front wing attached to the eastern elevation. The homestead rests firmly on a field stone foundation rising from a steeply graded plot of land at the building's north/west corner and tapering to a level plane on the opposite end. The exposed foundation wall is veneered with two inch granite slabs to simulate the appearance of a large, granite block foundation. The exterior of the homestead, including its soffits (perhaps a c. 1870 alteration), is completely clad in painted clapboards with a 2 1/2" exposure, and framed by corner boards which are unusually wide for the overall scale of the house. The Classic Cottage's steep roof is clad in corrugated stainless steel panels, which were applied over a cedar shingle roof. At its ridge projects two short and slender brick chimneys located on opposite ends of the main house; an interior chimney for a wood stove is located in the east parlor, and an exterior chimney on the west facade was built, c. 1940, to vent a modern, basement oil burner.

The central, entry-way details on the front (north) facade are refined and simple; the door is a six paneled wood door flanked by four paned side lights, and capped by a projecting entablature, which is supported by tapered pilasters resting upon simply molded, rectangular plinths. The fenestration, unless otherwise noted, is comprised of six over six double hung sash framed by unarticulated casings and sill. There are a pair of three over three kneewall windows above the first floor windows on the left side of the main entrance. The fenestration on the rear (south) elevation mirrors the front except that it lacks a central door, and a window located at the southwestern corner.

The side (west) elevation is visually partitioned into two unequal sections by a c. 1940 slender, single flue brick chimney, which rises through the soffit just to the right of the roof's peak. Centered on the first floor level and adjacent to the brick chimney is a narrow one over one window, c. 1940, which lights a narrow bathroom within the interior. The first and second floors have two evenly spaced windows; the location of the second floor windows are stepped inward as the roof plane slopes toward its peak. The opposite side (east) elevation has two windows closest to the front facade and a door slightly off centered while the remaining end wall encompasses the roof line of the kitchen wing. LINK TO KITCHEN