Matthew Cartwright House - Terrell, TX - Victorian Style Architecture on Waymarking.com

"The Matthew Cartwright house is an example of the transitional hybrid of Greek Revival and Second Empire style found in Texas in the last quarter of the 19th century, D, B. Alexander, in his Texas Homes of the 19th Century, referred to this style as "symmetrical Victorian", Construction of the main block of the house was begun in 1883, and in 1894 the galleries were added. Additions at the back of the house, forming an ell with the main block, were added in 1922 and 1940. The original portion of the three bay house is symmetrical in elevation, as well as in plan, with two rooms on each side of a central hall on both floors.

The two and a half story height of the building, plus the tower, various mansard elements, dormers with metal roof cresting, and the one-bay, two story colonnaded entry portico lend a strong verticality to the composition. The two-tiered galleries, supported by columns at each level, flank the front entry and wrap around the sides of the house on both stories to add a horizontal emphasis to the composition by virtue of the pronounced cornice and balustrade.

The most dominant decorative element is the centrally located. Second Empire style tower. It is square in plan with two tall double-hung windows in each elevation. The windows of the front elevation appear to open onto a small, ballustraded balcony. The wood shingle siding of the tower is applied in an imbricated pattern. Integral with the tower are flanking twin dormers. The flat roofed dormers provide a visual base from which the tower springs. Each dormer contains three short, round-headed, double hung windows and a round, fixed glass window at each side. The spring point of the arch of each window is accentuated by molding. The flat roof of the dormer receives decorative metal roof cresting with lightning rod accents at each corner."