TAT 09: Murray Building & The Gothic Revival Style

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The Murray Building is another example of Greek Revival architecture at Naper Settlement that pre-dates the Daniels House. Early settlers living in log cabins wanted to build homes with siding as soon as possible in order to have their homes appear more “civilized.” Many settlers in Naperville had come from the East Coast and wanted to imitate the styles of their former New England villages. However, these homes typically had no insulation and were very cold in winter compared to their log counterparts. The Murray House features a narrow line of transom and sidelight windows around the entry door and no entryway porch. The gabled roof with a low pitch and a wide, divided band of trim emphasizes the cornice lines.