Davis, Thomas, House
DE 6, Kenton, DEThe Thomas Davis House is a finely detailed example of a late-eighteenth century Federal building. In basic plan and use of interior space, it is a typical Delaware farmhouse; but the attention paid to its construction details raises it far above the common example. The brickwork was laid with wide scored joints and the bricks themselves were made as regular as possible. The decorative details on the facade and the interior woodwork all combine in a compatible manner to convey the sense of formality associated with the Federal style. The house is also important in that it shows the evolution of the use and definition of interior space. When first erected, the function of each room was less formally designated. Each room served dual purposes which was most likely adequate until 1844 when Alexander Jones' mother was allotted half of the house. This division necessitated the incorporation of a rear wing into the household to contain service functions and to hold a dining room. It is interesting to note that the rear wing is off-set to the east and that its western edge does not impinge on the space defined by an imaginary extension of the stair-hall. The Thomas Davis house is being nominated under Criterion C because of its architectural style as a complete statement of Federal building tradition.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.