33 Hidden Road, circa 1910 Style:Craftsman-Prairie School

Built by Margaret A. Towle in 1910 as the carriage house for 10 Porter Road, 33 Hidden Road was designed in the same Prairie School style of architecture. Popular from 1890-1930, this architectural style was more commonly found in the mid-western United States. Only a few examples exist in Andover.

Works of the Prairie School architects (also referred to as The Chicago Group), usually featured horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands, solid construction, craftsmanship, and discipline in the use of ornament. Prairie houses were designed to blend into the flat, prairie landscape. One of the key architects in this group was Frank Lloyd Wright who is commonly referred to as the master of the Prairie style.

In the early 1960’s, C. Lincoln Giles subdivided the property at 10 Porter Road. Individuals bought lots and built homes within the 4 acre site bordered now by Lantern Road, Hidden Road and Alden Road. The 33 Hidden Road carriage house was subdivided from the main house and became a residence.

The current owners of 33 Hidden Road had clearly embraced the aesthetic of their house when they contracted with Mark Ratté to design and build their addition and garage. The new design incorporates critical elements of the original structure including, the hip roof with its overhanging eave, a simplified side entryway, extended dormers, and the repetitive bracket work underneath the eaves that extends around the house. Close attention to detail gives the addition the sense that it has always been a part of the house.
Builder: Mark Ratté, Ratté Construction
Preservation Award: 2011 - Sympathetic Addition