A special request from a local resident.
The Snedeker Farm
The home was originally 50 acres of land owned by Nelson Stryker Snedeker (1824-1893). Based on the demographics of Gywnedd, Nelson was a wealthy farmer. It is unknown about Nelson Snedeker, but a source said that his family might've moved to New Jersey, assuming they do not want to continue the farm.
After the farm was sold to W. Clifford Wood, he made major changes on the former property. Wood torn down the stone barn, and built a modern home that is currently standing to this day. Based on the structure of the home, it is a Dutch Colonial Revival Bungalow, which inspired the future owner of the home across from W. Clifford Wood.
The Arrival of the Baldwins
The question is what happened to the rest of the Snedeker tract when W. Clifford Wood occupied 3 acres of the tract?
It is unclear who occupied the land after Nelson Snedeker passed away, but one known clue indicated that the land was shared by Walter H. Jenkins and Joseph T. Foulke. It wasn't until around 1906 Thomas B. Baldwin purchased the land from the two men for $3,600, and built his modern country home. He only lived at his home for four years.
According to his will, Thomas bequeathed his property to his wife Sarah R. Baldwin. He also wanted to divide his property for his four sons: Harry, B., William T., Walter H., and Horace L.
Sarah sold the Baldwin farm to Charles C. Coolbaugh.
After selling the farm to Coolbaugh, Sarah sold the lot to "Philadelphia parties" who will plan to build homes on the lot. One of the "Philadelphia parties" could've been her own son William T. Baldwin (1873-1954).
William Baldwin owned the property until in the early 1930s, he sold his home to Jack Bartlow, manager of Wings Field.
Architecture
The architecture of this home is very interesting regarding the style and how it was described in the newspaper clipping from the Ambler Gazette.
In my research, I’ve always come across Colonial and Victorian-style homes, but nothing like this home! One of the architectural features that stood out a lot was the gambrel, side gable roof. Those kinds of roof styles are common in Dutch Colonial homes. Since the home was built in the early 1910s, this would be called a "Dutch Colonial Revival."
The home was described as a “bungalow,” but I think this home is a mix with Dutch Colonial Revival mainly because of the roof style.
According to the 1916 map, the home was originally a stone structure until they plastered it around the original structure.
The clipping shown below describes the home as being 1 1/2 story plastered bungalow with 5 rooms on the first floor and 3 rooms on the second floor. Physically, the home looks like it has 2 1/2 stories. Does it still count as a bungalow?
Typically, bungalows are supposed to have all of these features:
One-and-a-half stories, so dormers are common
Low-pitched roof that slips over a front porch
Wide overhangs of the roof
Square, tapered columns, sometimes called bungalow columns
To conclude on the architectural style of this home, I would say it is simply a Dutch Colonial Revival style home mainly for its gambrel, side gable roof. I wouldn't think this home is a bungalow.
Bibliography
Craven, Jackie. "About Colonial Revival Architecture and Neocolonial Homes." ThoughtCo. Last modified July 3, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/colonial-revival-houses-and-neocolonial-4065297.
Craven, Jackie. "American Bungalow Style Houses, 1905 - 1930." ThoughtCo. Last modified July 3, 2019. https://www.thoughtco.com/guide-to-american-bungalow-styles-178048.
"Dutch Colonial Revival." Old House Online. Last modified October 20, 2021. https://www.oldhouseonline.com/house-tours/house-styles/dutch-colonial-revival/.
Mueller, A. H. Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., Plate 29, 1916.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Gwynedd, North Wales, Ambler, Royer's Ford, Limerick Station, 1877.
Smith, J. L. Montgomery County 1893, Upper and Lower Gwynedd Townships, Lansdale, North Wales, Spring House, Ambler Right, 1893.
"Wissahickon Valley Public Library's Ambler Gazette Collection." POWER Library: Pennsylvania's Electronic Library. Accessed January 12, 2022. http://digitalcollections.powerlibrary.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/wivp-gazett.