The Dutch Colonial has always been a favorite of mine. I’m not sure I can easily define why I love this house, but one of the reasons is the little extras – cut-out shutters, gambrel roof, plenty of windows, and best of all, those cute little benches by the front door.
And until last week, I didn’t realize those cute little bench have a name.
My buddy Bill Inge loaned me “Builders’ Woodwork” (1927, Smith & Wyman) and it was within its pages that I found the “Hospitality Seats.”
Enjoy the many photos below!
To read about breakfast nooks (first cousin to the Hospitality Seats), click here.
Many thanks to Bill Inge for sharing his books with me!
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It was within the pages of this 1927 book that I found "Hospitality Seats."
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On page 311 of "Builders' Woodwork," there were two versions of the "Hospitality Seats" offered! The good news is, they will "harmonize with almost any type of architecture." They were offered with many different cut-outs, too.
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Close-up of the hospitality benches with a tree cut-out on its base.
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These are nice too, but does that "S" mean it's a Sears House? (Just kidding.)
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The Sears Puritan came with two "Hospitality Seats" on the front porch (1928 catalog).
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They are pretty darn cute!
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Apparently, the Glen Falls (Sears Home) offers 50% less hospitality than the Puritan. The one bench looks a little lonely out there (1928 Sears Modern Homes catalog).
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Apparently, there's even less hospitality with the Sears "Martha Washington." You wouldn't even make it to the front porch if you were visiting folks in this house (1921 Sears Modern Homes catalog).
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At least it's under a tree.
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The Homebuilders' catalog features many houses with Hospitality Seats. Shown here is "The Carstine" (1927 Homebuilders' Catalog).
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The "Callao" (1927 Homebuilders) has a pergola *and* two benches!
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Apparently if you have a non-traditional Dutch Colonial you get only one bench (The Colinton, 1927).
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But if your Dutch Colonial is really ugly, you get the ugly benches to match (The Cleo).
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This was the lone non-Dutch Colonial house I found with hospitality seats. These front porch benches do seem to be the province of the Dutch Colonial! (1927 Homebuilders' Catalog.)
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To learn more about how to identify Sears Homes, click here.
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I’ve never noticed them in any picture like that. Funny how you can see a picture a hundred times and still find something new. I want some for my house.
The Home Builders Catalog 1927 edition has a Glen Falls clone with bench as well – mirror image to this one shown – it’s called The Crown, right down to the single “hospitality seat” as the Glen Falls shows.
(I don’t have the actual book, but I do have it as a 2-part CD scanned edition.)
We have two “Glen Falls” near us. I put that in quotes, because I’m not actually sure they are Sears or clones. One has a butt-ugly addition off to the right side.
I keep intending to get pictures, but it’s one of those things I pass every day on the way to or fro and never seem to make the time to stop. Neither are on a road easy that makes it easy to stop.
Gah. Neither are on roads that have shoulders or sidewalks, so it’s not easy to stop. That’s what that sentence means. LOL!
I’m laughing at your take on the “amount” of hospitality in the Glen Falls home and the Martha Washington home! I love your sense of humor!
I also never knew that these benches had a name – just thought they were little benches that looked good on the front porches.
Anyone know where I can building plans for these seats?