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66  GUIDE TO YELLOW SPR INGS  |  2020 – 2021 1840s incorporated ele- ments of the Greek Revival Style in the 1850s and early 1860s.” Take, for instance, the Senior Center, whose origi- nal two-story brick structure was built in 1862, according to tax records. “At quick glance, the Senior Center looks Federal,” said Rose, “but the inclu- sion of cornice returns on the sides and lack of other Federal elements makes it difficult to make the latter classification.” Perhaps the most attrac- tive architectural feature of the original brick struc- ture of the Senior Center is the joined chimneys at both ends of the build- ing — both of which are complemented by the cornices and relatively simple decorative panels, or friezes. At the front of the building is a modern- seeming one-story brick addition that is capped by a low-pitched triangular gable. The red bricks of the addition provide significant contrast against the stark white paint of the original two-story building. “Even the modern front addition cannot hide the dignity of this old Federal,” states the OHI report on the building. “It adds a bit of nineteenth-century ‘sky- line’ to downtown Yellow Springs.” Another classic Federal- style building downtown is 241 Xenia Ave., which, until recently, housed the Blue Hairon Salon and Wander & Wonder. Built in 1857, this building, like the Senior Center, features joined chimneys at each end of the building. It has cornices that jut inwards and ornate, decorative panels. After its initial construction, a porch with a shed roof and square columns was added. story, with each street- facing window having an ornate crown. Overhang- ing the apartments and YS INK above the Gulch is a decorative cornice that matches the color scheme of the Gulch below. The white molding and brackets of the cornice provide the green and orange panels with a fine border. While this cor - nice seems to harken back to the 19th century, it was actually added sometime in the mid-20th century. The adjoining portion of the block consists of the Import House, the Spirited Goat Coffee House and more upstairs apartments.. Again, this structure exhibits a Victorian Italianate style with features similar to its next door neighbor. A 1979 OHI entry regard- ing the structures states that these two buildings haven’t changed much over the years. But at the time of the entry, the buildings were “decaying and many [storefronts] are empty.” The author of the entry pleads for preservation and eventual restoration. By and large, she got her wish. Farther south on Xenia Avenue is another Victorian Italianate building — the structure which houses the Sunrise Cafe. Again, the front is incised with metal pilas- ters and displays tall, narrow windows. And, like the other Italianate structures in town, this building features an ornamented cornice that overhangs the front facade. Vernacular style Vernacular architecture is perhaps the most idio- syncratic of the styles. It may be described as the miscellaneous architectural category because of how varied each vernacular structure can be. Builders of these kinds of structures PHOTO: ANTIOCHIANA, ANTIOCH COLLEGE Victorian Italianate buildings on Dayton Street as they appeared circa 1905. Visible are the decorated cornices and ornate friezes that distinguish the first floor from the second; most feature decorated columns. At right, the building that now houses AC Service was the only one to survive the 1895 fire. PHOTO: DAYTON DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE Representing the vernacular architectural style displaying the classic six-over-six window panes are the buildings currently housing the hardware store and Yellow Springs Toy Company. Built around 1853, these are among the oldest buildings downtown. This photo was taken in 1975. Victorian Italianate style There are only a handful of buildings in Yellow Springs’ central business district that could be described as Victorian Italianate. This style came about in the mid-19th century as part of a larger Romantic movement in the arts. These buildings are com- monly recognized by their tall, narrow windows and their low-pitched or flat roofs with ornate, overhanging eaves. A block of connected buildings adorned with this style graces Dayton Street. One segment of this block consists of the Dayton Street Gulch and Lucky Dragon, with YS INK Arts Collective and some apart - ments upstairs. This section of the block was likely built just after the 1895 fire. Both the entrances to the Gulch and the Lucky Dragon sit between projecting pilas - ters — which, owing to the contrasting paint job, almost give the illusion that these faux columns are holding up the second story. True to the Italianate form, this building features tall windows on the second