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13 The Charles Meredith House

90 North Main Street
Dr. Hugh Meredith built this house for his son Charles and his son's wife in 1805. Dr. Meredith was Doylestown's first physician, practicing as early as 1776 in and around the Borough. The house was originally laid out face down Main Street towards the Hart Buildings because Dr. Meredith didn't like to build homes parallel to streets. However, the night before the foundation was to be laid, Charles snuck out and straightened the layout strings so that the building faced the road. He later said, "I will not have my house spoiled." Charles continued the family practice after his father died and he and his wife had a daughter named Elizabeth who later married Abraham Chapman.
This house is an example of a county version of the Federal style often referred to as the Georgian style. The Georgian style is characterized by the symmetrical shape of the entire structure (especially the five bay roof), the chimneys on each end, and the wooden fanlight over the front entrance. There can also be found a hint of the Greek Revival style in the temple like pediment forming the front entrance and the columns which support the front entrance overhang.
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