The Italianate started about the same time as the Greek Revival in the 1830s but lasted in popularity much longer—in Lowell it thrived into the early 20th century. It also has classical elements, such as columns, but is most easily identified by its asymmetry, its more abundant ornament, use of bay windows, and extended eaves with angle brackets. The Hocum Hosford House at 574 Central Street had all these elements. Built in 1856, the house has fluted Corinthian columns at the front porch, three bay windows, and eaves supported by large, visible carved brackets. Sections of the original iron railings remain near the entry. Italianate houses also took advantage of the new paint colors made available by companies like Sherwin-Williams at mid-century; although sided now, the Hosford house may have been colorfully painted.
The Hosford House has a central entry, but Italianate style homes frequently also have the main entry off to one side, as seen in 139 Chapel Street which also has exceptional ornamental woodwork.The Italianate proliferated in Back Central as residential and commercial development increased. The invention of the band saw in the 1840s brought down the cost of ornamental woodwork and builders took advantage of that. The ad for A. Bachelder in the city directory touts their specialty in bay windows and varied finishes. One of the most common identifying features of the Italianate on an otherwise modest house are the carved brackets that hold the hood over the front porch. Jonathan Rollins, a contractor in ornamental plasterwork, built 46 Linden Street in the Italianate style and even though it has been vinyl-sided, it still retains its asymmetrical front façade with bay window, eave brackets, and ornamented hood at the entry.
Although used frequently on wood frame structures, the style easily adapted to brick and masonry buildings—the Lyon School on Central is a good example, as is the courthouse designed by Ammi B. Young on Gorham. Both buildings have arched windows rather than the rectangles used in the Federal and Greek Revivals. And finally, the Italianate was repeatedly used for the tenements of Back Central, such as the triple-decker wood frame structures at 90-92 Lawrence Street, 61 Chapel, 8 Cherry Street, 33 Elm Street or 621-627 Central Street; or brick examples at 448-58 and 464 Central Street. These are the type of tenements that some of the Portuguese families initially moved into.