Facing the front of the house you see a re-creation of an architect’s concept of the original appearance of the house as it might have been in 1818. The width, depth, and height of the original porch, as well as the pitch of the porch roof, were suggested through archeological studies and from internal bracing within the structure. However, the type, size, and spacing of the portico columns as well as the design of the portico balustrade are conjectural.
The front porch, a variation from the Plantation Plain style, is one of the most interesting features of the Winn House. Circa 1918 when the home was greatly remodeled by the Sims family, the porch was changed to four solid pine columns, cut from trees on the Winn plantation, rested on a deep porch and reached two stories high to support a flat room. Within this large porch which extended almost across the entire front of the house was a shorter and narrower porch at the second story level. This “swinging porch”, as it was referred to by its occupants, was actually stationary. It was suspended from the underside of the porch roof and, like the larger porch, was pegged to the side of the house. Opening onto this “swinging porch” from the upstairs hall is a door, framed by a glass transom and sidelights similar to the front door below. In 1945, the “swinging porch” was removed, and the pine columns were cut in half to support a smaller one-story version of the original porch, also called a one-story shed configuration.
The Winn House chimney to the front right bears two dates. They are difficult to read. The 1811 date may place the year of beginning construction of the original 2-story structure. The year 1812 has generally been used as the completed construction date by the Historical Society. The 1864 date probably places the year of completion of the single-story addition.
There are several differences in these two areas of the house. Stone piers support the 1812 section, and brick piers support the 1864 section. The 1812 windows are smaller with smaller panes of glass than those in the 1864 addition. The chimneys are of stone in 1812 and of brick in 1864. Wood shingles roof the 1812 wing while those on the 1864 section are of tin. Differences in the cornices, moldings, and trim are also evident.