In 1857 New York City architect Calvert Vaux published Villas and Cottages, an illustrated discussion of his residential designs and architectural philosophy. In it, his “Design No. 27” for “An Irregular Villa without Wing” is labeled as a building “proposed to be erected in Connecticut.” Vaux sent railroad man Thomas Pegues drawings for a slightly modified version of this villa scheme, and the architect’s drawings, without the first-floor plan, remain on the site. This New England residence transplanted to the Deep South is a sophisticated, red brick Italianate villa with round arches and brackets, a projecting conservatory, or “plant cabinet,” on the south side, ample bay windows, generous verandas, and accessible porch decks and balconies, altogether a building connected to the surrounding landscape of mature trees.
Samuel W. E. Pegues, brother of Thomas Pegues, built his house (c. 1875; 1890s remodeled) at 535 N. Lamar as an Italianate cottage.