Turn back the clock 50, 100, 200 years. One might see quaint whitewashed fences, some, such as stockade fences, designed to serve a utilitarian purpose such as keeping livestock from escaping a backyard or from entering a backyard to help themselves to a resident’s gardens. Stockade fences were also used to hide “eyesores” like outhouses or woodpiles. Other fences were constructed for decoration or screening, a means to ensure a little bit of privacy.

But long gone are the days in which pigs, chickens, outhouses and the like were present in the backyards of homes in Washington’s historic district. Today, fences are primarily used for the latter purposes — decoration and privacy. And while many are pushing to keep the city’s historic district as visually appealing and historic as possible, that effort may come down to a matter of guidelines for fences, overseen by the Historic Preservation Commission, according to Dee Congleton, a member of Washington’s Historic Foundation.

In 2009, a fence committee was formed to strengthen regulations concerning fences and walls and examples of fences adhering to those regulations were provided in the guidelines, according to Congleton.

This year, residents and potential homebuyers of properties in the historic district have voiced concerns regarding stronger regulations to help ensure the visual appeal of their properties. In April, John Rodman, director of City of Washington’s Department of Planning and Development, appointed Congleton as the chairperson of the new fence committee.

Congleton said she has been on many homes tours all over the state and even throughout the country, giving her a reference point for proposing examples used to create or strengthen guidelines and regulations. Members of the fence committee have traveled to nearby town to take photos for examples of fences, and the group formed a clear understanding of what fences in a historic district should look like.

“The yards of the Original Washington have traditionally been defined by low walls made of ballast or fences made of wood, iron or brick,” Congleton said. “Typically, fences in the front were low with high fences in the back. The stockade-type fences were used to keep out wandering livestock and to hide livestock, woodpiles or outhouses. Whereas, we may see stockade fences prior to the 20^th century, we no longer need them.

“In Washington and the Pamlico, there are references to both picket fences and stockade fences. Since fences are prominent landscape features today, they should be constructed in a manner and design that will be visually appealing. When you go on home tours in New Bern, Edenton or Beaufort, notice how beautiful the historic districts are. One factor is the white painted fence with most of them being the picket style.”

In October, the Commission will make a decision about amendments to its fence guidelines, according to Congleton. Though current fences would be grandfathered in, new fences would have to follow the approved options that adhere to the new or amended guidelines, if approved.

The fence committee has explored various options for fences if the amendments to the guidelines are approved. Primary guidelines proposed by the committee include: streetscape fences must be no taller than four feet high and of an open design, with at least a one-inch gap between pickets; privacy fences in back or side yards must be no taller than five feet; and several other guidelines in regard to fences in the historic district, according to Monica Ferrari, a member of the fence committee. Among the examples of appropriate fences are brick latticework, wrought iron, stone or rock, shadow box and picket fences, to name a few.

“The Historic Preservation Commission realizes that fences are important landscape features in a historic district, for both the character of the district and the potential property values,” Ferrari said. “Our goal is to keep in good repair, the existing historical fences in our district, but also to be good neighbors in our choice of new fencing. Keeping our waterviews open while walking our neighborhoods or sitting in our own backyards is a very important reason for specific guidelines. Establish visual continuity, as seen in neighboring towns of Edenton and New Bern, has been an important influence to the fence committee.”

In addition to the benefits the new and strengthened guidelines would provide for district residents, Congleton believes the guidelines will also aid in continuing to bring people to the town, who are looking to purchase homes in Washington’s historic district.

“We’re having people move to Washington from Greenville, so we want to make it as appealing as possible,” Congleton said. “One of the aspects is looking at your streetscape and what you can do to make it appealing. We want to encourage people to move into our historic district and downtown, as we promote our economic development. When people look at houses, they look at the features that enhance the house, street and historic district.”