Anyone know what the star decoration on exterior homes stand for?

Answer 1

Some of the old narrow "row style" masonry homes constructed in the ciites in the 1800's exhibit these stars. Back then, the masonry (brick) walls provided the structural support of the house and the floor joists were placed in pockets in the masonry. These houses were typically very narrow from the street, but were extremely deep. The masonry walls on the sides of the house tended to bulge out over time. To remedy that, iron rods were run through the house from side to side and were hidden between the floor joists. A threaded turnbuckle was incorporated so that they could make the rod tight. The stars (and sometimes decorative circles or other ornamentation) on the outside of the building served to hide the end of the rod and provide a surface to prevent the masonry walls from spreading apart.

I am not sure that this is what you are describing when you ask about a "star decoration", but it could be one explanation.

Good luck with your search for information.

Answer 2

If you are refering to the stars on older houses it usually represented the fire compnay that was responisble for that house.

During that time period you had to pay a fire company (sort of like insurance) and the number of stars on the house told the fire copmanies which one was responisble for putting out the fire.

Now they are just regarded as part of an historic exterior.