What is the reason for large stars on the houses in CT?

Question

I've been told it's an ancient symbol from Europe. The stars are large, metal, and hung on the exterior.

Understand support, but the houses are not brick.

Answer 1

I was searching this also. Many, many explanantions. Maybe they USED to be a "structural device" but they are used everywhere now.

Some responses indicated that the different colors represented families with a military connection. Some think they are religious in nature and may have orginated in the Pennsylvania Dutch country.

I found a website that sells them as "Americana Decor." Americana Decor gives me the impression that it is something that is NOW decorative, but in the old days were for something useful...like that "structural device" that was suggested. Just an opinion, but here's the website:

http://mysticalley.com/outdoormetalstars.html

Still a mystery, huh?!

Answer 2

These are brick houses and the stars (as in American stars on the flag) are actually large washers through the center of which comes the end of a reinforcing rod that extends across the building to the other wall. Its keeps the walls from spreading from the weight of the floor(s) inside as the ends of the joists rest in holes in the walls. Usually there is decorative nut threaded on the end of rod. They are fairly common, come in various sizes and are not always stars, sometimes just flat plates.