The residential buildings at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home were cottages identified by letter (A - O) or names of early officials (Dill, Mack, Cameron, and Cline). There were five designs. Cottage A, along with N, C, and F, had a hipped roof and a one-story porch with elaborate spindles. The windows were large panes bordered by smaller ones. Colored stone was used in the arches to contrast with the limestone building stones.