Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Research Report Series - 1040
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
| I | Title |
| II | History |
| III | Reference Marks and Bibliography |
| IV | Furniture (Exhibition houses only) |
| V | General Notes- Exterior |
| VI | Exterior |
| VII | General Notes- Interior |
| VIII | Interior |
| IX | Original Use of Rooms & Inventories |
| X | Exterior Color |
| XI | Interior Color |
| XII | Outhouses |
| XIIII | Fences, Gardens, Glossary of Architectural Terms, and Conditions governing Restoration. |
Information Obtained from W. Macomber
Recorded by H. R. Shurtleff
Name:
"MONTAGUE HOUSE" - I.
(In records of Williamsburg
Holding Corporation as
Lot II. No. 52.)
Location:
South east corner of Francis and Ireland Streets.
Date of Restoration:
Restoration started- June 1, 1928
Restoration finished- Nov. 1, 1926
Notes:
Anything referred to as "new" in this record is a change or addition made by the restoration hereby recorded.
The word "original" is used in the sense of something being part of the original building or of having evidently been part of the original intention and added in the same general period.
The word "old" is used to describe something not original but of the Early Republic or Colonial period.
The word "modern" is used in describing something which was built or installed after the Colonial or Early Republic period and has therefore had to be replaced because it was incorrect in period.
1-aNOTE- Continued:
The word "restored" is used as indicating any work of restoration done in Williamsburg by Colonial Williamsburg, Inc.
It should be understood that all information contained herein is subject to future revision and that any future changes in the house will be covered by dated "Addenda Notes" which will be attached to this Record.
"Thought to have been the home of the Rev. John Bracken, Rector of Bruton Parish Church from 1775 to 1818. Bracken was at one time President of the College of William & Mary. He was elected Bishop of Virginia but declined, refusing to go to England to be consecrated. He supported the cause of the Revolution." - (From R. Goodwin's Guide Book to Williamsburg.)
Built before the Revolution probably about 1760 to 1770. Definite data not as yet obtained.
A more detailed history of house site and successive owners will be compiled when more progress has been made in the research in the Yorktown Records as these are the most important sources of the information necessary for such a history. Information obtained from the Virginia Gazette and other sources will give as reasonably accurate a history of the house as can be obtained.
The house stands on land and is surrounded by land that is shown on the Town Map of 1790 as belonging to Bracken. The Virginia Gazette speaks of another home (a two story brick) in this same locality as having been "lately tenanted by the Rev. John Bracken".
There was no kitchen wing originally. The present one is new and was added for the greater convenience of the house. The original kitchen was an out-building on whose foundation the garage now stands.
All the window sash and frames in the windows are new as the original sash had either disappeared except for one piece, found on the premises, which was used as a model for the new sash.
The shingles are new and were put on at the time the house was restored. They are made of asbestos as a fire preventative, and so made that they will darken with age like the original wood shingles. They are also laid about seven inches to the weather like the original wood shingles.
The former shingles were in bad condition.
The dormer windows were rebuilt when the house was restored on the model of the dormers which were there and which had gone to pieces. The window sash and frame are new, but on the original model. See General Notes under Exterior.
The cornice is original with about ten percent new replacement of parts in bad condition.
There was no gutter or leader originally. The present gutter and leader are new and were put in to protect the house.
The wall surface is of weather boarding. It is new And on the same model as the old, which was in bad condition except for a few pieces which were saved and used.
The porch is new, though of a colonial type. There is no record of what was originally there.
The door frame and the transom light above are new. They are similar to the original ones in the Barlow House in Williamsburg. The door itself is new also, but of a colonial type. The original door frame and transom light had all disappeared.
The window openings are as they were originally, but new sash and frames were put in. See General Notes-
The shutters and iron handmade "holdbacks" are new, but on a colonial model.
There is no record of what was there originally.
The basement wall is original.
The grills, sash and frames of the basement windows are new, on a colonial model. The old ones had gone to pieces.
The barge board on the southern slope of the root is original. The barge board on the northern slope was existing at the time the house was restored, but is not the original one. Both and boards are new, but are of the local colonial type adapted to the style of this particular house.
No end boards originally.
The weather boarding is new, on the original model.
The window opening in the gable on the second floor is new and was put in to provide ventilation. It has new sash and frame of the original model. See General Notes.
The chimney is original and untouched except for some new reinforcement in the throat. (Note: It is a very good example of this type of chimney, and in remarkably good condition.)
The basement wall showing is original.
This entrance was in existence when the house was restored, but was not an original part of the house. It has been newly repaired.
The asbestos shingles are new.
(See: Remarks about shingles under North Elevation.)
The dormer windows at each end were newly rebuilt on the model of the dormers which were there and which had gone to pieces. The window sash and frames are new, but on the original model. See General Notes.
The dormer window in the center is entirely new and was put in to add to the convenience of the house.
The cornice is new and was made by the Restoration to match the original cornice on the North Elevation. There was formerly a plain cornice where with modillions though it was designed to take them.
There was no gutter or leaders originally. The present gutter and leaders are new and were put in to protect the house.
The wall surface is of weather boarding. It is not original but was put on some time before the house was restored. As it was good in type most of it was left on and was pieced out where it had gone to pieces by new weather boarding of the same model.
The porch is new and was put on for the sake convenience. It is similar in design to a colonial type porch at Tuckahoe.
The door is new, of a colonial model. The original door had disappeared.
Window openings are as they were originally, but with new sash and frames on the original model. See: General Notes.
The shutters and iron handmade "holdbacks" are new but on a colonial model.
There is no record of what was there originally.
The basement wall is original. The grills, sash and frame of the basement windows are new, on an old model. The original ones had gone to pieces.
The barge boards on both north and south slopes are original. Both end boards are new and were put in by the Restoration but are of the local colonial type adapted to the style of this particular house. There were no end boards originally.
Most of the weather boarding is not old but was left on because it was of good type. In places where it had disappeared. The present sash and frame are new, on original model of sash and frame used in this house.
The chimney is original and untouched except for new reinforcement in the throat and some new repointing of bricks against the house wall. (See note on Chimney under East Elevation.)
The basement wall is original.
Interior walls and ceilings throughout the house newly replastered. The original or old plaster was in a bad condition.
All locks, latches, and door knobs used throughout the house are new, on an old model, and were put in by the Restoration. The original ones had disappeared.
All the hinges used on the original doors are original or old, and all hinges used on new doors are new, but are hand made on the old "L" model with new hand made nails.
The hot water heating system is new and was installed for the convenience of the house. Therefore all equipment, openings for pipes, etc. that are connected with this heating system are new.
All the lighting equipment and fixtures are new as there was no lighting system before the house was restored.
See reference to Window Sash under General Notes for Exterior.
All interior window trim was put in by the Restoration, but is of an old type. The original or old trim had disappeared or gone to pieces.
Baseboards are painted black in accordance with the original usage. Woodwork and walls painted in accordance with the prevailing local colour schemes of the 18th century.
The sills of the building are original except in places at the corner where they had rotted and had to be replaced. All new sills are creosoted for protection against "termites" and the original sills are painted with creosote paint as far as possible.
The first floor beams and girders are original.
The second floor beams and girders are original with some necessary new reinforcements.
The studding throughout the house is original, with about ten percent necessary new reinforcement.
About 25% of the rafters and roof boards are original. The rest are new and were necessary replacements because of the condition of the roof. Cabot quilting was put in when the house was restored for insulation against heat.
All new nails used are handmade.
Note: The destruction of wood (particularly where it is subjected to dampness) by "termites" has been responsible for the disappearance of
An entire new concrete floor was put in at the time the house was restored. Originally and up to between 1890 and 1900 the east end of the cellar, which before the Restoration had a dirt floor, was the only excavated part of the cellar and was out off from the unexcavated part by a continuous brick retaining wall, running from north to south across the cellar. Part of this wall now remains to the east of the cellar stairs and the "racking" at its former juncture with the south wall of the basement can still be seen.
The space on either side of the cellar stairs from the north basement wall to the south basement wall was originally an unexcavated (or only slightly excavated) clay bank which sloped up to cover the footings of the shallow foundation walls, and was excavated as late as 1890 to 1900. The space between this and the west end of the basement, which is now a concrete skim bank put in at the time the house was restored, was originally unexcavated dirt which was higher than the adjacent clay bank.
In the originally excavated part of the cellar the basement walls are as they originally were, but in the rest of the cellar the original walls had to be built under at the time the house was restored down to the level of the present concrete floor or bank. This new wall surface was covered by a concrete skim.
The cellar window openings in the east end of the basement were originally there, but the grills, frames and sash, all on an old model, are new. The old ones had disappeared. In the west end of the cellar the openings are new as well as the grills, frames and sash.
The stairway was already existing when the restoration was made, but probably dates from the time when the excavated portion of the cellar was extended.
The brick pier to the west of the stairway is new and was put in when the house was restored to take the place of a wooden post which was insufficient to carry the weight of the loaded girders which rested on it.
The new brick pier to the east of the stairway, which is built in to the and of the brick wall which once ran across the cellar as a retaining wall, was put in when the house was restored to support the framing above, which had been weakened.
The ceiling was replastered when the house was restored and sheet rock was used between the plaster and the beams because of cracks between the floor boards above.
16For sills see the remarks under General Notes for Interior.
For the entrance at the east end of the basement see the paragraph headed "Basement Entrance" under "East Elevation". It is not known at what time this entrance was added, but it probably was not original.
The arched opening that formerly existed in the base of the east chimney was blocked when the house was restored. As it had a flue opening out of it, it probably was used as a fire place and the excavated end of the cellar may have been used as a kitchen.
The floor is newly laid of the old type. The floor beams and girders underneath are original. The old floor had gone to pieces.
The baseboards and cornice are of the old type. The original baseboard and cornice had gone to pieces.
The front door, door trim and transom light above are all new. They are the same model as the original ones used on the Barlow House here in Williamsburg, which is the same period. The old door, trim and light had disappeared.
The rear door and trim are new both on an old model.
The door and trim leading to the cellar stairs are new, of old model. The originals had disappeared. The floor of the cellar stairs landing was in existence at the time the house was restored and is of the same age as the stairs. See paragraph on "Stairs" under section headed "Basement".
The sheathing and baseboard on the west wall of this cellar stairway were put in when the house was restored. They were not there originally.
The stairway to the second floor is original throughout except for a few new balusters and for a slight repair to the top of the easternmost newell post on the landing, which was made at the time the house was restored. The hand-rail and newell posts are all of hard pine and the balusters are pine, walnut and poplar. (Note the irregularity of shape of the balusters on the landing). The string piece under the stairs is original.
17The doors leading from the Hall to the Living Room and Dining Room are original with original frames.
The floor is original.
The floor beams and girders underneath are original.
The walls and ceiling were replastered at the time the house was restored.
New baseboards, chair rails, cornice and fireplace mantel of old type were put in when the house was restored. The original ones had disappeared.
New Window Sash and Trim of the original type were put in at the time the house was restored. The old ones had disappeared.
The fireplace and hearth had to be rebuilt at the time the house was restored on the original dimensions and in the original form.
The present entrance to the new kitchen wing was formerly a cupboard or closet. The floor in it was put in at the time the house was restored. The beams in its ceiling were in existence when the restoration was made but are not original. It may be that this cupboard was not a part of the original house.
"Birge" wall paper is new.
This wing is entirely new and was built at the time the house was restored to make the house more convenient. It has been designed in the same style as the original house and its chimney is typical of the locality and of the period that the house was built in.
The floor is original.
The floor beams and girders underneath are original.
The walls and ceiling were replastered at the time the house was restored.
New baseboard, chair rail, cornice and fireplace mantel of old type put in at the time the house was restored. The original ones had disappeared.
New window sash and trim of original model were put in at the time the house was restored. See Exterior: General Notes.
The fireplace and hearth had to be rebuilt at the time the house was restored, with the same dimensions and of the same model.
Birge wall papers were put in at the time the house was restored.
See paragraph under Hall in "First Floor".
The floor and beams underneath are original.
The walls and ceiling were replastered at the time the house was restored.
The dormer window is newly rebuilt with new sash and trim on the original model. See Exterior: General Notes.
Note: Probably the upper hall originally ran straight through to the front of the second floor.
Probably no room originally existed where the present bath room now is. The present bath room was enlarged from the bath room which existed at the time the house was restored by moving the wall which divided it from the hall two or three feet nearer the staircase.
The dormer window was rebuilt at the time the house was restored, and its sash and trim are new, of old model. See Exterior: General Notes.
The floor and beams underneath are original.
The door and frame leading from the hall into the bath room are new, of an old model. Originally no door here.
The walls and ceiling were newly replastered and the east and west walls are new and were built at the time the house was restored.
The bath room fixtures are new and were installed at the house was restored.
The floors are original.
The beams and girders underneath are original. The attic beams in the ceiling are also original.
The walls and ceiling were newly replastered.
New baseboards of an old type were put in at the time the house was restored. The original had either disappeared or had never existed.
New window sash and trim on original model were put in when the house was restored. See Exterior: General Notes.
The fireplace and hearth had to be rebuilt at the time the house was restored of same dimensions and shape as they were before.
New mantle piece of old model was put in when the house was restored. The original had disappeared.
The doorway together with the door and its trim, opening into the closet are new, of old model, and put in when the house was restored. The closet itself was built when the house was restored out of space which belonged to the former bath room, as a convenience.
20The doorway opening into the Upper Hall was moved two or three feet nearer the stairs and into its present position when the house was restored because of the increased depth of the new bath room. Its door, trim and hinges are all original and were in the former doorway.
Note the difference between the front and rear dormer windows In size and number of lights (or panes). The front windows have Fifteen lights each eight and a half by nine and a half inches, while The rear windows have twelve lights each eight and a half by the and a half inches.
Exactly the same conditions as in the West Bed Room.
Subject to further investigation.
The colors used when the house was restored are the colors found by investigation and research to have been in common use in this locality in the 18th century colonial period.
The outhouse, (or dependency) behind the kitchen wing and near Queen Street is a seventy-five year old building which was moved there from the adjacent lot to the east. It was used as a kitchen for the J. T. Christian house where it was before and in its present position is used as an office.
The wood shed which is behind the east end of the house is standing on the foundations of the original wood shed. The structure itself was moved here by stedding from the Casey property on the corner of Henry Street and Duke of Gloucester Street. It formerly was a dairy.
The garage building is of old type but was built at the time the house was restored. It has been put on the foundations of the original kitchen to the house.
Built at the time the house was restored on a colonial model.
To be noted later-
Awaits completing record of more houses.
To be noted later.
It is proposed to eventually add to this record "record" photographs of exteriors, interiors and out-buildings together with photographs of any other buildings or architectural motives which have been used as source material for this particular house. For example in the case of end board and porch neither of which originally existed in the Montague House.
It might also be advisable to include drawn elevations and plans on which are concisely noted the contents of this record. These drawings would be reduced by photography to the scale that would fit them in this book.