Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Shingles:

The asbestos shingles are new and were put on at the time the house was restored as a fire preventative. They are so made that they will darken with age like wood shingles.

^{MOHAWK ASBESTOS, `WILLIAMSBURG TAPER'}

Dormer Windows:

The dormer windows had to be rebuilt on the original model at the time the house was restored. The frames are original but the sash and trim are new on an old model. The original sash and trim had disappeared. Note that the mountings in this part of the house have been made wider than those in the western part of the house, inasmuch as the eastern end was the part built first.

^{SEE INTERIOR NOTES FOR SASH ALL FRAMES RETAINED AND REPAIRED WHERE ROTTED.}

Cornice:

The cornice is new of a typical local colonial model. The original cornice had disappeared. The "bracket" showing on this elevation is really an original "end board".

^{THE CORNICE IS LARGELY ORIGINAL - PATCHED WHERE NECESSARY.}

Note:
The moulding running between the upper and lower slopes of the roof is new but of a local colonial type. The original one had disappeared.

ORIGINAL MOULD REPAIRED.

Gutter and Leader:

None-

^{A BRICK GUTTER WAS LAID ALONG THE WALL AT GRADE TO REDUCE WATER SEPAGE INTO BASEMENT.}

Wall Surface:

Wall surface is original.

^{PIECED OUT WITH BOARDING FROM SOUTH ELEV.}

Porch:

New front porch added for convenience, but of an appropriate Colonial Type. No porch originally.

^{THERE IS A FRONT `STOOP' SOME SIMILAR FEATURE MUST HAVE BEEN ORIGINAL.}

Front Door:

New front door of an appropriate colonial type. ^{What was Prototype? HRS} Original door had disappeared.

^{FRONT DOOR OF LINDSAY HOUSE ON YORK ROAD SIMILAR.}

Windows: (FRAMES & EXT. TRIM)

The window frames are all old. For sash see notes on Interiors. The trim, sills and shutters are new (on colonial model) except in the case of the two windows to the west where they are all original. The original ones had disappeared.

All the new iron holdbacks are hand made on local colonial model. The originals had disappeared, or never existed.

^{EAST WINDOW NEW COMPLETE}

^{TWO WEST WINDOW FRAMES AND TRIM ORIGINAL ALL OTHERS TO MATCH.}

Shutters:

See note under Windows.

^{THE TWO PAIR AT WEST END ARE ORIGINAL - OTHERS TO MATCH.}

Basement Wall-

Rebuilt so far as possible on the former foundations of the old City Hotel at the time the house was restored. ^{WALL BELOW GRADE EAST OF DOOR IS ORIGINAL.}

The colonial period brick that was used came from the Turner Farm on the Chickahominy River in New Kent County. Window frames and grills new on the local colonial model. Originals had disappeared.

Chimneys:

All chimneys rebuilt in their original form at the time the house was restored. The east chimney was rebuilt of colonial brick from the Turner Farm; the other chimneys of colonial brick from Teddington on the James River in Charles City County.

Barge Boards (End Boards) Corner Boards.

New corner board of colonial type at east end of house and at point marking division between part of the building built first and part of the building added next. Next "division" board and corner board at west end are original.

End boards new on original model. Originals had disappeared.

^{General Notes}

Shingles:

None

Dormer Windows:

None

Cornice:

None

Gutter and Leader:

None

Wall Surface:

Entire east end including chimney rebuilt in its original form of colonial period brick brought from the Turner Farm on the Chickahominy River in New Kent County.

The original brick were unusable and the Turner Farm brick were used in their place because they were the same type.

Porch:

None

Front Door:

None

Windows:

None

Shutters:

None

Basement Wall:

See note on Wall Surface on East Elevation.

Chimneys:

See note on Wall Surface on East Elevation.

Barge Boards:
End Boards, Corner Boards.

Barge board and end boards new on original model. Original barge boards burned.

Northeast corner board new or original model. Original had disappeared.

Southeast corner board original.

End boards new on original model. Originals had disappeared.

Shingles:

See Note on Shingles on North Elevation.

Dormer Windows:

The two dormers on the ell and the western dormer on the main roof were rebuilt on the original model at the time the house was restored (except for the head of the frame which in each case was original) because of the condition of the original material. The eastern dormer on the main roof was rebuilt in the same way except that the entire original frame was preserved.

The other dormers were rebuilt with old frames and new sills on the original model.

Cornice:

For main Cornice see note on Cornice on North Elevation.

Cornice of "ell" new on local colonial model. Original had disappeared.

^{ONLY THE CROWN MOULD IS NEW.}

Gutter and Leader:

None

Wall Surface:

New^Antique weather boarding to match weather boarding on North Elevation. Original weather boarding in such condition that it could not be preserved.

^{THE ANTIQUE BOARDS FURNISHED WERE ORIGINALLY ON A BUILDING OF APPROX. THE SAME DATE. IN THE COUNTRY.}

Porch:

New main porch added for the convenience of the house of an appropriate colonial design. Kitchen porch same.

^{KITCHEN STOOP-SIMILAR TO ONE THAT MUST HAVE EXISTED ORIGINALLY.}

Door:

Original main door and original trim patched in places where necessary for preservation.

Kitchen door new of local colonial model for convenience of house.

Windows:

East window original trim and new sill on original model to replace original which had disappeared. Other three windows have entire new trim on original model. Original trim had gone to pieces.

^{ORIGINAL FRAMES REPAIRED.}

Window in "ell" new on colonial period model.

^{TO MATCH ORIGINAL WINDOWS.}

Shutters:

Shutters on eastern window new on local colonial model. Original had disappeared or never existed. Other windows have no shutters.

^{TO MATCH ORIGINAL SHUTTERS FOUND ON NORTH ELEV. ALSO SHUTTERS ON WESTERN WINDOW.}

Basement Walls:

Same as on North Elevation.

Chimneys:

See note on chimneys on North Elevation.

Barge Boards:
End Boards, Corner Boards.

Eastern barge board on "ell partly original and partly new.

Corner board southeast corner original.

End boards on "ell" new both of typical local colonial pattern. Originals had disappeared.

Corner boards on "ell" original. ^{AS ARE THE TWO ON THE PORCH.}

Shingles:

None

Dormer Windows:

None

Cornice:

None

Gutter and Leader:

None

Wall Surface:

Original.

Porch:

None

Door:

None

Windows:

First floor windows, frame, trim and sash original, except for some new trim in southernmost window.

Second floor windows all new on original model except sash is original. Original frame and trim in bad condition.

For "holdbacks" see note on holdbacks under Windows on North Elevation.

Shutters:

First floor original.

Second floor new, on original model. Original had disappeared.

^{SECOND FLOOR SHUTTERS ORIGINAL {SEE PHOTO BEF. CEST)}

Basement Wall:

See note on Basement Wall on North Elevation;

Chimneys:

New kitchen chimney for convenience of house.

Built of old brick from Te^ddington.

Barge Boards, End Boards, Corner Boards

New barge boards on original model. Original had to be replaced.

New end boards on local colonial model. The one at northwest corner modeled on original bracket in center of North Elevation. The one at southwest corner designed as suitable to "ell". Corner boards original.

^{MODELED AFTER EXISTING PORTIONS.}

Note:
Basement entrance new on local colonial model, for convenience.

SIMILAR TO ORIGINAL ON SAUNDERS DINWIDDIE HOUSE

Floor:

Original. Edge grain, like all the floors throughout the house.

Beams:

Original (reinforced for preservation when house was restored.)

Walls and Wall Covering:

Newly plastered. Original plaster had to be replaced.

Ceiling:

Newly plastered. Original plaster had to be replaced.

Baseboard:

See wainscot.

Chair rail:

See Wainscot.

Cornice:

About half original, as part of it had to be replaced when the house was restored because of the fire in 1928.

Panelling or Wainscot:

Original but of later date than house. The period can be determined by the type of moulding. Like all the rest of the paneling in the house it is white pine, which is very unusual in Virginia and so far as is known is the only white pine so far found in Williamsburg.

Mantel:

Mantel is original to this house, but not to this room as it came from upstairs as a replacement of the mantel originally in the ^{FROM 2ND FLOOR WEST ROOM.} 21 room which had been burned.

Fireplace & Hearth:

Rebuilt on original model out of Main Farm brick. Original fireplace and hearth could not be moved with house.

Windows,(sash, trim and Frame):

New windows modelled on remnants of original sash in this house.

Closets:

No closets.

Door and Trim:

Original door and trim.

Metal Work of Door:

(latch, hinges, door knob, fastenings:)

Old lock. Original hinges.

Color:

See notes on Interior Color.

Equipment:

^{NEW, FOR CONEVENIENCE}

^{FLOOR HEAT REGISTER}

^{ELECTRIC BASE PLUGS.}

Other Notes:

Floor:-

Original. "edge grain".

Beams:

Original. Reinforced when house was restored.

Walls (and Wall Covering).

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:-

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

See Wainscot.

Chair Rail:

See Wainscot.

Cornice & Plasterboard:

Original. Earlier date than wainscotting.

Paneling or Wainscotting:

See note under Wainscotting in East Room.

Mantel:

None

Fireplace and Hearth:

None

Windows (Sash, trim & Frame)

None

Closets:

None

Doors (and Trim).

Front door and trim new on local colonial model to replace modern door. Rear door original with unusual chamfering of panels. Door to cellar stairs original. For other doors see Notes on rooms they lead into.

Metal Work of Doors:
(Latch, hinges, door knobs, locks, et cetera:)

Front door hardware new hand-made of local colonial type. On rear door hinges are original, lock is new of old colonial model to replace modern lock. On door leading to cellar, hinges are original but latch and bolt are new, handmade to replace modern hardware.

Color:

See notes on Interior Color.

Equipment:

None

Other Notes:

Light fixture is a colonial copy, but such lights were never hung originally.

The stair is original. Newell post and hand rail are poplar. Newell post cap is pine. Caps and posts on railing are poplar. Balusters are poplar.

Floor:

Original- laid "edgegrain".

Beams:

Original, reinforced when house was restored.

Walls (and Wall Covering):

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

Part of baseboard is original, of white pine. Rest of baseboard had gone to pieces and had to be replaced by new hard pine baseboard at the time the house was restored.

Chair Rail:

See Wainscot.

Cornice and Plasterboard:

Cornice and plaster board original and hard pine.

Paneling or Wainscot:

Wainscot original of white pine but of later date than the house. This difference in period is shown in the difference in the type of moulding used.

Mantel:

Original of hard pine. Of same date as wainscot.

Fireplace and Hearth:

Rebuilt on original model, of Main Farm brick, at the time the house was restored.

Windows:

(Sash, Trim & Frame)

Original trim (except around south-east window where trim had disappeared and had to be replaced by new trim). ^{OLD MATERIAL} Sash is new of same model as original sash which had largely disappeared.

Closets:

Original

Doors (and Trim)

Original

Metal Work of Door: (latch,hinges, door knob, locks, etc.)

Door knob and lock of door into hall old. All the knobs and locks in this house were put in about 1800. All latches and hinges in the doors in this room are original.

Color:

See notes on Interior Color.

Equipment:

^{HOT AIR REGISTER AND RETURN-
THERMOSTATE
BASE PLUGS.}

Other Notes:

Floor:

Original- laid "edge grain".

Beams:

Original- reinforced when house was restored.

Walls- and Wall Covering:

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

Half original and half new to match the part of the original which had gone to pieces.

Chair rail & Board:

New chair rail of typical local colonial model to replace original which had gone to pieces. A small part of the original chair rail board remains but the rest is new.

Plaster

Cornice and Board:

No traces of a cornice.

Paneling or Wainscot:

None

Mantel:

Original. Probably put in after this portion of the house was built.

Fireplace and Hearth:

Rebuilt on original model of Main Farm brick when house was restored.

Windows:
(Sash,Trim and Frame)

All original. These are the sashes on which the new sash in the house were modelled.

Closets:

None

Doors (and Trim)-

Original.

Metal Work of Door:
(latch, hinges, door knob, locks,etc.)

New handmade latches (old ones had disappeared) of local colonial type and original hinges. Old hand made nails for fastening hinges.

Color:

See note on Interior Color.

Equipment:

^{HEAT REGISTER AND BASE PLUGS.}

Other Notes:

^{DOOR MOVED FROM SOUTH WALL TO EAST FOR CONVENIENCE.?}

Floor:

Floor is new. Original floor had to be used in other parts of house when it was restored. OLD MATERIAL

Beams:

Original reinforced when house was restored. Same is true of studding.

Walls (and Wall Covering)

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

New of local colonial model. Original had disappeared.

Chair rail:

None

Cornice:

None

Paneling and Wainscot:

None

Mantel:

None

Fireplace & Hearth:

None

Windows, Trim & Sash:

Original

Closets:

None

Doors & Trim:

Original.

Metal Work of Door:
(Latch, hinges, door knob, locks, etc.)

See rooms doors lead into.

Color:

See Interior Color Note.

Equipment:

New.

Other Notes:

This passage was built at same time as the West Room. Originally there were stairs to the Second Floor in this passage. These were removed and stored when the house was restored for convenience.

^{TOP RUN OF STAIRS STILL IN PLACE}

The corner plaster board is new of a local colonial type to replace the original which had disappeared.

Floor:

New, of hard pine. Original had disappeared.

^{OLD MATERIAL}

Walls (and Wall Covering:)

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

New, on local colonial model.

Chair rail:

None

Cornice:

None

Paneling:

None

Mantel:

None

Fireplace & Hearth:

None

Windows, (Trim & Sash)

South window sash and trim new —a copy of the original which had disappeared.

West window original except for lower sash, which is new on local colonial model.

Closets:

None

Doors & Trim:

New exterior door of local colonial model. Original had disappeared.

Metal Work of Door:
(Latch, hinges, door knob, locks, etc.)

Hinges new of old colonial Model (H and L model). New modern iron run lock.

Color:

See Interior- Color Notes.

Equipment:

New.

^{ELECTRIC OUTLETS AND HEAT REGISTER}

Other Notes:

New chimney of old brick (from Teddington) for convenience of house.

There used to be a one room kitchen wing here which was destroyed when the house was restored as it was "modern".

Floor:

Original floor had to be replaced when house was restored. Old boards of same type in good condition used in its place.

Beams:

Original with reinforcement put in when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Walls &(Wall Covering):

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

Original had disappeared. New one of local colonial type put in when house was restored.

Chair Rail:

None

Cornice:

None

Paneling & Wainscot:

None

Mantel:

None

Fireplace & Hearth:

None

Windows (Trim & Sash)

South window has original sash and trim.

Closets:

None

Door and Trim:

Door into bathroom new of local colonial model. Corner board interior trim and stool new of colonial type.

^{TO MATCH THOSE FOUND IN BLDG.}

Metal Work of Door:
(Latch, hinges, door knob, locks, etc.)

Metal work of door into bath room has new hand made hinges of colonial model and iron run modern lock.

Color:

Appropriate to colonial period.

Equipment:

Other Notes:

Stair rail original. Rail on this floor and down to landing of white pine. Cap of newel post on second floor of hard pine. Newell post itself of poplar.

Note name of "R. T. Harmon" carved in rail. Also "E. Simmons" with date of "1829".

Floor:

Old floor boards from another colonial house put in when the house was restored to replace original floor which was burned.

Beams:

Original, reinforced when house was restored.

Walls (and Wall Covering)

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

Original baseboard was burned at time of fire 1928. A new one of local colonial model was put in when house was restored.

Chair rail:

None

Cornice:

Original cornice was burned in fire of 1928. New cornice on original model replaced it when house was restored.

Same is true of corner boards, which are new of original model.

Paneling or Wainscot:

None

Mantel:

Original mantel was burned. New one of original colonial model replaced it when the house was restored.

^{SIMILAR TO BED ROOM AT CHELSEA}

Fireplace & Hearth:

Rebuilt according to original dimensions out of Main Farm Brick.

Windows (Trim & Sash & Frame)

New sash and trim in both the windows to replace original which had burned. Note that the mountings are wider in these windows than in the windows in the middle and western part of the house, which was built later. This was done by intention, as wide mountings were used at the time the house was rebuilt. The frame of the south window is original.

Doors (and Trim).

Door and frame and trim are original.

Metal Work of Doors:

(Latch, hinges, door knob, locks, fastenings.)

New handmade hinges, latches and bolts of a Colonial model.

Colour:

Color is typical of colonial period.

Equipment:

^{[faded] AND ELECT, OUTLETS}

Closet:

Closet put in by Restoration. Room for it taken from former bath room. Door is of a colonial model with new handmade hinges and latch.

^{FOLLOWS DOOR DESIGN FOUND IN HOUSE}

Other Notes:

Floor:

Original floor had disappeared. Old boards from another house of the Colonial period were used to replace these when the house was restored.

Beams:

Original, reinforced when the house was restored.

Walls (and Wall Covering)

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

Original baseboard had disappeared. Baseboard replaced on colonial model.

Chair rail:

None

Cornice:

None

Paneling:
(of Wainscot)

None

Mantel:

None

Fireplace & Hearth:

None

Windows (Trim, Sash & Frame)

Original sash and frame. Trim is new of a colonial model. The original trim had disappeared. The old corner board had disappeared, and is replaced by a new corner plaster board of a colonial model.

Closets:

None

Doors (and Trim):

See note on same door in Hall.

Metal Work of Door:
(Latch, hinges, door knob, locks, fastenings)

Same as above.

Color:

Typical of local colonial period.

Equipment:

New. ^{COMPLETE BATH ROOM EQUIPMENT.}

Other Notes:

Floor:

Same note as for East Bedroom.

Beams:

Original, reinforced when house was restored.

Walls (and Wall Covering:)

Replastered when house was restored.

Ceiling:

Replastered when house was restored.

Baseboard:

Original with one small new piece as a repair.

Chair rail:

None

Cornice:

None

Paneling or Wainscot:

None

Mantel:

Original.

Fireplace and Hearth:

Rebuilt when house was restored with old brick from the Main Farm.

Windows (Trim, Sash & Frame)

Northeast window: Sash & frame original. Trim is new of a colonial model to replace original which had gone to pieces.

^{ALL OTHER LOWER SASH NEW TO MATCH}

Northwest window: Same as above.

Southwest window: Upper sash original. Lower sash new on the same model. Trim is new to replace original which had disappeared. Frame is new and sash is new on original model to replace original which had disappeared.

Note that all the window stools are new to replace originals which had disappeared, except in the Southeast window.

Doors and Trim:

Door into closet is new of a colonial model with old trim and frame.

Door into hallway and its metal work old.

Closets:

Metal Work on Door:
(Latch, hinges, door knob, locks fastenings:)

New handmade latch, hinges and bolt of an original model.

Color:

Equipment:

^{HOT AIR REGISTER AND ELEC. OUTLETS}

Other Notes:

THE TRAVIS HOUSE GARDEN

The Travis House garden was built on the nearly level ground which resulted from filling a deep, wet gully lying under the house site and extending diagonally to the southeast across the lot line. Measured plans were made of all the old gardens in Williamsburg. Upwards of fifty ancient gardens in neighboring sections of Virginia were also measured and drawn to scale in order to learn some of the characteristic features of the gardens of the region. This study led to the simple rectangular form of the Travis garden, its fenced and hedged margins, its direct relation to the steps at the house, to the corner outbuildings, entrance gates, approaches, and to the very narrow lot. The large lilacs, crape myrtles, elms and apple trees were growing on the lot. Native holly trees were transplanted from nearby fields and woods to give shade and to form the hedges. Lombardy poplars were planted in rows with tall growing shrubbery to hide adjacent rear premises. The two large Box bushes were brought in.

The lateral hedged enclosures were added for the accommodation of groups of tea house patrons desiring separate tables. Summer houses resembling characteristic outbuildings of Williamsburg were used for the accommodation of guests wishing further privacy and greater protection from the weather. Subsequent planting of flowers and other plants will be arranged from ancient plant lists which had been given to the Restoration by members of the Williamsburg Garden Club, by the Garden Club of Virginia and by interested friends who have assisted.

As far as possible the future extension of the grounds will be kept in harmony with the simplicity of the house, and with the traditions of Virginia gardens applied to the actual conditions which must be met in operating the grounds with the dwelling as a public tea house.