Travis House Architectural Report, Block 13-2 Building 23-A Lot 159Originally entitled: "Architectural Report The Travis House (Restored) Block 13-2, Colonial Lot 159, Building 23-A"
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1290
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
THE TRAVIS HOUSE
(Restored)Block 13-2, Colonial Lot 159, Building 23-A
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
THE TRAVIS HOUSE
(Restored)
The building was moved to a temporary location in Block 5 in 1951, after this report was edited. The report treats of the building as it was while it occupied its former site in Block 13-2, and, consequently, certain statements in it are obsolete.
Restoration was started October 16, 1929
Restoration was completed April 10, 1930
Walter M. Macomber, Resident Architect
The working drawings were made by the following: Singleton P. Moorehead, Orin Bullock, David S, Hayes, Washington Reed, Milton L. Grigg and Richard A. Walker
Research Report (April 28, 1942) by Hunter D. Farish Mary E. McWilliams
The original report was prepared by Harold R. Shurtleff, May 16, 1930. It was edited by Howard Dearstyne in July, 1950. The historical preface and illustrations were added at that time.
VIEW OF THE TRAVIS HOUSE LOOKING WESTWARD ALONG DUKE OF GLOUCESTER STREET. THE BRICK END WALL IS A NOTABLE FEATURE OF THIS HOUSE.
TRAVIS HOUSE
HISTORY
The Travis House was built as a dwelling for Colonel Edward Champion Travis between 1765 and 1780. It was not built in that form in which it appears today, but two separate additions were made to an original house which may be recognized by a study of the original house foundations on the Eastern State Hospital site. The original part was what is now the east room and stair hall; next was added what is now the center room dust to the right of the stair hall and last was added the present west room and kitchen wing. [It is suggested that the reader of this report examine the attached drawing to make clear the nature of the plan and work done to achieve its restoration.] The perpendicular boards that divide off the street elevation are what is left of the corner boards that belonged to the part that was built first and to the first addition.
This house first stood on the grounds of the Eastern State Hospital and was at one time the Superintendent's residence. The following is an official account of the Travis House removal, prepared in 1930 by Todd and Brown, Builders for Colonial Williamsburg.
"The Travis House was originally the property of the Eastern State Hospital: It stood on the lot at the northeast corner of Francis and Hence Streets Block 14, #4.
The Travis House was damaged by fire in the fall of 1928, soon after it became the property of 1a.
Two Photographs - FRONT (BELOW) AND REAR VIEWS OF TRAVIS HOUSE BEFORE BEING MOVED TO ITS DUKE OF GLOUCESTER STREET SITE. -2- the Williamsburg Holding Corporation. The work of moving the building we started on March 18, 1929 and it was placed on blocking (on the lot where the Galt House now stands) April 5, 1929. The house was moved from the original location down Francis Street, across a trestle, which was built over the Francis Street ravine, and across the lots where the Fowler and Timberlake Houses now stand.
The Travis House remained on its temporary foundations until September 10, 1929, when the moving was taken up by our own forces. It was placed on its present foundations October 15, 1929.
The house known as the Sue Hundley House, the clothing Store of the Garner Company, and the old Palace Theatre formerly occupied the site.
The Work of restoration was started on October 16, 1929, and completed on April 10, 1930."
Letter of Robert Trimble Jr., Todd and Brown Inc., Builders Williamsburg and New York. May 20, 1930 .
As indicated in the account by Mr. Trimble, the modern buildings supplanted by the Travis House included a theatre and at some time before that, and up to the time of the Civil War, the site was occupied by a gambrel-roofed building - the ancient city Hotel, which according to Mr. Harold R. Shurtleff probably dated back to the eighteenth century. It was not a prepossessing building as it came down to the twentieth century, -3- but fortunately some of the foundations of the building existed, and great care is reported to have been taken to incorporate as much as possible of them in the present Travis House foundations. Actually the coincidence of old foundations and the foundation walls required for the newly located Travis House was not extensive. The front foundation wall of Travis House does fall in line with most of the front wall of the two old buildings that stood on the site. All other foundation walls are inside the area of the two buildings.
The City Hotel was a very popular nineteenth-century, hostelry and in its early days is said to have given shelter to such a famous guest as Thomas Jefferson. "On important occasions it spread its hospitable board on long tables placed in the shade of the huge elm tree that stood in the back yard."
Architecturally, the Travis House may be considered typical of Williamsburg town houses of the late colonial period. The gambrel roof, with its almost perpendicular lower slope, was an ingenious solution of the problem of obtaining a full story on the second floor, and an almost full floor within the roof. This type of roof and its many counterparts is discussed in the Architectural Report for the Lightfoot (Nightengale) House, in Files of The Department of Architecture.
The Travis Family
The Travis Family with whom the Travis House is associated during a part of its history was well known here on the Peninsula. Colonel Edward Travis, (1721-1770),who is believed to have built the house, was a Burgess representing Jamestown in the colonial Assembly from 1752 to his death, and -4- was the fifth Edward in direct descent in the Travis family. His wife, née Susannah Hutchings, whose portrait is in possession of a descendant, Mr. H. D. Cole of Williamsburg, (see reproduction below), was one of those spoken of by Hugh Jones, when he wrote in 1784 that "most people of any note in Williamsburg have a coach, chariot, Berlin or Chaise." His son, Champion Travis was Colonel of a Virginia State Regiment and a Naval Commissioner in the Revolution and his grandson, Samuel, was a member of the House of Delegates and was an officer in the Navy in the War of 1812. A granddaughter of Edward Champion Travis, Susan, married the famed Edmund Ruffin in 1811 (see next page). See Research Records for a fuller account of the Travis Family.
SUSANNAH HUTCHINGS TRAVIS, WIFE OF EDWARD CHAMPION TRAVIS, SUPPOSED ORIGINAL BUILDER OF TRAVIS HOUSE
EDMUND RUFFIN
One of the most noted names associated with the Travis House is that of Edmund Ruffin, distinguished publicist and innovator in the field of agriculture and famous warrior in the War Between the States. It was Ruffin who touched off the powder keg at Charleston in 1861 by firing the first shot at Fort Sumter. Ruffin, as a young man of 17, married Susan Travis at the Travis House in 1811. His descendants still live in the vicinity of Williamsburg -- at Evelynton on the James.
RUFFIN IN THE UNIFORM OF THE CHARLESTON PALMETTO GUARDS
EDMUND RUFFIN
EXTERIOR
NORTH ELEVATION: (See page 15a.)
Shingles:
The old shingles were removed. They did not represent the actual original ones put on when the house was first built or first enlarged. The actual useful life of common shingles is around 50 years for cypress. Shingles of oak and chestnut were less long lived. Cedar and cypress shingles only in rare instances have been recorded as having existed for 75 or 100 years. During the early months of the restoration at Williamsburg, experiments mere made in the production of permanent shingles, made to appear like the old ones but composed of asbestos cement. The protection of houses in Williamsburg against fire was deemed essential; also local fire regulations of the city of Williamsburg demanded such protection.
Dormer Windows
The dormer windows are not entirely original ones. The following facts apply:
The dormer window frames are original, excepting for some patching. The window sash and trim are new but these parts follow the equally old and still existing sash of houses such as the Captain Orr dwelling and the Annie Galt House. The muntin bars as replaced vary because of the different ages of the parts. The muntins of the eastern and earliest end were made wider than those of the western part of the house. This variation is in accordance with the change in carpentry-design practice. The dormer itself and its facing mouldings are all new in materials, following design of colonial models for dormers of gambrel-roofed buildings of Williamsburg, of approximately the same date.
Cornice:
The old cornice had disappeared so a new one was substituted. The design of the new cornice follows closely that of typical 18th century cornices of Williamsburg. Walter Macomber, resident architect who compiled notes on the Travis House as it was being restored, noted: "The bracket showing on this elevation is really an original "end board." (?)
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."
Gutter and Leaders:
There was no evidence of any having existed, so none were used.
Wall Surface:
The wall facing is original but patched in places with old boards. All weatherboarding has a beaded edge. New corner boards were placed at the east end at end of the first "original building." The other two corner boards at the west end are original.
Porch:
"New front porch added for convenience, but of an appropriate colonial type. No porch originally."
Front Door:
Front door is new of an appropriate colonial design. Original door had disappeared.
Windows
Window frames are all old. For sash see notes on Interiors. The trim, sills and shutters are new (on colonial model) except in the -7- case of the two windows to the west where they are all original.
All the new iron holdbacks are hand made after a local colonial model. The originals had disappeared, or never existed.
Shutters:
See note under Windows.
Basement Wall:
Rebuilt so far as possible on the former foundations of the old City Hotel at the time the house was restored.
The brick used was of eighteenth century and came from the Turner Farm on the Chickahominy River in New Kent County. Window frames and grills are new and follow the common basement grill design of Williamsburg. Originals had disappeared.
Chimneys:
All chimneys are 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.
Corner Boards. End Boards:
New corner boards 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.
EAST ELEVATION:
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 on original model. Original had disappeared.
Southeast corner board original.
SOUTH ELEVATION
Shingles:
See note on Shingles on North Elevation.
Dormer Windows:
The two dormers on the "ell" and the western dormer on the main roof mere 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.
Gutter and Leader:
None.
Wall Surface:
New weatherboarding to match weatherboarding on North Elevation. Original Weatherboarding in such bad condition that it could not be preserved.
Porch:
New main porch added for the convenience of the house of an appropriate colonial design. Kitchen porch same.
Door:
Original main door and original trim patched in places where necessary for preservation.
Kitchen door new of local colonial model. Since the kitchen was an adjunct for convenience of occupant today it was considered appropriate that doors and windows should be reproductions and not necessarily eighteenth-century originals.
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.
Window in "ell" new on colonial period model.
Shutters:
Shutters on eastern window new on local colonial model. Original had disappeared or never existed. Other windows have no shutters.
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.
WEST ELEVATION:
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.
Chimneys"
New kitchen chimney for convenience of house. Built of old brick from Teddington.
Barge Boards, Ends 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.
NOTE: Basement entrance new on local colonial model, for convenience.
WEST END OF TRAVIS HOUSE AFTER REMOVAL OF PAINT, SHOWING OLD WEATHERBOARDING.
INTERIOR
GENERAL NOTES
All walls and ceilings replastered when the house was restored. Original plaster in such bad shape it could not be used.
Heating system (hot air) entirely new and installed for convenience of hones. All its equipment is therefore new.
All lighting fixtures throughout the house are new, as a new lighting system had to be installed for convenience. There was none originally.
All thresholds in house are new of a local colonial type, and are made of old pine. Original thresholds either absent (flooring ran through) or had disappeared.
Brick used in rebuilding hearth when house was restored were old brick which came from the Main Farm near Greenspring Manor.
Brick used in rebuilding the fireplaces when the house was restored came from Teddington. The original brick in the Travis House on its former site were all in bad condition and could not be used again.
Faces of all fireplaces plastered and blacked in accordance with old local customs.
Floor boards laid "edge grain."
Beams, rafters and studding original (with reinforcements when the house was restored) except at the east end where the fire wad in 1928. Here there had to be a great deal of new framing.
All wood is of hard pine unless otherwise specified.
Beams, studding, sills and rafters:
Sills new as original ones had disappeared. Beams, studding and -15- rafters original in general with reinforcement put in when the house was restored. At eastern end of house the fire in 1928 had destroyed so much however, that the reinforcement almost amounts to replacement.
BASEMENT:
Except for the limited use of certain parts of the old foundation of the City Hotel (on the north wall) and some facing of the new cellar wall with old bricks from Teddington and Turner Farm, the entire cellar is new and is arranged for the convenience of the house and its present use as a tea house.
FRONT ELEVATION; SECOND FLOOR PLAN; FIRST FLOOR PLAN
EAST ROOM - FIRST FLOOR:
Floor:
Original. Edge grain, like all the floors throughout the house.
Beam:
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.
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 panelling 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 (west end room upstairs) as a replacement of the mantel originally in the room (which had been burned). This move was made in -17- order to make the mantels on the first floor (which naturally would be seen more) "original" so far as possible.
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:
Other Notes:
HALL - FIRST FLOOR
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 wainscoting.
Mantel:
None.
Fireplace and Hearth:
None.
Windows (Sash, trim & frame):
None.
Closets:
None.
Doors and Trim:
Front door and trim now 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: (hatch, 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 reproduction, 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.
MIDDLE ROOM - FIRST FLOOR:
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:
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 plasterboard original and hard pine.
Panelling 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 southeast window where trim had disappeared and had to be replaced by new trim). Sash is new of same model as original sash which had largely disappeared.
Closets:
Original.
Doors and Trim:
Original.
Metal Work of Doors: (latch, hinges, door 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:
Other Notes:
WEST ROOM - FIRST FLOOR:
Floor:
Original - laid "edge grain."
Beams:
Original -reinforced when house was restored.
Walls and Wall Coverings:
Replastered when house was restored.
Ceiling:
Replastered when house was restored.
Baseboards:
Half original and half new to match the part of the original which had gone to pieces.
Chair Rail & Boards:
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.
Cornice and Plasterboard:
No traces of a cornice.
Panelling 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 sash on which the new sash in the house were modelled.
Closets:
None.
Door 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 handmade nails for fastening hinges.
Color:
See note on Interior Color.
Equipment:
Other Notes:
PASSAGE TO KITCHEN - FIRST FLOOR:
Floor:
Floor is new. Original floor had to be used in other parts of house when it was restored.
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.
Panelling and Wainscot:
None.
Mantel:
None.
Fireplace and Hearth:
None.
Windows (trim and sash):
Original.
Closets:
None.
Doors and 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.
The corner plasterboard is new of a local colonial type to replace the original which had disappeared.
KITCHEN - FIRST FLOOR
Floor:
New, of hard pine. Original had disappeared.
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.
Panelling:
None.
Mantel:
None.
Fireplace and Hearth:
None.
Windows (sash and trim):
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 and Trim:
New exterior door of local colonial model. Original had disappeared.
Metal Work of Door: (latch, hinges, door knob, looks, etc.)
Hinges new of old colonial model (H and L model). New modern iron run lock.
Color:
See Interior Color Notes.
Equipment:
New.
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."
UPPER HALL - SECOND FLOOR:
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 and 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.
Panelling and Wainscot:
None.
Mantel:
None.
Fireplace and Hearth:
None.
Window (trim and 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.
Metal Work of Door: (latch, hinges, door knob, looks, etc.)
Metal work of door into bathroom has new handmade 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."
EAST BEDROOM - SECOND FLOOR:
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.
Panelling or Wainscot:
None.
Mantel:
Original mantel was burned. New one of original colonial model replaced it when the house was restored.
Fireplace and Hearth:
Rebuilt according to original dimensions out of Main Farm brick.
Windows (trim and sash and 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 built 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.
Color:
Color is typical of colonial period.
Equipment:
Closet:
Closet put in by Restoration. Room for it taken from former bathroom. Door is of a colonial model with new handmade hinges and latch.
Other Notes:
BATHROOM - SECOND FLOOR:
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.
Baseboards:
Original baseboard had disappeared. Baseboard replaced on colonial model.
Chair Rail:
None.
Cornice:
None.
Panelling or Wainscot:
None.
Mantel:
None.
Fireplace and Hearth:
None.
Windows (trim, sash and frame):
Original sash and frame. Trim is new of a colonial model. The original trim had disappeared. The old corner board had disappeared, and -32- 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 Doors: (latch, hinges, door knob, fastenings, locks)
Same as shown.
Color:
Typical of local colonial period.
Equipment:
New.
Other Notes:
MIDDLE ROOM - SECOND FLOOR:
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.
Panelling or Wainscot:
None.
Mantel:
Original.
Fireplace and Hearth:
Rebuilt when house was restored with old brick from the Main Farm.
Windows (sash, trim and frame):
Northeast window: Sash and frame original. Trim is new of a colonial model to replace original which had gone to pieces.
-34-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 lamb, locks, fastenings)
New handmade latch, hinges and bolt of an original model.
Color:
Equipment:
Other Notes:
WEST BEDROOM - SECOND FLOOR:
No data.
ORIGINAL USE OF ROOMS AND INVENTORIES:
(Subject to further investigation)
The exterior and interior 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 eighteenth-century colonial period.
| No. | Location | Finish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 459 | Weatherboarding | Yellow ochre (buff) | |
| 696 | Trim | Egg Shell White | |
| 706 | Doors and blinds | Dark grey green | |
| 25 | Porch floors | Light dusty tan deck paint |
| No. | Location | Finish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 175 | Baseboards of dining room, kitchen, pantry and all 2nd floor rooms. | Flat black | |
| 643 | Woodwork, west dining room. | Satin | Umber tan |
| 653 | Woodwork, east living room. | Satin | Umber tan with chocolate tint. |
| 558 | Woodwork, center and west bedrooms. | Satin | Medium yellow tan |
| 81 | Woodwork, bathrooms | Satin | Soft grey green |
| 139 | Woodwork, east bedroom | Satin | Medium grey |
| 625 | Woodwork, lot and 2nd floors center hall & stairway. | Varnish | Black |
| 557 | Woodwork, kitchen & pantry | Satin | Dark grey green |
| 697 | Fireplace facings | Satin | Flat black |
| 555 | Walls, lot & 2nd floor stairway | Flat | Off white with pale yellow. |
| No. | Location | Finish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 554. | Walls, center & west dining rooms. | Flat | Off white, with yellow tint. |
| 553 | Walls, east living room | Flat | Off white, slight yellow tint. |
| 698 | Walls, center and west bedrooms | Dri-wal | |
| 654 | Walls, bathrooms | Satin | Umber tan with light chocolate tint |
| 553 | Walls, east bedroom | Flat | Off white, slight yellow tint. |
| 556 | Walls, kitchen & pantry | Satin | Raw umber, tan |
OUTHOUSES
None.
FENCES:
Fence new on local colonial model.
GARDEN:
See next page.
GARDEN
Harold R. Shurtleff, Esq.
c/o Williamsburg Holding Corp.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Dear Harold:
In reply to yours asking for a brief account of the Travis House gardens I send you the following with copies to my usual correspondents so they can lend help if they note errors or omissions. If this seems out of whack to you let me know and I will try to do better.
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 here 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 Clubs 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.
Very truly yours,
Arthur A. Shurcliff.