James Galt House Architectural Report,
Block 45-1 Building 40Originally entitled: "Architectural Report The James Galt House
Block 13, Building 27A"
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1361
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
ARCHITECTURAL REPORTTHE JAMES GALT HOUSE
(A Restoration)
GALT HOUSE AS IT APPEARS ON ITS NEW DUKE OF GLOUCESTER SITE THE. HOUSE WAS REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL FOUNDATIONS ON THE GROUNDS OF THE EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL.
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
THE JAMES GALT HOUSE
(A Restoration)
Block 13, Building 27A
The James Galt House is a fairly typical example of domestic architecture of Williamsburg of the eighteenth century. It was restored, not on its first century old location, but at a new site on Duke of Gloucester Street.
- The restoration of the Galt House was begun in the summer of 1929
- The restoration of the Galt House was completed on September 24, 1929.
The house was restored by the Williamsburg Holding Corporation under the direction of Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, architects. Architectural drawings were made by S. P. Moorehead and George S. Campbell. Outbuilding drawings were made by Washington Reed and John Henderson.
This report was prepared by S. P. Moorehead in 1930. The material was revised and enlarged by A. Lawrence Kocher and Howard Dearstyne, September 14, 1951.
ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
THE JAMES GALT HOUSE
(A Restoration)
Block 13, Building 27A
On March 29, 1929, authorization was issued for moving the James Galt Cottage from its original location on the Eastern State Hospital grounds to a new location on Duke of Gloucester Street opposite Bruton Church. The house is a modest one, a story and a half in height. It was given an informal attraction by additions made to it from time to time since it was first built before the Revolution. The house stood within the Hospital grounds and had once been the residence of a well-known superintendent, James Galt.
The house was considered as having some architectural significance as a representative example of the small Williamsburg house. It was a gift from the Hospital to the Williamsburg Holding Corporation in 1929 and after the grant was made plans were prepared for its removal and rehabilitation. At a meeting on February 27, 1929, attended by Mr. William Perry (of Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, Architects), Mr. Walter Macomber and The Rev. William A. R. Goodwin, two possible sites were considered; one location was at the rear of Captain Orr's Dwelling, beyond the garden, but plainly visible from Duke of Gloucester Street. The other site considered was just west of the Custis-Maupin House, in Block 13, 2. Lot 354, formerly known as the Timberlake lot. This latter location was finally accepted as having special advantages, chiefly that the house would fill a gap in an area where a house was greatly needed for appearance's sake, in plain view from Bruton Parish Church.
On June 2, 1929, William Perry wrote a letter to Colonel Arthur Woods, in justification of the removal and site selection:
This [the James Galt] house is being moved from outside of Area A into Area A. The purpose is to make a complete historical exterior and interior restoration of the house.Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, in a letter sent to Colonel Woods on August 21, 1929, enunciated certain principles that were intended to apply in the restoration of Williamsburg's old houses. The statement is important because the Galt House was one of the first buildings to receive their attention.*
In remodelling such houses in Williamsburg, we have always attempted to make as close a restoration of the building as possible; in some cases making only a minimum number of changes to conform to rigid necessities of modern life.Its authentic restoration and its adjustment to the requirements of a present day tenant were given extensive consideration. The manner of arranging the plan so as to include modern plumbing, heating, lighting and insulation is discussed in detail on the following pages.
The moving of the house from the Hospital grounds to the new foundations was completed with a final cost of $2,459.15.
3.Exterior - General Notes
Certain slight alterations were found desirable, as noted later. The house was again refaced and new elements, such as some new doors and windows of colonial design were put in place of modern ones. While the framing was exposed, a thorough inspection and determination of the different parts of the structure became possible. See following notes for specific mention of alterations.
Much of the original building existed at the time of its restoration. Its treatment consisted chiefly of repair, patching and strengthening. New materials were used 1) to replace missing original parts, 2) to replace original parts unfit through decay or excessive wear, 3) for strengthening parts found to be unsafe structurally and yet whose retention was necessary as a historic record, 4) alterations or additions necessitated by demands of modern living conditions. The decision as to what old materials to discard and what to reuse rested in general with individual workmen under the builder's supervision. More important judgments were made by the architect, and these will be mentioned in the following notes.
The exposed brickwork on this job was culled from the old and original foundations and chimneys at the site from which the house was removed.
In general, so much of the original structure being suitable for reuse, it was decided only to renovate the house, but at the same time to keep as many of the original features in place as possible. It was also, on the other hand, decided to provide a reasonable amount of living comforts and conveniences for use as a small twentieth century dwelling house.
4.
[Floor Plan of the James Galt House - First and Second Floor]
LOCATION
The James Galt House is located on the south side of Duke of Gloucester Street, on a plot designated as Lot #354. It was one of three lots owned by John Custis early in the eighteenth century, namely, Lots 353, 354, 355.
These lots have been considered as the possible site of a four family house, thought by some to have been drawn and built by John Custis in Williamsburg, before 1750. This unconfirmed assumption is based upon the discovery among John Custis's papers (Virginia Historical Society) of an eighteenth century architectural drawing that shows a four family house with a single central chimney, each of the four ground floor rooms having its own ladder to a loft above.* The house was intended for a site between two parallel streets, a location similar to that of Lots 353, 354, and 355.
EXTERIOR
GENERAL NOTES
The original site of the James Galt House, as noted, was on the grounds of the Eastern State Hospital. There were, at the time when the house was given to Colonial Williamsburg, few places available for a new site, but the most attractive and appropriate of these was a situation opposite Bruton Parish Church on the Duke of Gloucester Street.
Colonial Williamsburg officials decided upon the new site on the basis of the following facts: 1) It would fill a gap near the church and adjacent to the important Palace Green, 2) It was thought desirable that this fine, small example of colonial architecture had qualities which might be effectively displayed in a central location near the church, yet because of its small size not competing with the Church for visual prominence. These reasons were felt to overweigh the fact that the Frenchman's Map and also excavations revealed no trace of a colonial house on the chosen site. Several other reasons became apparent, chiefly in the vein that this general area should be made as attractive as possible in the manner of the middle eighteenth-century Virginia architecture and gardening. Perhaps overwhelmingly important was the recognition of the bare gap directly opposite Bruton Parish Church which would be unattractive from the standpoint 7. of the main purpose of the project, namely, that its streets present an agreeable and complete picture of the chosen period.*
The house seems to have originally consisted of a 16 x 20 foot unit, as at the John Blair House, Levingston Kitchen, John Coke Office. All have lean-to additions. In the case of the John Blair House a stair hall and other rooms were of a later date. The James Galt House accretions give the house its irregular mass and its attractive informal quality. On its original site, the ground sloped in such a way that a rather high basement wall was adopted. This basement feature was necessarily discarded upon its reconstruction on the new and flat site. The building was moved while its foundation walls and basement on the new location were being constructed. After placing the house on the new foundations, the wall, coverings of the weatherboarding and the roofing of the house were removed; the frame was thereby exposed for inspection. The framing was carefully examined, after which it was repaired or renewed.
On May 8, 1942, a meeting of Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Chorley and Mr. Kendrew, the policy in reference to the care of ancient buildings of Williamsburg was discussed, specifically referring to buildings which had been moved into the restored area from the neighborhood of Williamsburg, as in the case of the Travis House and the James Galt Cottage ....
"In the case of the Galt Cottage," says Mr. Kendrew, "it was felt that a different situation existed than with the Travis house, because in its present new location the Galt Cottage is not on a lot where original buildings existed." It was agreed at the meeting that when the time comes for considering the future of these buildings "we might remove the Galt Cottage back to a restoration lot where a building of the approximate size of the Galt Cottage existed in the eighteenth century."
NORTH ELEVATION
SHINGLES
Mohawk Asbestos Company, Williamsburg type, developed by this company for Colonial Williamsburg to answer demands of fire laws and insurance for a fireproof roof. These synthetic shingles were designed so as to simulate weather hand split wood shingles such as were commonly used in the eighteenth century, locally. Existing wood shingles found in place (modern) were removed - roof boarding was patched and roofer's-felt laid thereon as base for the asbestos shingles. Cabot's Quilt insulation was inserted between rafters and the sheathing. These modern materials were incorporated here because they are more efficient than the old ones and because they are hidden from the eye. They do not alter the colonial character of the exposed parts. Roof framing when exposed by removing shingles was found to be in sufficiently good condition to be retained with small repairs, patching and strengthening.
DORMER WINDOWS
These were found to be in reasonably good condition and so were retained, with minor repairs. Interior window heads and frame rebates for sash particularly needed repair; some few being entirely new.
CORNICE
The existing cornice was retained with repairs, renailing, patching, etc. The cornice profile is a very common local type of the eighteenth century and has been used as a model for numbers of remodelled and restored new buildings of Colonial Williamsburg.
GUTTER AND LEADER
A row of bricks was laid flat at grade in order to break the splash of the eaves' wash. This brick drip was inserted also to prevent erosion of the top soil at this point. Fragmentary evidence is of such treatment was seen at Pleasant Hall, Kempsville, Princess Anne County, Virginia.
9.Exterior - North Elevation
SURFACE
Existing weatherboarding was reused, where found in good condition, but repaired and patched. Parts of the east porch were rearranged so as to cover the new porch addition. See under Porch.
PORCH
Entrance stoop consists of brick walls, wood steps, posts, rails, apron and floor. No actual precedent for it exists, but parts of several known colonial models were combined in an harmonious manner. General form is adapted from the stoop of an unidentified brick house in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and one shown in a Brady photograph at Culpepper Court House taken in the 1860's. The treatment of the rails is adapted from those on existing porch of the Tayloe House and Tuckahoe, Goochland County, Virginia, likewise the above mentioned precedent and further borne out by a Brady Civil War photograph of an unnamed Virginia brick house.
EAST PORCH
Colonial Williamsburg officials decided, as a general policy for the reconstruction of dwellings, to insert, if possible, a porch on each restored house as a concession to modern living demands of comfort. The typical eighteenth century local house had none, apparently, beyond stoops at entrances,* but it became conventional to add them in the early nineteenth century and later during the early republic period. On this basis it was thought safe to proceed and to make any added porches later in character and period than the building to which they were affixed.
In this instance the roof line was continued to form a porch, being held on simple square posts resting on a brick floor with steps of wood to the higher level of the first floor. See front door, 10. East Elevation. This type of shed porch is very common in Tidewater Virginia in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, as at houses near Croaker, James City County and at Fontleroy near Ayletts, Virginia. The cornice is a repeat of the bed mold of the main cornice and the rakes are handled as on the main house. The ceiling is plaster, adapted from an example somewhat similar, namely, the colonial porch at the Coke-Garrett House. The brick floor was inserted because a wood floor so close to the ground would rot out so rapidly. This had precedent at a small house at New Market near Accomac, Virginia.
An electric fixture was sunk into the porch ceiling to light the porch at night. This is a concession to modern convenience, but it is so placed as to be inconspicuous.
FRONT DOOR
The original door was missing. A new one was made of heart yellow pine, its details being copied from original doors elsewhere in the building. The frame was patched and is original, but a new sill was made since the original one was badly rotted. The new member was copied after the old one and made out of heart yellow pine.
WINDOWS
The existing original windows were suitable for reuse with minor repairs.
The basement windows are new and to detail, following closely the eighteenth-century basement windows at the Bracken House. For reasons, see General Notes, also Basement Wall. A hinged sash was inserted, its muntins being hidden by the members of the grille. This is a concession to the necessity of keeping weather out of the new basement but also of lighting it as well. The frame and grille are of heart yellow pine, the sash of white pine. The center grille 11. was made removable in order to allow fuel access. This in no way alters the colonial appearance of the feature.
The original, existing shutters were suitable for continuing their use, with minor repairs. The hardware was original and so was reused.
BASEMENT WALL
See General Notes. This is a new wall, below grade, of 12" concrete, above grade, of 12" brick. On the exterior, exposed portions the brick is the original eighteenth-century material. The mortar joints in the basement walls are made up of local sand and marl lime. In the restored wall some modern cement was included for its greater permanence. The sand and marl mortar was typical of this locality in the eighteenth century. Interior surfaces and hidden parts of the wall above grade are composed of common brick of modern manufacture laid in modern cement mortar. The height and shape of the basement wall exposed above the ground was determined by conditions of the site and by precedent of the Bracken, James Geddy, Archibald Blair and John Blair Houses. The depth below grade of the wall is determined by the clear basement space necessary to accommodate the heating installation. See under Basement.
CHIMNEYS
See East Elevation for main chimney.
BARGE BOARDS
(END BOARDS)
CORNER BOARDS
Corner boards are originals, repaired and patched. For cornice stops, see East and West Elevations.
GENERAL NOTES
Paint Colors:
- Body of woodwork - oyster white
- Trim color - 45S
- Blinds - 33S
- Door painted "wainscot" color.
EAST ELEVATION
SHINGLES
As for North Elevation.
DORMER WINDOWS
None.
CORNICE
See porch, North Elevation. For cornice over kitchen porch, see Porch, this elevation. Actually the kitchen porch, being an addition to the original house, covers the original cornice with its shed roof. For further notes on the original member at the southeast corner and adjacently on this elevation, see South Elevation.
GUTTER AND LEADER
None.
WALL SURFACE
For main portion, same as for North Elevation.
For kitchen portion, what was originally on open porch had been closed in with a small wooden addition attached at the south. This was done in the nineteenth century as was recognized when the building was stripped. The original porch posts became evident during reconstruction. Some columns were missing entirely. The demands of planning (see General Notes) made it necessary to utilize this original porch space for a new kitchen area. In order to express this move, the posts were repaired and new ones made of heart yellow pine were designed to replace the missing ones. The space between them were filled in with random-width sheathing, joints running horizontally, and the sheathing boards laid flush. The material used was cypress. The original floor nosing and apron were authentic, in fact were copied from some original remnants still extant on the building when it was stripped. Thus the porch was expressed, with an infill between posts, frankly revealing the fact that it was closed in, but expressing the fact that it was inspired by examples of the eighteenth century.
13.PORCH
Replanning for modern living conditions predicated this feature. See General Notes. The roof follows closely the arrangement on the main porch, see North Elevation. Ditto for posts. For general precedent of newel, top and bottom rails floor, steps, cheek walls, and nosing, see front stoop on North Elevation. The rail pattern is adapted from 1) gate at Coke-Garrett House, 2) Mount Vernon rail, 3) conventional patterns in late eighteenth-century rails of wood in and about Charlottesville, Virginia, particularly at the University. There is no known example of an identical treatment for a door stoop, but only examples which bear a distant resemblance. The period of this stoop was considered similar to that of the infilling of the kitchen portion of the original porch. See notes under Wall Surface above. A small ceiling fixture for an electric light was sunk into the board-sheathed ceiling in such a way as to be inconspicuous, and yet to light the porch effectively at night - a concession to modern convenience.
Door #11 from Dining Room: Slight replanning of interior for modern living comforts and convenience necessitated closing up of a door opening on the south wall of the living room. This door, trim and frame with a new sill, copied from the original entrance sill was built between the dining room and the porch. For reasons regarding replanning, see General Notes.
Door #8 from Entry #4: The east stoop has a new door, necessitated by replanning of original porch area. See Wall Surface and Porch above. This door is built entirely of new material. The door frame and trim were copied from an original porch door (now Door #9) from the dining room to the serving pantry.
14.WINDOW
Dining Room Window: The existing original window was repaired where necessary. The insertion of Door #11 made it necessary to move the window from its original position on the left of the room to the east, to balance the door within the room.
Window to Pantry: This is a four-light sash, all of new material. Sash is of white pine; frame and trim of heart yellow pine. Four-light windows appear frequently in local eighteenth-century buildings in gables and enclosed shed portions, as at 1) house at Croaker, James City County, 2) house at Barnhamsville, New Kent County. Trim is similar to small end window at Kittewan, Charles City County. Usually these small windows have fixed sash, but for convenience a casement sash has been used here. When closed, however its profiles are according to the above precedent.
SHUTTERS
Dining Room Window: Original shutters missing. These were replaced by new ones of white pine copied from originals elsewhere on building.
BASEMENT WALL
Same as for North Elevation. Under shed portion, the wall extends only far enough below grade to have a firm footing, since there is no basement under the south shed portion.
The original main chimney was taken down when the house was moved, and was re-erected with original brick on all exposed surfaces, laid in marl lime mortar. At unexposed points, common manufacture brick laid in modern mortar were used. The original shed portion chimney was similarly handled.
BARGE BOARDS
(END BOARDS)
CORNER BOARDS
Original rakes and corner boards repaired. New ones are copied from these.
15.GENERAL NOTES
This elevation is considerably altered from its known, original condition. The reasons for this appear in the foregoing notes under the various items in this elevation.
For paint colors, see General Notes, North Elevation.
SOUTH ELEVATION
SHINGLES
Same as for North Elevation.
DORM WINDOWS
One dormer - remarks on North Elevation apply here, but original cheeks and trim were covered with later boarding and flat trim. When this was removed, the original profiles and detailing became apparent and were repaired, patched and reused.
CORNICE
Existing cornice was found not to be all original; therefore, repairs were made at several places. The cornice design was inspired by the existing original parts. This was made of cypress.
GUTTER AND LEADER
None.
WALL SURFACE
Same as for North Elevation.
PORCH
Covered elsewhere.
FRONT DOOR
None. There was an existing door at west part of this elevation, but it was a late door, not being coeval with the building.
It was removed. See below.
WINDOWS
See front door. It was assumed that the above mentioned door stood on what was the original site of a window contemporary with the house. The door was taken out and a new window made, being copied after the original, existing window in this elevation to the east of it. An eight-light window was made to light the entry. The basis for its installation was the need for light because of the filling in of the original open porch for kitchen service. See 16. General Notes and Wall Surface, East Elevation. This window copies the same details and sources as for new window mentioned above. A four-light window was inserted by the request of the Williamsburg Holding Corporation when they decided to insert a toilet in the Bed Room #1. See this room. This window is the same as that in the pantry of East Elevation.
SHUTTERS
New shutters were made for the two larger windows, copied in white pine from originals elsewhere on the building.
BASEMENT WALL
Same as for East and North Elevations. Headers were left out so as to vent the unexcavated portion under the south shed part of the house. The pattern used has precedent in an outbuilding at Fontleroy, near Ayletts, Virginia.
CHIMNEYS
BARGE BOARDS
(END BOARDS)
CORNER BOARDS
Original existing rakes and corner boards were repaired. Those on new portions were copied from the originals.
GENERAL NOTES
For paint colors, see General Notes, North Elevation.
WEST ELEVATION
SHINGLES
As for North Elevation
DORMER WINDOWS
None.
CORNICE
None shows.
GUTTER AND LEADER
None.
WALL SURFACE
As for North Elevation.
PORCH
None.
FRONT DOOR
None.
WINDOWS
First floor windows as for those on North Elevation. Second floor window an original existing window repaired where necessary 17. at minor points. The necessity for a bath room on the second floor caused it to be moved slightly south of its former position to make room for the bath room south wall. Basement window same as for North Elevation. This grille here inserted simply as a matter of design.
SHUTTERS
On first floor only. These were existing and original and were reused after minor repairs were performed.
BASEMENT WALL
Same as for North Elevation. Bulkhead: The change of site removed access to basement. A new one had to be provided and one was adapted from the old eighteenth-century one on the Taliaferro-Cole Shop, Duke of Gloucester Street. The walls are brick at and above grade and concrete below grade for economy. At exposed exterior portions original colonial brick were used from the old foundations of this house and laid in marl lime mortar. Hidden and interior parts of the brick walls are of common modern brick in modern mortar. The steps are of concrete for economy. See remarks on basement.
CHIMNEYS
None.
(BARGE BOARDS
(END BOARDS)
CORNER BOARDS
Original existing rakes and corner boards were repaired. Original cornice stops existed, but in very bad repair. They were replaced with new ones copied from them.
GENERAL NOTES
For paint colors, see General Notes, North Elevation.
INTERIOR
GENERAL NOTES
See General Notes, Exterior. The original known plan of this house would not have been suitable for modern domestic life house had been renovated to this disposition of plan. There were, course, no plumbing, heating or electrical conveniences. In order to make the restored job comfortably habitable and rentable, certain additions and compromises had, of necessity, to be made. These are more or less minor, in that the house as renovated follows very closely the original disposition of plan. The most marked changes from what was there were made in the southeast section, in order to provide a practical kitchen within the limitations imposed by the house itself; the insertion of a closet and lavatory in the shed portion; a closet on the second floor and accommodating a bathroom in the second floor hall. The interior, almost throughout, retained its original woodwork, etc., and where missing there was no difficulty in discovering what was there. The only difficulty occurred in making alterations to the original layout which would provide the maximum of modern conveniences with a minimum of alterations to the existing original plan.
PAINTING
Several original paint colors were uncovered within the house and these were followed as paint samples for the various rooms.
HEATING
As a concession to modern living needs a hot-air heating system was installed. This type, although filling the basement full of large ducts and equipment, is advantageous on the floors above, since simple unobtrusive register vents are all that appear exposed, and the ducts can be run in thin, existing partitions. The basement was inserted only as a repository for the heating equipment and fuel storage.
21.ELECTRICAL
An electric system for lighting and power was installed because of demands of modern living conditions. Switches and plug outlets were painted with their respective backgrounds to make them as inconspicuous as possible. As few wall and ceiling outlets or fixtures were used, first, because of the difficulty of making an appropriate and attractive electric fixture from colonial lighting appliances and second, because of the expense of some, most of the lighting is accomplished by numerous base plugs to be used at will by the occupant.
FLOOR: FIRST
ROOM: HALL #3
FLOOR
Original floor repaired.
FLOOR NAILS
Where new nails were necessary, modern cut nails were driven in the same manner for original nails.
BEAMS
Beams were repaired and strengthened. A few were replaced but all possible original material was retained, even though not acting structurally.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
Existing plaster and lath were entirely removed since these were unsanitary and in bad condition. It was replaced with metal lath and plaster, laid by modern methods. The skim coat was troweled to a slightly uneven surface.
CEILING
Ditto.
BASEBOARD
Original base repaired.
CHAIR RAIL
Ditto.
CORNICE
None.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
MANTEL
None.
22.FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
None.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) See West Elevation. Interior trim, etc. were repaired and reused.
CLOSETS
See Stairs for space under stair utilized for access to cellar.
DOOR AND TRIM
For Door #1 to outside, see notes, North Elevation. Trim existing and repaired. For Door #3 to cellar stair, existing original door was repaired. For Door #4 to Bedroom #1, original door, frame and trim were repaired and reused, but its position was altered so that it centered on the space between the first run of stair and West Hall wall. This was considered permissible since it gave a more continuous length of wall space in the bedroom for bed area. Also it improved the appearance of the hall, since the original position crowded much of the trim into that of Door #3 to the cellar.
| METAL WORK ON DOOR (Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) |
| Door #1--Original H-L hinges. New brass rim look. Modern manufacture after colonial models. |
| Door #3--As for Door #4. |
| Door #4--Original H-L hinges. New hand latch and slide bolt by local craftsman after colonial models. |
COLOR
Woodwork painted sample #10. Plaster walls and ceiling painted white to simulate whitewash. Floors cleaned and waxed - retaining an old brown paint stain, probably not original.
EQUIPMENT
Register vents for hot-air heating system occur here, of simple design painted an unobtrusive color. See General Notes, Interior. Ditto for electrical. Two wall brackets by modern manufacture after colonial models, one on the east and one on the west walls. 23. Hook strip with wood hook pegs of old wood. This peg as coat hanger was adapted from an eighteenth century example at Mount Airy. Richmond County, Virginia. These were mounted on a board and placed on the west wall as a convenience for coat hangers by request of the occupant.
FLOOR: FIRST AND SECOND
ROOM: HALL #3 & HALL #8
STAIRS
The stair is entirely original and was reused with minor repairs.
RISERS AND TREADS
Original ones repaired where necessary.
NEWEL POST AND HANDRAIL
Ditto.
BALUSTERS
Ditto.
STRINGER, STRING BOARD, STRING BOARD ORNAMENT
Ditto.
CLOSED OR OPEN STRING
Closed.
LANDING (IF ANY)
(Floor - windows or openings on, if any - posts - handrail and balusters - "gallery board.") Original ones repaired.
FLOOR: FIRST
ROOM: LIVING ROOM #2
FLOOR
Original floor repaired.
FLOOR
See under Hall #3.
BEAMS
As for Hall #3.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
As for Hall #3.
CEILING
Ditto.
BASEBOARD
Original repaired.
CHAIR RAIL
Ditto. Where door was removed on south wall, the chair rail
24.
First Floor - Living Room #2
and back board were pieced out with heart pine, copying original closely.
CORNICE
Ditto.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
Original work repaired. Overmantel panel was missing and a new having flush pine boards was inserted. The mantel required minor repairs. The cupboard at the side of it was an addition.
MANTEL
Mantel was repainted and patched at minor points.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
Fireplace of original house was measured and recorded and here reproduced. The original fireplace was bricked up, but its opening was determined before moving of house from the original site where it became necessary to take down all brickwork in chimneys, hearths, fireplaces, etc.
The type of fireplace jambs and back was adapted from a like eighteenth century one in the Orrell House in Williamsburg. In order to provide modern methods of construction to throat, a stock, cast-iron damper was inserted with its attendant plaster smoke chamber leading into a terra cotta flue. This practice was followed for greater safety and because it is hidden from the eye. Brick exposed to the eye is original salvaged brick from the old site -laid up as it was in the house. Ditto for hearth. The original plaster face was reproduced.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) See North Elevation. The original trim-frame-panels below stoal were repaired, all being sufficiently good for reuse, with minor repairs.
CLOSETS
Glazed cupboard with panelled doors below at the side of fireplace was original. This was repaired at minor points.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #2 to Hall #3 - an existing door-frame and trim - had minor repairs made. Door #10 to Dining Room - existing door-frame 25. and trim - had minor repairs made.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Door #10 original H-L hinges - new latch by local craftsman after colonial models.
COLOR
Woodwork painted #12W sample. Walls and ceiling painted white to simulate whitewash. Plaster fireplace face painted flat black, floors cleaned and waxed.
EQUIPMENT
Necessary register vents for hot-air heating system. See General Notes, Interior. Ditto for electrical - nothing but base plugs in this room.
FLOOR: FIRST
ROOM: DINING ROOM #6
FLOOR
Same as for Living Room #2.
BEAMS
As for Hall #3.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
Ditto.
CEILING
Ditto.
BASEBOARD
Original repaired slightly.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
Overmantel panel missing. This was replaced with new one of heart yellow pine boards. The arrangement of the panel was obvious.
MANTEL
See Panelling and Wainscot. Mantel was original and was repaired where parts were missing or defective.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
Same as for fireplace, Living Room #2.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) North window - see Living Room and North Elevation. East window - see East Elevation.
CLOSETS
Closet beside fireplace was original including door frame and trim, shelves, etc. All repaired at minor necessary points. Closet replastered as for rest of house.
26.DOOR AND TRIM
Door #9 to Pantry - original door, trim and frame repaired at minor points. Door #11 to Porch - see East Elevation.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Door #9 - antique H-L hinges procured from old houses of the locality. New hand latch as for Door #10. Door #11 - original H-L hinges. New iron rim-lock brass knobs by modern manufacture after local colonial models.
COLOR
Same as Dining Room #2.
EQUIPMENT
Necessary register vents for heating system. See General Notes. Ditto for electrical. Two wall brackets by modern manufacture after colonial models on south wall for buffet space.
FLOOR: FIRST ROOM: PANTRY #7
FLOOR
New floor of random width, yellow pine, laid to simulate existing old floors elsewhere in building.
FLOOR NAILS
Modern cut nails, driven as in original floor elsewhere in building.
BEAMS
Considerable patching and replacement had to be done in the way of repairs and renewal. For further notes, see Hall #3.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
Metal lath and plaster as for Hall #3, except finish coat brought to a smooth finish in all service or kitchen portion to allow easy cleaning. The south wall is now and of modern stock lumber. Ditto for east wall. For this rearrangement, see General Notes and Wall Surface, East Elevation. Around chimney in Southwest corner brickwork was strapped with modern stock lumber on which was put metal lath and plaster as elsewhere in this room. The north and west walls originally were exterior walls of the house and the portion occupied by this room and Entry #4 formed 27. an open porch. See above references. To express this fact the old weatherboards were patched and repaired and retained on these two wall surfaces in their original position. The retention of weatherboarded surfaces after later additions occurs notably at the St. George Tucker House also.
CEILING
As for Hall #3 except finish coat was brought to smooth surface.
BASEBOARD
On east and south walls and about chimney a beaded base was inserted of heart yellow pine, copied after original base elsewhere in building. In this room it is incorporated, in places, with the shelving and casework. See Equipment.
CHAIR RAIL
None.
CORNICE
None, except about casework.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
MANTEL
None.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
None.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) For four-light window, see East Elevation. Interior trim copied from that elsewhere in building.
CLOSETS
None.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #9 to Dining Room, see Dining Room #6. Door #6 to Kitchen, same as for Door #9.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Door #6, same as for Door #11, Dining Room #6.
COLOR
Woodwork painted sample #52W. Walls and ceiling white. Both colors enamel. Counter top stained dark natural color.
28.EQUIPMENT
Electrical simple and with one modern ceiling light. For other remarks, see General Notes. Shelving and Casework: simple shelving with counter and deep shelves below, narrow above. The counter has a backboard against the wall. The upper shelves rest on brackets at necessary points and are capped with a simple molded cyma. The character of moldings and cuttings was held to one which would not be out of harmony with the interior of the house. The casework is entirely a concession to convenience.
See notes on North Wall, Walls and Wall Covering, Pantry #7. The old original weatherboards were retained on wall except behind casework and shelves. Here plaster and metal lath were used as being more practical back for such shelves.
GENERAL NOTES
This is a convenience room and is placed here because of altered original planning as is noted in remarks on the Exterior.
FLOOR FIRST ROOM: ENTRY #4
FLOOR
As for Pantry #7.
FLOOR NAILS
Ditto.
BEAMS
Ditto.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
North wall same as for south wall, Pantry #7. East and south walls as east wall, Pantry #7. On west wall original weatherboards were retained. See north and west walls, Pantry #7. All plaster in this room was brought to a smooth finish as more practical for kitchen service areas.
CEILING
Same as for Pantry #7.
BASEBOARD
Ditto.
CHAIR RAIL
None.
CORNICE
None.
29.PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
MANTEL
None.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
None.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) See South Elevation. Interior trim copied in new material after original trim elsewhere in building.
CLOSETS
None.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #8 to Porch, see East Elevation. Door #7 to Kitchen, same as for Door #8 but made new to copy it. Ditto for trim and frame. This was made to accommodate altered original plan as noted in remarks on Exterior.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Door #8, now H-L hinges by local craftsman after original models in building. New iron rim-lock as for Door #11. Door #7, ditto.
COLOR
As for Pantry #7.
EQUIPMENT
Appropriate electrical equipment was placed here with a ceiling light, modern. A power outlet for range in kitchen, the meter and switch also; no attempt being made to disguise them. A small case of shelves was built in beside refrigerator space. This was simply constructed and designed for convenience.
GENERAL NOTES
This is a convenience room placed here because of altered original planning as noted above.
FLOOR FIRST ROOM: KITCHEN #5
FLOOR
Same as for Pantry #7.
FLOOR NAILS
Ditto.
BEAM
Ditto.
30.WALLS AND WALL COVERING
North wall is new, placed here to divide off kitchen area. It is an alteration to the original plan as noted in the previous discussion. Walls are covered as for Hall #3 except finish coat was brought to a smooth surface, as a convenience in kitchen area to permit easy cleaning.
CEILING
Ditto.
BASEBOARD
Original base repaired. On west wall, base pieced out with new material to match old on other walls.
CHAIR RAIL
Ditto.
CORNICE
None except to cap glazed cabinet.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
MANTEL
Original mantel repaired.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
Same as for Living Room #2.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) Original window repaired at minor points and reused.
CLOSETS
None.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #6 to Pantry, see Pantry #7. Door #7 to Entry, see Entry #4.
COLOR
As for Pantry #7.
EQUIPMENT
Modern standard sink, drain board and fixtures. Drain board continues line of counter of cabinet adjacent. Cabinet with glazed doors and shelves behind. Below is a counter with deep shelves and solid wood doors underneath. The baseboard carries around the bottom of cabinet. Below either drain board is a small shelf case. All the casework is simply a convenience, but the various profiles, molds and cuttings have been given a colonial flavor to retain a simple colonial character. A row of drawers 31. was inserted below counter for convenience.
GENERAL NOTES
This room is a convenience room due to rearrangement of original plan.
FLOOR FIRST ROOM: BEDROOM #1
FLOOR
As for Hall #3.
FLOOR NAILS
Ditto.
BEAMS
Ditto.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
Ditto. East wall is new of stock lumber and metal lath and plaster as elsewhere in house. This wall is also west wall of kitchen; see remarks there, Walls and Wall Covering.
CEILING
As for Hall #3.
BASEBOARD
Ditto. On east wall base is pieced out with new material copying existing original portions elsewhere in room.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
MANTEL
None.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
None.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) South window, see South Elevation. Interior trim of new material copied from original in Kitchen #5. West window, original window repaired and reused.
CLOSETS
Two closets at east end. One is a clothes closet, the other a toilet and lavatory. These are purely for modern living comforts. Clothes closet, beaded base, see above; plaster walls and ceiling, see above. 10" wood shelf, hooks and clothes pole were installed, all purely for convenience. Lavatory and toilet closet has beaded base and plastered walls and ceiling brought to a smooth finish for 32. ease in cleaning. This is purely a convenience and was inserted by the request of the Williamsburg Holding Corporation as such.
DOOR AND TRIM
Doors to closets: trim copied from second floor trim at Captain Orr's Dwelling. Frame ditto. Doors copied from Door #9, Dining Room to Pantry. These were built new to accommodate the closets.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Both closet doors - new H-L hinges by local craftsman after original models in building. Brass knob latches are antique from local dealers.
COLOR
Woodwork painted sample #25W. Walls and ceiling painted white to simulate whitewash. Floor as for Hall #3.
EQUIPMENT
Electrical equipment inconspicuous except for one wall fixture for dresser space. This is manufactured by modern methods after a colonial model. Necessary register vents for heating room. For remarks on system, see General Notes, Interior.
FLOOR: SECOND
ROOM: HALL #8
FLOOR
As for Hall #3.
FLOOR NAILS
Ditto.
BEAMS
Ditto.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
Ditto. North wall is an original one moved southward in order to provide extra needed area in Bathroom. See General Notes under same. Plaster as for elsewhere in house.
CEILING
As for Hall #3.
BASEBOARD
Ditto. Original base on north wall was moved with it.
CHAIR RAIL
None.
CORNICE
None.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
Note.
33.MANTEL
None.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
Note.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) West window, see West Elevation. The interior trim of this window is all original with slight repairs.
CLOSETS
None.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #13 to Bath, original door frame and trim repaired and moved with partition. Door #14 to Bedroom, original door frame and trim cut down in width to all moving of south Bathroom wall. This was necessitated by replanning for modern living comforts.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Door #13, same as for Door #11. Door #14, same as for Door #4.
COLOR
As for Hall #3.
EQUIPMENT
Necessary electrical equipment, see General Notes, Interior. One ceiling light after a colonial model by modern manufacture.
FLOOR: SECOND
ROOM: BATH #9
FLOOR
Same as for Hall #3.
FLOOR NAILS
Ditto.
BEAM
As for Hall.
WALL AND WALL COVERING
As for Kitchen #5 (plaster and lath). Some space was stolen from Bedroom in order to provide room for tub on east wall. This was necessary to provide a reasonably workable bathroom. The original east wall of the small store room or chamber was adopted for the bathroom area.
CEILING
Ditto.
BASEBOARD
As for Hall #8.
CHAIR RAIL
None.
34.CORNICE
None.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
MANTEL
None.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
None.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) North window, see North Elevation. Interior trim original and reused with minor repairs.
CLOSETS
None.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #13 to Hall, see Hall #8.
COLOR
Woodwork painted sample #52W.
EQUIPMENT
Standard make tub, lavatory, medicine cabinet, stool. No attempt to disguise the equipment which is located in a most reasonable arrangement.
GENERAL NOTES
This is a convenience room.
FLOOR: SECOND
ROOM: BEDROOM #10
FLOOR
As for Hall #3.
FLOOR NAILS
Ditto.
BEAMS
Ditto.
WALLS AND WALL COVERING
Ditto. West wall of this room composed of new work. See following notes in detail at Closet and explanations for east wall, Bath #9.
CEILING
Ditto.
BASEBOARD
Ditto.
CHAIR RAIL
None.
CORNICE
None.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT
None.
35.Original mantel reused after minor repairs.
FIREPLACE AND HEARTH
Same as for Living Room #2.
WINDOWS
(Sash trim and frame and metal work) North windows, see Dormers, North Elevation. Interior trim original and was reused with slight repairs. South window, ditto except that extensive repairs were necessary on cupboard under stool because the lack of closet space in this room predicated deepening this feature. The door and frame were moved out, shelves deepened and ditto stool, following existing, original details.
CLOSETS
To balance extension east of bathroom wall a closet was erected on the southwest side of room giving small closet space. Partitions framed with stock lumber, wall surfaces being covered as elsewhere in building. Shelf, hookstrip and clothes pole were inserted as a convenience. This closet is purely a convenience, as bathroom. See further notes regarding replanning interior.
DOOR AND TRIM
Door #14 to Hall, see Hall #8. Door #15 to Closet a beaded sheathed door of vertical random-width boards on battens, made of new material with simple beaded frame. This type of door was common practice for unimportant openings in the second floor of small eighteenth-century houses. See reasons for under Closets.
METAL WORK ON DOOR
(Latch, Hinges, Door Knob, Fastenings, etc.) Door #15, same as for Door #11.
COLOR
Woodwork painted sample #19W. Walls and ceilings painted white to simulate whitewash.
EQUIPMENT
Appropriate base plugs and switches. One ceiling fixture and one wall bracket of modern manufacture after colonial models.
GENERAL NOTES
An access door for bathtub plumbing on west wall break at door. This is made of new material with batten door and beaded 36. trim after an attic access door example at eighteenth-century Marlfield, Gloucester County, Virginia. Under southeast dormer stood an original sheathed closet and batten door, repaired for use which were probably erected in the first quarter of the nineteenth century.
BASEMENT
See Basement Wall, North Elevation. As mentioned in this reference and that for the East and South Elevations, the exposed portions and hidden portions of the wall are explained. The basement was made under the main portion of the house only, this being sufficient to accommodate the heating equipment and fuel storage. Other portions were only partially excavated for economy's sake. The basement contains the heating equipment and a water heater and is drained by a water sump. A rough carpentry stair gives access to Hall #3; a like constructed board partition encloses fuel space. Air vents to unexcavated portions have been inserted in walls with rough carpentry doors.
The basement was constructed merely as a convenience of modern materials and methods, no attempt being made to give it a colonial character or appearance. The floor is a concrete slab.
0UTH0USES
See General Notes, Exterior, for remarks regarding disposition of the general layout. The arrangement of the several outbuildings was made on the basis of typical layouts of the eighteenth century as measured and noted by the Landscape Department at Port Royal, Fredericksburg and Falmouth, Virginia. A general similarity and character to the above precedent was followed. No original foundations existed since the site was not the original one.
1. Privy.
This was a gift to the restoration project by Mr. Cole. This old outbuilding was on his property and in bad repair, but enough of the original was left to repair and patch and renovate it. It was moved to the Galt yard and there renovated. For shingles, see North Elevation. Structure was whitewashed, which was common precedent in colonial times.
2. Smoke House.
This is entirely new and simulates and copies eighteenth-century colonial appearance on the exterior only. Framing is exposed on the interior and is of stock lumber joined in modern carpentry methods. Exterior follows closely colonial precedent at 1) Smoke House at Accomac, Virginia, 2) Smoke House at Brooks Bank, Essex County, and is built of modern materials. For shingles, see North Elevation, For whitewash, see (1) above.
3. Garage.
This is new and copies eighteenth-century colonial character on exterior only. It is a conventional type common for carriage sheds and stables for a small number of animals as at 1) Van Garrett carriage house or stable, 2) type as illustrated in the Coleman Collection of photographs at one time north of the Tayloe House, 3) current type to be seen in various Brady Civil War photographs in the Research and Record Department, Colonial
38.
Williamsburg. For shingles, see North Elevation. For whitewash, see (1) above.
Footnotes
LIST OF PAINT COLORS
Recommended by Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, Architects, August 20, 1929
| EXTERIOR | - White with gray trim. |
|---|---|
| Blinds | - green #71 |
| INTERIOR | |
| First Floor: | |
| Hall #3 - | all woodwork, sample W5 Bannister Rail, sample W42 Walls, sample W9 |
| Bedroom #1 | - all woodwork, sample W10 |
| Walls, sample W9 | |
| Note: | Pick out moldings or raised panels on bedroom side of Door #4, sample W5. |
| Living Room #2 | - all woodwork, sample W10 |
| Walls, also W10 without gloss | |
| Dining Room #6 | - all woodwork, sample W23 eggshell gloss |
| Walls, sample W23, no gloss | |
| Kitchen #5, Pantry #7, Entry #4 | - Walls and woodwork, sample W54. Bareboards in all three rooms, sample W42. |
| Second Floor: | |
| Hall #8 | - The same as Hall #3, that is, sample W5 |
| Bannister Rail, sample W42 | |
| Walls, sample W9 | |
| Bathroom #9 | - all woodwork, sample W52 |
| Walls, sample W49 | |
| Bedroom #10 | - all woodwork and walls, sample W18 |
Note: Woodwork to have eggshell gloss finish.
Authorized by Perry, Shaw and Hepburn under the direction of Mrs. S. H. Nash.
ADDENDA
STORAGE
While the Galt House was in the process of being restored, the question was raised concerning closets and storage. "Why were so few closets found in the house?"
The reply by Perry, Shaw and Hepburn was that the shape of the house did not permit extensive storage on the ground floor, nor under the low-sloping eaves. Some storage space was introduced on the ground floor.
WAS A FOUR-FAMILY HOUSE LOCATED ON THE SITE?
Lots #353, 354, 355
One of these lots was owned by John Custis in the eighteenth century.
In 1778 General Washington and his wife, Martha (widow of Daniel Parke Custis*), gave full release to her son, John Parke Custis, of all dower rights in all the plantations, including the lots in Williamsburg.
In the John Custis papers, recently acquired by the Virginia Historical Society, there was found a four family house plan consisting of one living room and a bed room above, for each house. A central chimney stack serviced four ample sized fireplaces for cooking and heating the apartments. It is supposed that this four family house was intended for Williamsburg since John Custis owned several lots within the city limits. Among these were lots #353, 354, and 355. The depth of these lots correspond closely 41. with those on the plans of the Custis papers. The question whether or not these lots were once occupied by the foursquare house described remains an unsolved question. Excavation on the site might offer some evidence for their having been built.