Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1490
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library
Williamsburg, Virginia
1990
Note: In this section, the information is given room by room, the rooms being listed in the order in which they are usually visited. For each room, the architectural details appear in alphabetical order, followed by information as to furniture and furnishings.
In restoring the interior of this house, ancient methods of construction were followed, and old materials or careful. reproductions of such materials were used, in all work that is exposed to the eye. On hidden surfaces, modern materials and methods of construction were used.
BASEBOARDS:
The wood beaded baseboards were reproduced from an original piece found in the house. See also PAINT.
CEILING:
The ceiling is plastered on metal lath, and whitewashed.
CHAIR-RAIL:
The wood chair-rail on beaded board is duplicated from an original piece of chair-rail found in the house. See also PAINT.
CLOSETS: (or CUPBOARDS).
There are no closets in this hall, but a modern cupboard of colonial design has been placed under the stairs, to accommodate lighting and fire-prevention controls, and is visible on the left hand side descending to the basement.
DOORS & TRIM:
All the doors leading from this hall are original, with the exception of the door leading into the northwest room, the family dining room. This door had been bricked up during an early alteration. It was reopened in the partial restoration of 1927, and the detail of design of the door installed at that time followed the design of the original doors in the hall. Therefore the door was retained in the 1938-40 restoration. The front and rear double doors are original, having been patched and repaired in many places, and their interior trim having been repaired. New glass, simulating old glass found in the house, was installed in the transoms over these doors, and their original locks have been repaired. The hinges to all the doors in the hall are original hinges, and have been renailed. All the locks (except on the front and rear doors) are reproduction locks from the Craft House. See also PAINT.
FLOOR:
The beams under the floor had rotted where they were bearing on brick walls, and they were replaced with old material. Most of the flooring in the hall is original, although some patching, with old material, was done at the east end of the hall towards the main entrance, and at the door threshold. As no floor nails are visible, the repair work was secured with modern nails.
PAINT:
The original colors were ascertained and carefully matched, as follows: Woodwork: blue. Baseboards: black. Transom sash: cream. Exterior doors: dark brown. Plastered walls & ceiling: whitewashed.
STAIRWAY:
The main stair in this hall is original. The risers, treads, handrail, newel post, and most of the balusters are original. The wall string was restored, as the original wall string was not in position. A new beaded baseboard was applied at the floor below the panelling, as the original base had been removed; also a new molded piece had to be attached to cover the joint on the panelling directly below the string ornament. The panelling on the stair spandril is original. The handrail, risers, treads, string brackets, balusters, and newels were originally finished in natural wood, and they were thus restored. The wrought iron hook on the cross-gallery well trim was original, and was left in place.
[Note: In all restoration work exposed to the eye, ancient methods of construction were followed, and old materials or exact reproduction of old materials re used. On hidden surfaces, modern materials and methods of construction were used.]
BASEBOARDS:
The wood beaded baseboards were reproduced from an original piece of...
[page crossed out]
WALLS:
The walls have been treated with mastic waterproofing compound with sand finish, to which oyster-shell lime plaster has been added. The walls have been whitewashed.
Note: Two telephone outlets, two baseboard electric outlets, and three air conditioning grilles in this hall, for modern convenience, have been installed as inconspicuously as possible.
BASEBOARDS:
The wood beaded baseboard is duplicated from an original piece found in the house. See also PAINT.
CEILING:
Plaster on metal lath, and whitewashed.
CHAIR-RAIL:
The wood chair-rail on beaded board is duplicated from an original piece of chair-rail found in the house.
CLOSETS: (or CUPBOARDS).
Evidence was uncovered in the southwest corner of this room which indicated that a round backed corner cupboard had once occupied this position. Therefore, a new corner cupboard was designed, after an exhaustive study of similar architectural examples. It is similar to a cupboard found in the Marshall House in Williamsburg.
CORNICE:
Wood cymation on beaded board, designed from indications in old photographs, and from old pieces found in one room of the house.
DOOR & TRIM:
The door to this room is original, together with architraves and jamb panelling. The H & L hinges are original. The lock is a brass rim-type reproduction of a typical lock of the period of the house--examples of which are found throughout Tidewater Virginia. See also PAINT.
FIREPLACE & HEARTH:
The fireplace was rebuilt, following its original lines which were easily discernible; also the hearth which is paved with brick. The fireplace is lined with plaster, as it was originally. See also MANTEL.
FLOOR:
The original floor of tongue and groove pine boards was repaired. No nails are visible. Certain of the old floor beans were replaced with old beams taken from the hall floor.
MANTELS:
The original mantel had been removed. A new mantel of English vein marble, from Italy, was reconstructed, its design being typical of the period of the house. Similar mantels were found in the Richard Bland House in Williamsburg, and similar marble was excavated in Williamsburg.
PAINT:
The color in this room duplicates carefully matched original colors, as follows: Woodwork: Light green. Baseboard: black. Window sash: Cream. Plaster walls and ceiling: Whitewashed.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT:
The panelling is described with the windows. There is no wainscot in this room.
WALLS:
The walls have been treated with mastic waterproofing compound, with sand finish, to which oyster-shell lime plaster has been added. They have been whitewashed.
WINDOWS:
The window sash, frames, and architraves are original, and have been repaired where necessary. New stools were supplied, with aprons and panelling above them and with splayed jambs, these being duplicated from one entirely original window found in the house. The window lintels have been reinforced with steel and wood grounds, added in place of deteriorated wood lintels found at the time of restoration. There is a hole in one window shutter which has been there for an indeterminable period; but all the hinged window shutters are original, together with their hinges. New leather thongs with wrought iron pins have been supplied to lock the windows; also modern metal screens. The wood guard bars are as they were found at the start of restoration work, but have been slightly repaired.
Notes:
Three baseboard electric outlets, and two air conditioning grilles have been installed as inconspicuously as possible for modern convenience.
BASEBOARDS:
The wood beaded baseboard is reproduced from an original piece of baseboard found in the house. See also PAINT.
CEILING:
The ceiling is plaster on metal lath, whitewashed.
CHAIR-RAIL:
The chair-rail is new, and is duplicated from an original piece of chair-rail found in the house. See also PAINT.
CLOSETS: (or CUPBOARDS)
There were no closets in the room, but an examination revealed that there had been originally a corner cupboard in the northwest corner of the room. A new corner cupboard was designed in this corner of the room, after similar types found in Williamsburg.
CORNICE:
The cornice is new - wood cymation on beaded board, designed from indications in old photographs and from a piece of the original cornice found in one room of the house. See also PAINT.
DOORS & TRIM:
The door leading into this room from the Hall is original, as are its hinges. The lock is a reproduction, copied from examples found throughout Tidewater Virginia. The mutilation of this door, apparently by the discharge of a shotgun, has not been repaired. See also PAINT.
FIREPLACE & HEARTH:
In the 1927 partial restoration of this house, the fireplace had been rebuilt, with a flagstone type of hearth. It was unsuitable to the period to which the house was being restored in 1938-40. A brick hearth was placed in this room, and the original fireplace, which had been altered, was restored. There were indications that the brick in the fireplace had been plastered originally, so it was replastered. See also MANTEL.
FLOORS:
The flooring is original, as in the Parlor, and has been repaired where necessary with old material. No nails are visible, and the repair work has been secured with modern nails. The ends of the floor beams which entered the east interior wall had rotted, and had to be repaired.
MANTEL:
The original mantel had long since disappeared. The mantel which had been installed in the 1927 partial restoration had a marble surround trimmed with wood. It was removed, not being considered authentic. Investigation of the fireplace led to the conclusion that the original mantel could not have been of wood, so a new mantel of English vein marble was installed, designed after types common to the period of the house and to the environs. Local examples, as in the Parlor, were followed.
PAINT:
Colors in this room were duplicated from carefully matched original colors found in the room, as follows: Woodwork: light green. Baseboard: black. Window sash: cream. Plaster walls & ceiling, whitewashed.
BASEBOARDS:
The original baseboard was missing, except where it returned around the window aprons. New baseboard, similar to the original, was supplied for the rest of the room. See also PAINT.
CEILING:
Plaster on metal lath, whitewashed.
CHAIR-RAIL:
The wood chair-rail on beaded board is duplicated from an original piece of chair-rail found in the house. See Also PAINT.
CLOSETS:
This room has an original closet in the southeast corner, which was restored by rebuilding a partition in the Front Dining Room. (At some time the partition had been removed to provide an entrance to the Front Dining Room). Marks in the brickwork of the chimney and adjoining brick partition indicated shelves, which were restored, patterned after the original. shelves found in the closet in the Study. The closet has been furred out in places to conceal modern ducts.
CORNICE:
Wood cymation on beaded board, copied from old pieces of cornice found in the house, reproduced and put in place in this room.
DOORS & TRIM:
The door into the Hall (see also HALL) was bricked up during an early alteration to the house, but it was reopened in the partial restoration of 1927. The door and trim as restored in 1927 was checked over, and pegs were added to the joints on the door and on the panelled jamb. The trim on the room side of the door was changed to conform with the original trim, and is a more exact reproduction than that installed in 1927. The door to the closet is original. The hinges on both doors are original. The locks are reproduction Craft House locks. See also PAINT.
FIREPLACE & HEARTH:
In the 1927 partial restoration, the fireplace had been bricked up to conceal a boiler flue from the basement which was installed at that time. The original fireplace arch was still in location, and also the jambs and part of the back. These were repaired and replastered, as in the Front Dining Room. The hearth was relaid with brick. See also MANTEL.
FLOOR:
The floor in this room has been entirely restored, with antique material similar to that existing throughout the house. The original floor had been removed in the 1927 partial restoration, and the room had been covered with tiling. The floor beams had to be replaced with new material, as the original beams had been treated at their top surfaces to receive a concrete finish in 1927. The nails used are modern, as they are not visible.
MANTEL:
The original mantel had disappeared. However, as there were no wood grounds in the surround brickwork for nailing, it was evident that the original mantel could not have been of wood. Therefore, a stone mantel was designed - it being felt that this room was of lesser importance than the two front rooms where marble was used. The mantel design was developed from existing examples in Williamsburg. The stone used for the mantel is Indiana limestone.
PAINT:
The colors in this room were duplicated from original colors taken from various parts of the original trim, as follows: Woodwork: Blue. Baseboard: Black. Sash: Cream. Plaster: Whitewashed.
WALLS:
The walls have been treated with mastic waterproofing compound, with sand finish, to which oyster-shell lime plaster has been added. They have been whitewashed.
WINDOWS:
The two west windows were for the most part intact, and most of their interior trim is original. The window nearest the door was complete in this respect, and it was used as a model for the other windows on the first floor. The sash and shutters for these windows were in place, and were repaired where necessary. The window at the north end of the room is a complete reproduction, modelled after the other windows in the room. At some time in the 19th century a stair had. been built in the northwest corner of this room, to the room above; and the lower portion of the original window at that time was changed into a door. The upper portion of the window was in place at the time of the 1927 partial restoration, but was bricked up at that time.
Notes:
In the early 19th century a stair had been constructed in this room, starting at the northwest corner and running upwards along the north wall across the window. This stair was in the building at the time of the 1935-40 restoration, but was removed during that restoration.
Electrical outlets and air conditioning grilles were installed as inconspicuously as possible for modern convenience. The thermostatic control for the house is located in this room.
BASEBOARDS:
Wood beaded baseboard was duplicated from an original piece fond in the house. See also PAINT.
CEILING:
Plaster on metal lath, and whitewashed.
CHAIR-RAIL:
Wood chair-rail on beaded board, duplicated from an original piece found in the house.
CLOSETS:
The closet in this room is original, and is located in its northeast corner. It has been furred out in places to conceal necessary heating ducts. The shelves are restored from the originals found in, place.
CORNICE:
Wood cymation on beaded board designed from indications in old photographs and from old pieces of cornice found in house. See PAINT.
DOORS & TRIM:
Doors and trim original. The hinges on the doors are original, and have been renailed. The brass rim locks are reproductions from the Craft House. See also PAINT.
FIREPLACE & HEARTH:
Modern work installed in 1927 was removed, and the original size of the fireplace was easily discernible from part of the back and jambs of the original fireplace which still remained. The fireplace was restored, and a brick hearth was laid, as in other rooms on this floor. See MANTEL.
FLOORS:
The original floor was slightly repaired with old material. Modern nails were used for this repair work, in that they do not show. The original floor beams were repaired where necessary, as in the Front Dining Room.
MANTEL:
A modern mantel was removed, and a new stone mantel similar to that in the Family Dining Room, which was suitable to the period of the house, was installed in this room.
PAINT:
The colors, as in the Family Dining Room, are: Woodwork: Blue. Baseboards: Black. Plaster: Whitewashed.
PANELLING OR WAINSCOT:
No panelling or wainscot in room, except under windows. See WINDOWS.
WALLS:
The walls have been treated with mastic waterproofing compound with sand finish, to which oyster shell lime plaster has been added. They are whitewashed.
WINDOWS:
The window architraves, the panelled aprons below the window seats, and the window sash are original, and have been repaired where necessary. The panels of the seats directly below the window stools and those splayed on the jambs are reproductions, copied from the complete original window in the Family Dining Room.
Notes:
Baseboard electric outlets and air conditioning grilles were installed as inconspicuously as possible for modern convenience.
Note: In the 1938-40 restoration of this building, ancient methods of construction were followed, and old materials or exact reproductions of the original materials were used in all work exposed to the eye. However, on hidden surfaces, modern construction methods and materials were used.
The exterior architectural features of the house are listed in alphabetical order, and the information given here has been drawn from a more detailed record prepared by the architects concerned in the restoration of the house.
This house was largely intact when its restoration was undertaken in 1938- 40. A partial restoration in 1926-27 had adapted the building to the uses of a Parish House for Bruton Church. In 1938 the property was transferred to Colonial Williamsburg, and its complete restoration - based on careful architectural and archaeological investigation of the house itself, and on information gained from early records, insurance policies (1801, 1806, and 1815), and early photographs - was finished in 1940.
BRICK WALLS:
The original brick walls, laid in Flemish bond, were patched where necessary with old brick salvaged from the building, or with new brick especially hand-made and burned to match the old brick. Ivy on the building, which had seriously injured the brickwork, was removed; and after the damage done by it was repaired, the walls were washed down with brushes and water to remove stains and blend with the rest of the brickwork.
BULKHEAD:
The bulkhead on the South side of the house was newly built in 1938, its existence being based on archaeological evidence and early photographs. Exposed woodwork was made of new cypress for permanence. Its roof was covered with shingles especially made of fireproof material, but patterned after early shingles found under the roof of the house. (See also ROOF.) Reproductions of 18th century hardware were employed on this bulkhead, the padlock being copied from an early example excavated from the Public Gaol site.
CHIMNEYS:
Though they were extensively repaired in the 1927 partial restoration, the original chimneys were found to be in an unsafe condition structurally. It was decided to rebuilt the chimneys from above the second floor fireplaces all the way up. New brick, hand made and burned to match the old brick, was used for this work; and the old brick from the original chimneys was used in patching the exterior walls of the house. (See BRICK WALLS above).
CORNICE:
In the 1927 partial restoration, the cornice which existed at that time was repaired. Investigation showed it to have been a 19th century replacement of the original cornice. It was felt, however, that since it was handmade and 18th century in character, it was probably a true replacement of the original cornice. Therefore it was retained, and patched and repaired where necessary.
DOORS:
FRONT DOOR: (East Elevation) In 1927 an ornamental surround, adapted from a door at "Westover" in Charles City County, had been installed on the Wythe House front door. This trim was removed in the 1938-40 restoration. The original frame, trim, and transom were found to be intact, although some patching and repair work had been done. The original double doors themselves were intact, although they had many patches. Additional necessary patching and repair work was done to the doors and trim, and the original hinges were renailed and the original lock was repaired. (See heading PAINT for colors used on doors and trim.)
BACK DOOR: (West Elevation) The back door, trim, and transom were original, though patched in many places. They were repaired where necessary. The original hinges were renailed, and the original lock was repaired and reused. In the case of both the back and front doors, the glazing in the transoms was renewed with glass closely approximating old glass found elsewhere in the house. New door sills were installed.
GUTTER:
In 1927 gutters and leaders of iron and copper had been installed. As these were not on the house originally they were removed, and a brick gutter was built around the base of the house at the ground-line, to take care of the roof water. This gutter was made of new brick, handmade and burned to match the original brick, and its design was based on similar original gutters found elsewhere in Williamsburg.
PAINT:
On examination, it was found that all of the original exterior trim had been painted white, with the exception of the back and front doors, which had been dark brown. The doors and trim were thus repainted.
PORCHES:
FRONT PORCH: Archaeological investigation uncovered the remains of the original porch of this house, which had consisted of brick treads and risers ascending from three sides to a platform at a level with the bottom of the front door sill. This original porch was restored. Sometime between 1801 and 1806 (as evidenced in the insurance policies on this house of those dates) a two story porch had been added. This two-story porch had been removed in the 1927 partial restoration, at the time the ornamental trim around the front door was installed.
BACK PORCH: In 1927 a large, one-story, enclosed porch eras added to the west elevation of this house. This addition was removed in 1938, and archaeological investigation indicated original step foundations similar to those at the front of the house. (See FRONT PORCH above). These steps were restored.
ROOF:
The early 19th century insurance policies on this house indicated that the roof had been of wood [shingle]. However, the house had a slate roof at the time of its 1938-40 restoration. The slate roof was removed, and investigation uncovered some of the original split cypress shingles, with round butts, in the attic space of the building. These early type shingles were reproduced in a fireproof material, similar in size, color, and texture to the originals; and were placed on the roof and on the bulkhead. The reproduction shingles were made by the Mohawk Asbestos Company. The original. roof boards were badly rotted, and were replaced, nailed with modern nails (in that the work did not show), and the original hand-wrought nails were used elsewhere in the building.
WALLS:
See BRICK WALLS.
WINDOWS:
Most of the windows are original, the frames and sills being patched and repaired where necessary; and the windows being reglazed with new glass, closely approximating the original glass, where necessary. Much original glass remained in the windows. It was necessary to rebuild three windows which had been made into doors - probably early in the 19th century. These were the front and rear center second floor windows, and the west window on the North Elevation on the first floor.