Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
PUBLIC MAGAZINE
Block 12 Building 9

This building has been known variously as the Powder Magazine, Powder Horn and now as the Public Magazine.

Chronology

Act authorizing its construction	December 24, 1714
Original building started	1715
Completion of building recorded	1716
Act authorizing the building of wall	1755
Building acquired by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities	1889
Its first restoration was carried out by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in	1890
The second restoration by Colonial Williamsburg in collaboration with the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities Restoration work started	May 31, 1934
Restoration work completed (Keys delivered to Mr. Geddy)	October 12, 1935
Act for building the Magazine Guard House,	August, 1755

Perry, Shaw and Hepburn, Architects A. E, Kendrew, Resident Architect Singleton P. Moorehead, Chief Designer

This report was prepared by George S. Campbell, November 27, 1935. An introduction, historical data, chronology and illustrations added by A. Lawrence Kocher and Howard Dearstyne, April 12, 1952.

ARCHITECTURAL REPORT
PUBLIC MAGAZINE
Block 12, Building 9

The octagonal building with pointed roof, standing opposite the old Court House of 1770 is known today by its original name, "Public Magazine," although it has long been familiarly pointed out as the Powder Horn or as the Powder Magazine. Its purpose was to protect the arms and ammunition of the Virginia Colony sent over by the English government. In 1714 the General Assembly of Virginia was induced by Governor Spotswood to erect a magazine at a cost "not exceeding £ 200." It was built of brick, laid with Flemish bond. Its octagonal shape and roof, tapered to a point, gave it the appearance of a powder horn and hence, its popular designation. It was located on an open public square in the center of England Street, from whence it could be viewed as a focal point.

The building is 33'-5" in over all width, and it was surrounded by a brick enclosing wall, approximately 10'-0" in height, also octagonal shaped, and having parallel sides. The distance from the face of the Magazine to the center of the enclosing wall is 22'-6 1/4".^*

It is probable that the Magazine served its purpose as a storehouse for ammunition until after the peace of 1783. The building gained historic prominence when Lord Dunmore, the day

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after the battle of Lexington, removed from it the powder to the armed schooner Magdalene, stationed in the James River.

After the peace of 1783 the Magazine fulfilled a varied usefulness. It served, for a time, as a market house; later it was used for meetings of the Baptists, preceding the building of their church, near to the Magazine, in 1855. After this it descended to a period of more workaday usefulness. It served two years as a setting for a dancing school, later on it was a livery stable. In 1890 it was rescued by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, which purchased it of its owner, repaired its wall and converted it into a museum. It continued in the care of the Virginia Association and in their ownership until 1949, when an arrangement was made with Colonial Williamsburg whereby its restoration and maintenance was assigned to Colonial Williamsburg and its exhibition likewise was placed under the direction of Colonial Williamsburg.

During the time when the Magazine was used as a Baptist Church, around the middle of the nineteenth century, there was local rivalry between the Baptist and the Methodists. The latter being a new congregation, had no regular church of their own, and had rented a small building on Francis Street. The Sunday following their opening, the songs and shouts of their service were borne on the air to the Magazine, where Reverend Scervant Jones was haranguing his own congregation of Baptists. Hearing the strange sounds he abruptly excused himself in the midst of his sermon and went outside of the Magazine. After a few minutes he returned and remarked: "I thought I heard some dogs howling, but found it was only our Methodist brethren rejoicing."

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A SONNET

(Written after beholding the Powder Horn in Williamsburg at twenty-five minutes after ten on a June morning.)

Majestic pile! 0 pointed Powder
Horn!
Lone relic of stern Albion's
Barbarism!
Saved from the clutch of lawless
Vandalism,
Serene thou gazest on the
fields of corn,
The Baptist Church, the shops
where men are shorn.
Also the Court House! Midst
Life's realism,
Thou are romantic! Dunmore's
solecism
Dost thou remember on this
summer morn?
0 Cradle of Columbia! Mayst
thou be
A guiding star, whose voice
doth call us back
Triumphant to the goal we
might have missed!
Let England have Westminster
- We have thee,
Fully her equal, and thou
dost not lack
the homage of the meek
excursionist!

From William and Mary Magazine, First Series, Vol. XIV, (1906), pp. 278-279.

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PUBLIC MAGAZINE
Block 12, Building 9

ITS HISTORY

The existence of a powder arms storage magazine appears to have been indicated when Francis Louis Michel, the Swiss observer (in Williamsburg), refers to a magazine in the town as early as 1702.^* In 1714 Governor Alexander Spotswood reported to the House of Burgesses that he had solicited and obtained a gift of arms and ammunition from her late Majesty, Queen Anne, resulting in an act for erecting a magazine in the new settlement. This act, passed in December, 1714, provided for the building of a "substantial" brick magazine near the center of the town, at a cost not to exceed £ 200, and placed its building under the direction of Governor Spotswood. The actual construction is recorded as having been done by Henry Tyler (p. 19). All public arms and ammunition were to be stored in the building, and a keeper of arms was appointed to receive and discharge supplies and to maintain the magazine. In addition, a public armourer was appointed to clean and mend the public arms. By February 16, 1716 the building was completed and military stores were being placed in it.

The arms thus stored in the magazine were intended for possible service in the protection of the colonial Governor and his colony. The small arms were usually of latest model, suited for

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warfare with Indian or other invaders, Our present day equivalent for the public magazine is an "armory."

In 1722 Henry Cary was paid for enclosing the magazine, probably for that date meaning a stockade or fence. This enclosure was evidently not a permanent one, as provision was made in 1755 for the erection of a brick wall around the magazine.

DEFENSE OF THE MAGAZINE

Special provision for the defense of the magazine in time of danger was made in an act passed in 1723 (P. 13), which placed this duty upon the Williamsburg militia. Public arms for protection of Virginia were supplemented by guns and other equipment held by plantation and home owners throughout the colony. Every responsible member of the community was made a member of the militia and was granted the right to keep his outfit at his home.

In 1755, a time of great uneasiness in the colony, a guard of about twelve men was appointed to be on constant duty and a guard house was ordered built near the magazine (p. 245). This guard was continued until 1762, and at that time was ordered discharged. It was, however, re-established at intervals thereafter. The guard house continued in existence until after the Revolution since Humphrey Harwood is known, by his records, to have repaired the magazine guard house from time to time.

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THE MAGAZINE GUARD HOUSE
Block 12, Building 9A

ACT FOR BUILDING A GUARD HOUSE 1755

In August, 1755 (29th George II.) an act was passed for the building of a Guard House "for the protection of his Majestie's subjects on the frontiers of this colony. . . whereas the public magazine stands exposed to the designs of evil minded persons."

"Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that Peyton Randolph, esquire, Carter Burwell, John Chiswell, Benjamin Waller, and James Power, gentlemen or any three of them, be, and are hereby appointed directors, to treat and agree with workmen to erect a high and strong brick wall, to enclose the said magazine, and to build a guard house, convenient thereto. And that the said director apply to the governor to issue his warrants to the treasurer of this colony ...."

Hening's Statutes at Large, 1748-1755, Vol. VI, pp. 628-29.

"The persons appointed, by Act of Assembly, to agree with workmen for the Building of a Wall round the Magazine, and a Guard House, will meet for that Purpose on Wednesday next."

Virginia Gazette, September 5, 1755.

"Went to Humphrey Harwood for Work and Materials in repairing Magazine Guard House." - - - - - £ 11:12:0 Auditor's Account Book, 1780, No. 5, p. 94, Virginia State Library. May 15, 1780.

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July 18, 1795
"I beg leave to represent to your Excellency that on the return of the Company of Artillery under my command in August last, I deposited by the order of Gen. Lee, then Governor of the State two hundred and 75 weight of powder in the Old Guard House, the property of the state.

Calendar of Virginia, State Papers, 1795-1798, p. 274.

Guard House is shown near the Magazine on the following maps:

Rochambeau Map, Date 1782

Frenchman's Map, Date 1783.

These show a grouping of three buildings in the vicinity of the Magazine .... This building was used by an officer and twelve guardsmen until 1762, when the guard appointed for the Magazine was considered unnecessary and so was discontinued,

Architectural Report on Magazine Guard House by
E. M. Frank, August 29, 1946.

In 1934 archaeological excavations in the Market Square revealed fragments of the foundation walls of a Colonial Brick Building in the vicinity of the Powder Magazine. These walls were discovered by following the location of buildings shown on the Frenchman's Map. See Architectural drawings of Block 12, Area C, November, 1934.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

See revised drawings of both site and plan of the Guard House in the files of the Architectural Department, (Archaeological and working drawings).

See E. M. Frank for other data on the design and precedent for the exterior design elements, also notes of September 19., 1946.

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PUBLIC MAGAZINE, IDENTIFIED AS OF THE 1870S. THE BUILDING IS HERE USED AS A LIVERY STABLE, INCLUDING STALLS FOR HORSES AND HAY STORAGE. THE BUILDING SHOWN AT THE LEFT OF THE MAGAZINE IS THE BAPTIST CHURCH, BUILT IN THE HEIGHT OF THE AMERICAN GREEK REVIVAL, IN 1855. THE BRICK FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHURCH ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN PROCURED BY DEMOLISHING THE WALL AROUND THE MAGAZINE.

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ARCHITECTURAL REPORT PUBIC MAGAZINE Block 12, Building 9

The following information was compiled by George S. Campbell, shortly after the completion of the restoration by Colonial Williamsburg. His report is dated, November 27, 1935.

EXTERIOR

GENERAL NOTES

This building is constructed of brick, is octagonal in plan, and has an eight-sided pyramid roof, with a wood and iron finial at the apex of the hips. Prior to its restoration it presented, so far as we know, the same appearance as when originally constructed in the year 1714. There had been a late and only partial restoration undertaken in the year 1890 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, at which time the east, northeast, north and northwest walls were rebuilt, using bricks gathered from various local colonial building ruins. This work did not match the old work due to the different shades and colors of reused brick; and although laid in the same Flemish bond as the old work, it lacked the uniform pattern of glazed headers, and mortar-aggregate to be found in the original walls. The roof had been reshingled in 1928 by the Williamsburg Holding Corporation, previous to which it had been covered with hand split round-butt wood shingles, These shingles were

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no doubt laid in 1890 during the preservation work done at that time. Records indicate that the roof was partly burned in 1889 without doing any considerable damage.

The earliest views of the building on record show windows on the first floor in all faces excepting the north and south which contain the entrance doors. Over the north door a segmental window was indicated, but a clear view of the south elevation is not available. An original semi-circular window was discovered bricked up over the south door; this window showed signs of being cut down to a smaller size at an early date. The west wall showed a small rectangular window on the second floor at this early period, about the middle of the nineteenth century.

The first floor windows previously mentioned were indicated as cutting through the string course with their heads coinciding with the top of same. The building remained in this condition up to the time of its being acquired by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, at which time there are available photographs showing it as a stable. The windows shown on early photographs are clearly defined and indicate that the string course had been broken into to allow for them. These photographs also show the south door opening which had been bricked up in 1890, as well as west windows on the first and second floors. The windows in the southeast and southwest walls, however, had previously been allowed to remain and were fitted with memorial stained glass by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, The openings in the east wall and

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northeast and northwest walls were omitted when these walls were rebuilt as previously mentioned. The segmental window over the north door was replaced and a new entrance door erected when the north wall was rebuilt in 1890. This left the building with two windows on the first floor in the southeast and southwest walls, respectively, and a door in the north wall with the segmental window over it, in which condition it appeared before restoration.

Restoration work included the refacing of the walls built in 1890 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities to conform with the remaining original walls. The first floor walls were thick enough to allow for this, since they were approximately twenty to twenty-three inches thick, but the second floor walls, being only fourteen inches in thickness, had to be rebuilt. The remodeling of the north main entrance door and the substitution of a semi-circular headed window similar to that which existed originally over the south door in place of the segmental window, which was found to be of much later character and entirely foreign to its surroundings and location, as well as its comparison to the form used over the south door, left no doubt as to its early origin.

Due to the interior design of the building and evidence of partitions discovered therein, it was found that the windows in the northeast and northwest walls could not have been there originally and so they were not constructed.

The windows in the southeast and southwest walls contained stained glass leaded work. These were removed and stored in the

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attic of the Matthew Whaley School, for possible use elsewhere. The window frames were restored to what was considered more in keeping with what might have originally been done. The glass size was taken from what was worked out for the large semicircular window opening over the south door. The window in the west wall which had been bricked up in 1890 was reframed and made to conform with the previous original windows mentioned in the southeast and southwest walls, as was the window in the east wall, which is entirely new, this entire wall having been rebuilt as previously mentioned.

A new door was placed in the south wall after removing the later brickwork which filled this doorway space. This door was constructed in the same manner as that on the north side. The semi-circular arched window opening over this door was restored and given a new frame and sash; the brick jambs and arch were repaired, after the removal of the brickwork which had stopped up this opening.

The string course was renewed where the walls were refaced and repaired on the remaining original walls. It is unusual in having glazed headers introduced with rubbed stretchers in the Flemish bond similar to the surrounding brickwork. Furthermore, it was noticed that the string course was stopped about fourteen inches from the corners and was not continuous. In the restoration of the windows it was found necessary to repair and return the string course at the window heads, as it had been broken into at an early date as previously mentioned.

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The quoins were found to be of rubbed brick which were continued over to meet the string course at that point. Two bad fractures in the brickwork which occurred at the extremities of the west wall were repaired, as well as the old window opening which was not too successfully patched by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in 1890. This window was discovered to be not original and has been described elsewhere. The patching was not considered well enough done to be allowed to remain. It was therefore refaced and the old bond was continued through.

The water table and brickwork below it which is also Flemish bond with glazed headers was extensively repaired in the original walls.

Finally, the complete brick surfaces were whitewashed where repairs and refacing took place and then they were cleaned off, leaving slight flecks of whitewash on the joints and on the brick surfaces, as was seen on the original walls which had been whitewashed previous to the acquisition by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities of the building. This old whitewash had worn off leaving small particles still adhering to the old brickwork, to which the repaired and refaced walls were intended to match.

The cornice found on the building had been altered from some previous date. It is known, however, that a new facia and crown molding were added when the roof was reshingled in 1928 as previously mentioned. The bed mold probably was altered during the preservation work done in 1890. Examination of the modillion

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blocks indicated that, for the most part, they were original. Consequently, the cornice was redesigned using appropriate bed mold, facia and crown moldings similar to proportions shown on Photograph taken when the building was used as a stable. The modillion blocks were roused an far as possible. These showed many coats of white paint which lent credence to their early character and age and served in determining their painted surface.

The wood finial support at the apex of the roof was renewed, modeled after the examples shown in earliest photographs. This early example is still in the possession of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities and shows signs of the fire which is described briefly elsewhere. In 1928 a copper covered wood support was installed by the Williamsburg Holding Corporation as a temporary procedure. This did not quite conform to the original and so was removed. The iron finial itself seems to be the original one and is of wrought iron with four iron scrolls set at right angles, approximately half-way up. There may have been a weather vane attached near the top but of this there is no record or attached remnant. The wrought iron work enters the wood support to a depth of about eighteen inches and the turned wood knob is strengthened with a wrought iron collar.

A wall surrounds the Magazine and is distant from it about twenty-one feet on all sides and with the exception of parts of the foundation below grade at the south and southwest walls is entirely new. The original wall was described as being ten feet

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in height. It was constructed therefore to agree as closely as possible with this dimension. (See Research Report on the Powder Magazine).

The thickness of the wall was obtained from the original fragmentary foundation shown on drawing, dated January 25, 1933, Archaeological Survey. The wall was carried up the same thickness as the foundation to the water table which occurs on both sides of the wall. It was then reduced in thickness and carried up to a brick coping or cap, splayed and finished with semicircular brick similar to the wall surrounding Bruton Church cemetery, which is also used as the precedent for the glazed header pattern used on the exterior face of this surrounding wall. The water table is of ground splayed brick and below it, close to grade, were constructed a series of drain holes to take surface water from inside the walls.

The corners of the walls are also in character with the main building. Entrance through this wall is situated in the original location which is opposite the north door of the Magazine and takes the form of a segmental headed two valvae wood door with open panels barred with wrought iron grillage. The wall was arched over the door according to the records and broke up above the parapet. It was finished with the same coping in a horizontal manner. The arch itself is the same on both sides of the wall and is of ground brick, twelve inches deep, with a ground brick soffit. The door is constructed similar to the entrance doors to the Magazine except that the Inside sheathing is omitted, as the rails and panels are of the full

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thickness of the door and, consequently, both faces are similar. The look is situated on the interior face and is new from the Warehouse. The hinges, door bolts and door checks are also on the inside and are new, being constructed locally and taken from the Warehouse.

NORTH ELEVATION

SHINGLES

Mohawk Asbestos, imitation wood, square butt shingles. These were made so as to weather similar in color to wood and were laid in 1928. See Exterior, General Notes.

DORMER WINDOWS

No dormer windows are shown on this elevation.

CORNICE

The cornice was redesigned as described in the general notes on the exterior. The modillions are original for the most part. In other words, old parts existed and were copied in repairing defective ones. The crown and bed molds are new, of colonial mold suitably proportioned so as to agree with modillion blocks. Molding in soffit of cornice returning around modillion blocks is new, fashioned after original portions still remaining at the time the work was started.

Facia is beaded and new which is a common characteristic locally.

The general proportions of this cornice are close to the original as the projecting third floor beams control this feature.

The cornice is painted Spanish brown as a first coat, later surfaced with white.

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GUTTER AND LEADER

There is no gutter at the eaves but a brick drip was constructed around the building at grade to prevent erosion. No evidence for this existed.

WALL SURFACE

The wall surface is of brick in Flemish bond with glazed headers, ruled mortar joint. The same bond is above and below the water table, including the string course, which also has glazed headers. New work, of locally made brick.

PORCH

There is no porch.

FRONT DOOR

Two valvae of colonial model. Frame and segmental arch over, fashioned after colonial Custom's House at Yorktown. Door jambs are in the same location as the door before restoration. The door has stone sill for utilitarian purposes, there being no evidence of the original work left.

The window at the second floor is semi-circular headed with 8" x 10" glass. It is further described in the general notes on the exterior. Glass size and character were taken from the original window opening found in the south wall of the second floor. Frame and muntin detail are of local colonial model. The arch is semi-circular, one brick stretcher deep, with alternate glazed headers. This is also of local Tidewater Virginia character. All woodwork is new, except interior trim, which is of old material.

SHUTTERS

There are no shutters.

BASEMENT WALL

There is no basement, but wall below water table is of Flemish bond with glazed headers, not of uniform pattern.

CHIMNEYS

There are no chimneys to this building.

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BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS), CORNER BOARDS

Cornice is continuous around eaves.

GENERAL NOTES

The lower portion of this wall is refaced. The upper part is rebuilt. The wall was also rebuilt by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in 1890, as it was found to be insecure and not entirely accurate. This wall is further described in Exterior, General Notes.

SOUTH ELEVATION

SHINGLES

Same as North Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

Same as North Elevation.

CORNICE

Same as North Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Same as North Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

The wall surface is original, Flemish bonded with a uniform pattern of glazed headers. Portion over door, including string course, was rebuilt as it had been patched here during the preservation work done in 1890.

PORCH

Same as North Elevation.

FRONT DOOR

Door is new and similar to the one in the North Elevation.

WINDOWS

The window opening is original and was repaired. Sash and frame is new to same detail as North Elevation.

The jamb bricks are for the most part original but the arch is new to detail (local model).

SHUTTERS

There are no shutters.

BASEMENT WALL

Same as North Elevation.

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NORTHEAST ELEVATION, C. 1888, SHOWING THE FALLEN NORTHEAST WALL. THE COLLAPSE OF ONE WALL OCCURRED AT THE END OF THE PERIOD WHEN THE MAGAZINE SERVED AS A LIVERY STABLE. ITS PURCHASE AND PRESERVATION, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE A.P.V.A. WAS PROBABLY PROMPTED BY THE PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF THIS BUILDING.

EAST ELEVATION, AFTER THE 1890 ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES' RESTORATION. MUCH BRICKWORK WAS RELAID AND WINDOW OPENINGS WERE CLOSED IN.

20.

CHIMNEYS

There are no chimneys to the building.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

Same as North Elevation.

GENERAL NOTES

This elevation is similar to that of the north face. The North Elevation was duplicated from it. The second floor window had been bricked up as described in Exterior, General Notes but the original ground jamb bricks could still be seen in place. The arch had been removed on the exterior face but it showed on the interior. The door opening is new as the old opening had been destroyed. Evidence for this door was noticed in early photographs and the wall showed a large repaired breech from the grade to the string course. This was reopened, the door inserted and all later patching repaired. The jambs and arch are new to detail similar to the north entrance door.

NORTHEAST AND NORTHWEST ELEVATIONS

SHINGLES

Same as North Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

There are no dormer windows.

CORNICE

Same as North Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Same as North Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

The wall surfaces are new. From grade to and including string course, they have been refaced and above string course to top of wall, they have been rebuilt. Face brick was made locally to match old work in color and bond.

PORCH

There is no porch.

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FRONT DOOR

There are no doors to these elevations.

WINDOWS

There are no windows to these elevations.

SHUTTERS

There are no shutters or windows to these elevations.

BASEMENT WALL

There is no basement but the wall below the water table is the same as for North Elevation.

CHIMNEYS

There are no chimneys to this building.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

The cornice is continuous. See North Elevation.

GENERAL NOTES

These walls were rebuilt by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in 1890, as the northeast wall had fallen out completely and the northwest wall had become weakened. The walls were rebuilt with use made of antique bricks gathered from local sources. The new work did not agree in color to the glazed header patterned original work as described in Exterior, General Notes. They were therefore refaced with a more suitable brick and uniform pattern of glazed headers.

SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST ELEVATIONS

SHINGLES

Same as North Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

There are no dormer windows.

CORNICE

Same as North Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Same as North Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

The wall surfaces are original in both cases. They have been repaired and contain similar windows.

PORCH

There is no porch.

22.

FRONT DOOR

There are no doors in these walls.

WINDOWS

These windows have been described briefly in Exterior, General Notes. They are fifteen light windows with 8" x 10" glass. The heads are horizontal with segmental arch over. Space between soffit of arch and top of window frame in filled with ground brick and glazed headers laid in Flemish bond. The arch itself in each case is of ground brick, eight inches deep with glazed headers alternating.

A steel lintel consisting of angle irons was installed over the head of each window to support the brickwork. These windows have fixed top sash and balanced bottom sash, using lead balance weights with modern pulleys. The lower sash has been screened in each case with modern copper mesh and steel frame. The precedent for the form that these windows take can be construed as being of a typical Tidewater character.

SHUTTERS

There are no shutters for windows in these elevations.

BASEMENT WALL

There is no basement but wall below the water table is of same bond as above water table. Glazed headers are partly in evidence. It is probable that some headers have weathered and have lost their glazed surface.

CHIMNEYS

There are no chimneys to this building.

BARGE BOARDS

(END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS Cornice is continuous. Same as North Elevation.

GENERAL NOTES

Both these walls are original and windows occur on the first story only. They are described briefly in Exterior, General Notes. Windows with semi-circular arched heads and stained glass were

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found in position here before restoration of the building. These were not original windows, having been altered by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities from earlier openings. The stained glass windows were removed and stored for possible assignment by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

WEST ELEVATION

SHINGLES

Same as North Elevation.

DORMER

There are no dormers shown.

CORNICE

Same as North Elevation.

GUTTER AND LEADER

Same as North Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

The wall surface is original with uniform pattern of glazed headers. It has a restored window opening at the first story similar to what was worked out for the Southeast and Southwest Elevations. A later window opening in the second story was bricked up by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. This surface was refaced as it did not agree with the adjoining brickwork.

PORCH

There is no porch.

FRONT DOOR

There is no door in this elevation,

WINDOWS

There is a window at the first story similar to those on the southeast and southwest walls. This window had been closed up during the work done in 1890 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. A window opening was shown in this

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location in a photograph taken before the building was acquired by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

SHUTTERS

There are no shutters to this window.

BASEMENT WALL

There is no basement to the building but the wall below the water table is same as southeast and southwest walls.

CHIMNEYS

There are no chimneys to this building.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

Cornice is continuous. There are no end boards, etc.

GENERAL NOTES

The wall is original except for bricked up opening on the second story. This later window was bricked up by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in a manner not quite suitable to the surrounding original work and so was reopened, repaired and refaced in the least conspicuous manner.

The window of the first story was reopened since it had been closed by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in 1890. A window similar to those in the southeast and southwest walls was restored.

Two large fractures at the juncture of this wall with the northwest and southwest walls were carefully repaired. The wall was found to lean outward and so was partly rebuilt and made plumb.

EAST ELEVATION

SHINGLES

Same as North Elevation.

DORMER WINDOWS

There is no dormer window in this elevation.

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CORNICE

See North Elevation,

GUTTER AND LEADER

See North Elevation.

WALL SURFACE

The wall surface is new of brick made locally. It is laid in Flemish bond with a uniform pattern of glazed headers to agree with the adjoining colonial brickwork on the southeast wall.

PORCH

There is no porch to this building.

FRONT DOOR

There in no door in this elevation.

WINDOWS

The window is new and similar to remaining first floor windows. See Southeast and Southwest Elevations.

SHUTTERS

There are no shutters to the window on this elevation.

BASEMENT WALL

There is no basement wall but the wall below the water table is new, laid in Flemish bond with glazed headers, similar to the wall of North Elevation.

CHIMNEYS

There are no chimneys to this building.

BARGE BOARDS (END BOARDS) CORNER BOARDS

There are no barge boards, end boards or corner boards as the cornice is continuous.

GENERAL NOTES

This wall was rebuilt entirely by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in 1890 as described in Exterior, General Notes. The lower portion up to and including the string course was refaced and above this point was taken down and rebuilt, as it was too thin to stand refacing. The complete wall surface is of locally made brick with a uniform pattern of glazed headers and ruled mortar joints.

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PUBLIC MAGAZINE AS IT APPEARED AFTER MID-19TH CENTURY, BASED ON A DRAWING MADE IN WILLIAMSBURG AS ILLUSTRATION FOR THE PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE REVOLUTION, NEW YORK, 1859-60. LOSSING, THE AUTHOR, SPEAKS OF THE MAGAZINE AS IN PARTIAL RUIN. THE WALL SURROUNDING THE BUILDING WAS USED IN CONSTRUCTING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH (1855).

INTERIOR OF THE MAGAZINE AFTER ITS RESTORATION C. 1890 BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR PRESERVATION OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES. THE WALLS WERE ADORNED WITH COATS OF ARMS, GIVEN BY VARIOUS ARTISTS, REPRESENTING JOHN SITH, LORD DELAWARE, GOVERNORS YEARDLEY, NICHOLSON, BENNETT, BERKELEY, ANDROS, JENNINGS, FAUQUIER, BESIDES TWO COATS OF ARMS OF VIRGINIA, AND OIL PAINTINGS OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AND POCAHONTAS.
THE MAGAZINE HAD TWO ART-GLASS WINDOWS ADDED AT THE TIME OF ITS RESTORATION, DEDICATED, ONE TO GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD AND THE OTHER TO NATHANIEL BACON.

27.

INTERIOR

GENERAL NOTES

With the exception of the interior faces of the southeast, south, southwest and west walls, together with the ceiling beams and some of the hip rafters in the roof, nothing of the original interior remained in evidence. The second floor had entirely disappeared together with what stairs originally lead to this floor.

In the center of the second floor ceiling the original beams showed a trimmed octagonal opening between the two main twelve-inch by twelve-inch continuous wood girders which were about seven feet nine inches apart resting on the southeast and northwest walls, respectively. Examination of the inside members of this opening disclosed the fact that a stair must have passed up through this octagon to the third floor. Clear evidence of a tread and riser representing the second last step from the top could be seen in the form of mortices in the inside face of the southeast trimer. The upper surfaces of these beams further disclosed mortices for newel posts which are now represented by the location of the restored new posts on the third floor.

The evidence for this stair was further borne out by the excavation work carried out under the first floor (See Archaeological Drawing #M. I.A, dated 12-10-34). This modern cement floor was practically on a level with existing grade and was laid in 1890 by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. It consisted of concrete laid on a fill of brickbats and builder's refuse. About twelve inches below this floor

28.

early paving was uncovered and was found to have been laid on the original hard clay. This paving was taken to represent the first floor level of the early building. In the center of this early floor and at the same grade approximately, an octagonal brick foundation was uncovered with walls radiating to the inside face of the northeast and northwest walls and striking them about on their center line. The inside corners of this brick octagonal foundation were found to coincide with the inside corners of the framed wood octagon, defined in the second floor coiling timbers.

Thus it can be seen that the brick octagonal formation in the first floor had a definite relation with the octagonal wall in the second floor original ceiling timbers, being directly below it and of a similar interior size.

This left no room for doubt as to where the original stairs were located and, consequently, decided the plan of the building. As previously mentioned, the octagonal brick formation in the first floor had radial walls of a similar thickness to this foundation running to and abutting the northeast and northwest walls, respectively, thus forming the effect of a large keyhole in plan by dividing the first floor into two distinct compartments with no connection between, which would answer the description made in the general Research Report.

The interior surfaces of the original walls showed the various windows described in the Exterior. It was noticeable, however, that a break or set-back occurred in all walls about ten feet from the old paving discovered under the first floor.

29.

These breaks varied in width from 9 1/2" to 4 1/2". The difference in widths was due to the variation in the first floor wall thicknesses, all second floor walls being approximately fourteen inches thick. The first floor walls were 23 1/2" to 18 1/2" in thickness. The walls previously mentioned as rebuilt by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities did not quite conform in thickness to the original walls, which averaged 23 1/2". The break in these walls herein described originally supported the second floor beams which had long since disappeared. Photographs taken when the building was used as a stable show a floor in this position. The second floor was therefore restored to this position. The floor beams, however, were not allowed to bear directly on these old walls, as they had become weakened through age. It was decided to support the second floor on a steel framework. This required wall slots at all angles of the walls, sufficient to erect supporting lally columns which were set on concrete piers, The tops of the columns carried the ends of steel channels which paralleled the inside face of the walls about one inch above the ledge or setback referred to previously and continued around the entire inside. These channels take the load of the entire second floor which, of course, is transferred to the columns. The walls, in turn, are anchored by steel plates and bolts set in the brickwork and bolted to the web of the channels. They are further reinforced by the column chase being filled with concrete surrounding the column in each case forming a dovetail bond (See detailed plans). Furthermore, the addition of this steel reinforcing was necessary because of the action of the walls which

30.

had bowed out. This was due no doubt to the weakened condition of the footings below grade combined with the roof load thrust and the fact that the second floor had been removed, thus transferring most of the load to the outside face of the walls. The footings were therefore strengthened by building a ten inch reinforced concrete wall around the footings both inside and outside. These walls were built as closely as possible to the old walls starting from the bottom of them and extending up to within a few inches from grade. Efforts were made to bond this concrete into the old brick walls by removing headers in places and by raking the old mortar joints and allowing the concrete to flow into these open joints and thus bonding the walls together.

The west wall which was bowed out approximately six inches at the string course appeared in a dangerous condition and might have been taken down and rebuilt. However, by rebonding at its juncture with the corners of the northwest and southwest walls and generally repairing the brickwork, it was considered sufficient to maintain the wall in this position and prevent any further outward movement.

The interior face of the southwest and southeast walls above the ledge showed a series of wood rules set into the brickwork. They measured five inches deep and were the same thickness as a brick course, running nearly the full length of the course, being stopped back from the corners of the walls about nine inches. They were spaced about every eleven brick courses apart, starting from the ledge or approximately the second floor level and continuing to the to of the wall in each case. These blocks (rule) did not occur in the second floor of the south wall as this wall contained a semi-

31.

circular arched window which is original and has been described elsewhere. There is, however, one wood rule situated in this wall about 2' 7" above the ledge and below the original window stool. On the second floor portion of the west wall more wood rules were noticeable. They were not spaced as uniformly in the wall as were those on the southeast and southwest walls described above.

Rules also occur below the ledge and about six brick courses below the top of it, situated in the original walls and embedded in the brickwork in the same manner as described for previous walls. These rules had been cut or stopped back from window jambs which occurred in the southeast and southwest walls, also from a patched opening in the west wall. This patching was removed and the plastered jambs for a window were discovered into which was fitted a window similar to those found applicable in the southeast and southwest windows, further described in the notes on the Exterior.

The south wall below the ledge and at the first floor was found to be five inches thinner than the remaining original walls. The reason for this change in thickness could not be ascertained. With reference to the wood rules built into the walls previously described, it may be assumed that they were placed there in connection with the interior finish on the second floor at the time of the completion of the original building.

The upper surfaces of the second floor beams which were referred to in connection with the stair also showed evidence of being covered with flooring. This floor was therefore restored and the interior surfaces of the secondary rafters were sheathed

32.

with random width beaded sheathing. The main hip rafters, of which many are original, protrude from the sheathing on the inside, due to their extended greater depth than the secondary beams. The underside of the original ceiling beams also showed evidences of having been plastered.

FIRST FLOOR, SMITHS SHOP

FLOOR

Brick paving laid in approximately 2" sand under which is a reinforced concrete slab. Bricks are now of local origin matching the originals found in the excavations.

FLOOR NAILS

There are none. (bricked paved flooring)

BEAMS

Ceiling beams and joists are now but they follow the methods and details of colonial framing and construction. See framing drawings.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

Exterior walls, plaster on metal lath. (Notes Plaster was originally applied directly to the brick walls but to insure the proper bond, metal lath was introduced.) Plastered direct on new partition walls; new plastering in each case.

CEILING

Plastered on metal lath. (Notes Hand split wood lath would have been used originally but in accordance with modern methods metal lath was used.)

BASEBOARD

New molded baseboard of characteristic type used in early work modeled from a house near Urbanna, Virginia.

CHAIR RAIL

None.

CORNICE

None.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

None.

33.

MANTEL

There is no mantel in this room.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

There is no fireplace and hearth.

WINDOWS

(Sash trim and frame and metal work). There are no windows.

CLOSETS

There is one closet under the Stair. The closet door is made of old material.

DOOR AND TRIM

There is a door of five panels (raised colonial type) as seen in "The Glebe," Gloucester County. There is also the main entrance door to this room which is six panel flush beaded rails diagonal sheathing on inside face.

METAL WORK ON DOOR

(Latch, hinges, door knob, fastenings, etc.). Dead lock on exterior door is antique from Warehouse as is likewise the lock on the south exterior door to the Powder Room. The keepers are new being made locally to colonial pattern, The exterior door has two bolts, one top and one bottom, which are both new and one hold back which is now. Also one door check is new of colonial design. Exterior door has two pair of H and L hinges from Warehouse and are newly constructed. Closet door has one pair of 12" H hinges which were brought from the Warehouse and also one hand latch which came from a similar source. This hardware is entirely new of local colonial detail. See file on Colonial Hardware in files of the Department of Architecture.

COLOR

All interior woodwork where new has been treated with ammonia solution to produce a natural finish.

EQUIPMENT

Panel board under stair with fuse box and switch box but no meter. Also ceiling outlet and switch in ceiling inside closet door. One base plug in east partition wall. Telephone conduit also in closet.

34

VIEW OF FOUNDATIONS DISCOVERED INSIDE THE MAGAZINE, LOOKING TOWARD THE NORTH (1934). A SPIRAL STAIRWAY OCCUPIED THE SPACE AT CENTER OF OCTAGON.

DRAWING (SHOWN AT LEFT) ACCOMPANIED DEED OF TRANSFER - MOSES R. HARRELL TO ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES, FEBRUARY 11TH, 1890, CONSIDERATION - $400; [THE BUILDING] DESCRIBED AS "THAT OCTAGON-SHAPED STRUCTURE COMMONLY CALLED THE 'POWDER HORN' AND ALL THAT PARCEL OF TRACT OF LAND ON WHICH IT IS ERECTED AND BOUNDED BY LINES RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE WALL OF THE SAID POWDER HORN AND AT A DISTANCE WITHOUT, THE SAME TEN FEET FROM THE CENTER OF SAID WALLS RESPECTIVELY AND FORMING AN OCTAGON FIGURE: ALSO THAT FURTHER PIECE DESCRIBED IN THE ANNEXED PLAT AND MADE A PART OF THE DEED."

35.

GENERAL NOTES

The stair gives access to the second floor from the room and is newly constructed of old material. See Interior, General Notes and Interior stair shoot.

FIRST FLOOR, POWDER ROOM

FLOOR

Same as Smith's Shop.

FLOOR NAILS

None.

BEAMS

Same as Smith's Shop.

WALLS AND WALL COVERINGS

Same as Smith's Shop.

CEILING

Same as Smith's Shop.

BASEBOARD

Same as Smith's Shop.

CHAIR RAIL

None.

CORNICE

None.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

None.

MANTEL

None.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

None.

WINDOWS

(Sash, trim and frame and metal work). There are four windows to this room. Interior trim is new of old material. Remaining frames and sashes are new to local colonial detail. See General Notes on Exterior and Interior.

CLOSETS

There are none.

DOORS AND TRIM

One exterior door, same as for Smith's Shop. This is the south entrance.

METAL WORK ON DOORS

(Latch, hinges, door knob, fastenings, etc.), Same as for exterior door of Smith's Shop. Two pairs of 14" H and L hinges,

36.

two bolts (top and bottom, inclusive), one door check and one hold back all from the Warehouse. This hardware is new, of colonial pattern and was stored in the Warehouse.

COLOR

Same as for Smith's Shop.

EQUIPMENT

There are no ceiling outlets but there are two base plugs, one is to right of door and the other is in the east partition wall.

GENERAL NOTES

This room in considered the Powder Room because it has no connection with the rest of the building as room referred to in Research Report,

SECOND FLOOR, ARMORY

FLOOR

Wood floor of old material with random width boards, Material from Warehouse.

FLOOR NAILS

Nails are new but are made to simulate old nails. Regular out-finished nails with hammered heads, were used to give antique appearance.^*

BEAMS

Beams in ceiling described in notes on the Interior.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

Same as for Smith's Shop.

CEILING

Same as for Smith's Shop.

BASEBOARD

Same as for Smith's Shop.

CHAIR RAIL

None.

CORNICE

None.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

None.

37.

MANTEL

There is none.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

There are none.

WINDOWS

(Sash, trim and frame, and metal work). There are two large semi-circular windows on the north and south walls, respectively. The south window is new in an existing original opening. The north window in entirely new in a new opening. Windows are further described in notes on the Interior. Bottom sash balanced with lead weights and modern pulleys.

CLOSETS

There are none.

METAL WORK ON DOORS

(Latch, hinges, door knob, fastenings, etc,), None.

COLOR

Same as for Smith's Shop.

EQUIPMENT

There are no ceiling outlets but one base plug is below south window and slightly to one side is the only outlet in this room.

GENERAL NOTES

This floor is newly constructed and has a spiral stair passing up through the center of it. Original floor had entirely disappeared. It is assumed that this room was the Armory referred to in old records, as it is the only room in the building large enough to contain the large quantity of arms known to have been stored there. Also, all other rooms have already been accounted for.

THIRD FLOOR, STORAGE SPACE

FLOOR

Same as for Armory.

FLOOR NAILS

Same as for Armory.

38.

BEAMS

Floor beams are original for the most part and have been reinforced where headed together with wrought iron straps made locally.

WALLS AND WALL COVERING

Walls consist of modern pine sheathing, beaded, random widths, nailed to underside of rafters. Hip rafters are exposed, and are mostly original.

CEILING

Same material as walls nailed to the bottom of radial tie beam.

BASEBOARD

New, beaded baseboard. Same material as sheathing.

CHAIR RAIL

There is none.

CORNICE

There is none.

PANELLING OR WAINSCOT

There is none.

MANTEL

None.

FIREPLACE AND HEARTH

None.

WINDOWS

(Sash, trim and frame, and metal work). None.

CLOSETS

None.

DOORS AND TRIM

None.

METAL WORK ON DOORS

(Latch, hinges, door knob, fastenings, etc.). There is a trap door in the ceiling which has one pair of 6" H hinges which were brought from the Warehouse.

COLOR

Natural finish.

EQUIPMENT

Two blank ceiling outlet boxes for ceiling lights. Switch for control of these is situated in closet under stair.

GENERAL NOTES

The sheathing on the walls and ceiling was added for utilitarian purposes. It is not definitely known how this room was finished originally. Its purpose as a storage space consisted in housing military stores.

39.

FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS
SMITH'S SHOP, ARMORY, STORAGE

STAIRS

Stairs are newly constructed in original location and are spiral in character around a continuous post from first floor to storage space in attic or third floor.

RISERS AND TREADS

New of old materials mostly pine from Warehouse,

NEWELL POST AND HANDRAIL

New of new material. Poplar variety made to detail. handrail, center rail and string are simply beaded, of a character similar to Warehouse, Urbanna, and the Wigwam.

BALUSTERS

There are none but a center beaded rail is substituted.

STRINGER, STRING BOARD AND STRING BOARD ORNAMENT

Stringer is simply beaded top and bottom and of common colonial character. First floor to second floor stairway is partially surrounded with a brick octagon which is sheathed on the inside with antique beaded sheathing from Warehouse set at same angle as run of stairs.

CLOSED OR OPEN STRING

Closed string newel stair, with octagonal wood center newel made from old pine timber. Entire stair is open from second to third floor,

LANDING (IF ANY)

(Floor - windows or openings on, if any - posts - handrail and balusters - "gallery board.") First landing is at second floor where stair well is surrounded with a balustrades made up of framed rails top and bottom with molded caping, and center beaded rail. All made of poplar. The detail is colonial and the components have been arranged consistent with what might have been constructed in this location and type of building.

40.

BASEMENT

There is no basement in this building. The main foundation walls are approximately three feet below existing grade. A ten inch reinforced concrete wall was constructed against both the inside and outside faces of the old walls, below grade, from the bottom of the foundation up to about six inches below finished grade. This concrete construction was introduced as a precautionary measure against the walls falling out and is further described in Interior, General Notes.

41.

OUTHOUSE

The records of the Research Department point out that the only outbuilding connected with this main building was a Guard House situated near the Magazine. What might have been construed as evidence for this Guard House was discovered about sixty feet directly east of the Magazine itself. It consisted of fragmentary remains of a strong brick foundation for a brick building and is indicated on the archaeological survey for this site. This Guard House had not been restored at the time when this report was written. See report on the Guard House for its history of reconstruction.

42.

OF POWDER MAGAZINES By M. Belidor from Gentlemen's Magazine, Vol. XXX, 1760, pp. 1760, pp.264, 269-70.

Of all military edifices, there are none of greater consequence, or that require more judgment to be properly constructed than powder magazines: For as they are, or should be always vaulted, first we should know what kind of arch is most capable of resisting the force of bombs falling on them, whether the semi-circular, the segment, or ellipsis, or the arch of three points: and, secondly, find the proper thickness of the piers to support and resist the trust of the arch. Engineers are mostly divided on the manner of vaulting powder magazines; some pretend that the semi-circular is the

43.

best of all, and others say the arch of three points is preferable. Certain it is that the latter has less thrust than a semi-circular and the semi-circular less than the segment, which may be geometrically demonstrated, and I shall, in as plain a manner as possible, prove that the arch of three points has less thrust than the semi-circular, see illustrations at opening of article which show comparative sections of powder magazines. Another common defect of semi-circular arched magazines is, that the roof is too flat, by which they receive more damage from the fall of shells, than if they were more inclined; &, if to avoid this defeat you make the roof more acute, the key of the arch is loaded with more masonry than needful, and the pins must be thicker to support that weight.

As it appears necessary to fix a rule for the roofs of magazines that they may not be too obtuse nor too acute for the reasons already given, I believe the following will be the best to avoid the defects of both. Here is given a table showing the differences in pier thickness in relation to spans, etc., p. 70.

The powder magazine of the eighteenth century was erected to contain gunpowder in bulk. It was usually a fireproof building with devices for protecting it from lightning. The powder magazine at Williamsburg appears not to have been made fireproof and should it have had a forge, its contents would be in imminent danger of exploding.

See Architectural Publication Society Dictionary, also Papworth, Explosions of Gunpowder Stores, in Builder's Journal, 1865, xxiii, 761.

44.

Colonel Bernard F. Belidor, the author of our account of powder magazines, had a communication in the Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, April 11, 1751, announcing the completion of the third volume of his Hydraulick Architecture, "… about which I have been employed thirty-two years," said Colonel Belidor. "It contains a very particular Account of the Manner of erecting all Sorts of Works belonging to Maritime Places, so as to improve them either for War on Trade, together with the art of making Rivers navigable, and joining them by means of canals; the manner of draining Water out of low Situations, and watering those that are dry."

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, 1712-1726, Vol. 5. p. xxvii.

Preface to Journals. Third Session - November-December, 1714

The "Act for erecting a magazine" (at Williamsburg) provided for the erection, at a cost of not to exceed £ 200, of a suitable storehouse for the safe keeping of arms and ammunition, and for the salary of a keeper and an armourer. It is further provided that so soon as the Virginia India Company shall be incorporated for trade with the Indians, it should, before entering on the trade, pay to the treasurer of Virginia £ 100, part of the sum to be expended on the building. The Governor was empowered to superintend the construction of the building and to issue his warrants from time to time on the treasurer for payment of the money appropriated, which was to come from the fund arising from the duty on liquors and slaves. The last provision was made a part of the bill, not merely as a mark of confidence in the governor .... ^*

Ex. 1.

PUBLIC MAGAZINE
Williamsburg
Block 12

EXTRACTS FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS PERTAINING TO THE PUBLIC MAGAZINE

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia
1712-1726, Volume 5., pap xxvii.

Preface to Journals. Third Session - November-December, l714

ACT FOR ERECTING A MAGAZINE 1714

... The "Act for erecting a magazine" provided for the erection, at a cost of not to exceed £200, of a suitable storehouse for the safe keeping of arms and ammunition and for the salary of a keeper and an armorer. It further provided that so soon as the Virginia Indian Company should be incorporated for trade with the Indians, it should, before entering on the trade, pay to the treasurer of Virginia £100, part of the sum to be expended on the building. The governor was impowered to superintend the construction of the building and to issue his warrants from time to time on the treasurer for payment of the money appropriated, which was to come from the fund arising from the duty on liquors and slaves. The last provision was made a part of the bill, not merely as a mark of confidence in the governor, but also because the building was needed at once and the governor offered to advance the necessary amounts from his own purse and wait for payment from the duties, which were already considerably anticipated.^*

(Brock, R, A. editor)
Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood from Manuscripts in the
Virginia Historical Society, Richmond
1885, Volume 2, page 97.

ACT FOR ERECTING MAGAZINE PASSED

To ye Lords Comissioners of Trade:
. . .
. . . It is a great Satisfaction that I can now acquaint your Lo'ps that an Act is pass'd for erecting a Magazine, whereby not only a place is provided for lodging ye powder which her late Maj'tie was graciously pleas'd to send over the public use of this Ex. 2. Governm't, but Sallarys are Establish'd both for Store keeper and an Armourer. The want of such a provision heretofore has been the Occasion that most of ye Arms sent in for ye Service of this Country are become almost utterly unserviceable, and the Ammunition for ye moist part spoil'd or embazelled, but now I doubt not to keep what Arms there are in the Country in good Condition, and by the means of this Act and provision made in the Indian bill, to have constantly a supply of good powder ready for all occasions that may happen. Y'r Lordships will observe by this bill that the money appropriated for building the Magazine is entrusted solely to my management. A Confidence w'ch I have gained from y'm by offering to advance my own money, without Interest, towards the building, since their present funds are so much anticipated that they could not possibly raise even that Sum in a considerable time.

Alexander Spotswood

The Virginia Historical Register, Richmond
1850, Volume IV, pages 6-7.
Governor Spotswood.

(Notes taken from the History of Virginia by Sir William Keith, who was a contemporary, and most probably personally acquainted with him...)

GOVERNOR SPOTSWOOD'S SKILL IN ARCHITECTURE

. . . He was well acquainted with Figures, and so good a Mathematician that his skill in Architecture, and in the laying out of Ground to the best Advantage is yet to be seen in Virginia, by the Building of an elegant safe Magazine, in the centre of Williamsburgh, and in the considerable Improvements which he made to the Governor's House and Gardens ...

Bowen, Emmanuel
Virginia.
London: 1720
page 652.

1720.
Near the Middle of the Town stands the Church, ... near it is a large Octagon Tower, a magazine for Arms and Ammunition; and not far from thence is a large Square for a Marketplace . . .
Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia
1721-1739, Volume 4, page 18.
At a Council held June the 13th 1722

Ex. 3.

MAGAZINE ORDERED BY MR. CARY

An Account of sundry Services done by Mr Cary of repairing the Governors House, & inclosing the Magazine, was laid before the Board, and Ordered to be paid out of his Majtys Revenue of 2s per hhd &c.

Jones, Hugh
Present State of Virginia.
London: 1724.
pp. 25-32.
... Near this is a large Octagon Tower, which is the Magazine or Repository of Arms and Ammunition standing far from any Houses except James Town Court-House; for the Town is half in James Town County and half in York County.
Not far from hence is a large area for a Market Place; ...

Hening's Statutes at Large.
1748-1755, Volume 6, pp. 528-29.
August 1755 29th George II.
Chap. I. An Act for raising the sum of forty thousand pounds, for the protection of his majesty's subjects on the frontiers of this colony.
... And whereas the public magazine stands exposed to the designs of evil minded persons,
XIII. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That Peyton Randolph, esquire, Carter Burwell, John Chiswell, Benjamin Waller, and James Power, gentlemen, or any three of Them, be, and are hereby appointed directors, to treat and agree with workmen, to erect a high and strong brick wall, to inclose the said magazine, and to build a guard house convenient thereto.

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia
1770-1772, Volume XII, page 235.
Wednesday, the 11th of March, 12 George iii, 1772.
A Claim of Benjamin Powell for repairing the Magazine; and also, A Claim of Joseph Kidd for repairing the Magazine, Were severally presented to the House, and read. Ordered, That the said Claims be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Public Claims; and that they do examine the Matter thereof, and report the same, with their Opinion thereupon, to the House.

Ex. 4.

Campbell, Charles
History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia
Philadelphia: 1860
Pages 607-608.

1775, April 20
On the twenty-eighth of March Dunmore issued a proclamation, by command, as he said, of the king, for the prevention of the appointment of deputies from Virginia to the congress which was to assemble in May. And in compliance with instructions received from England, the governor ordered Captain Collins, with a party of marines and sailors from the Magdalen lying at Burwell's Ferry, to remove the powder from the magazine at Williamsburg, and it was carried on board of that vessel secretly, between three and four o'clock a.m. of Thursday, April the 20th the day following the collision at Lexington and Concord. It had been rumored some days before in Williamsburg, that Lord Dunmore had taken the locks off from most of the guns in the magazine, and that he intended to remove the powder. The people of the town were alarmed, and the volunteers for several nights kept guard over the magazine; at length growing negligent, and disbelieving the report, on Thursday night the guard was discharged at an early hour. Thus Collins with his party, who had been secreted in the Palace, seized the powder without opposition. Dunmore, anticipating the resentment of the people, armed his servants and some Shawnee hostages, and muskets were laid on the floor loaded and prized, and the captains of the ships of war lying at York were ordered to have in readiness an armed force for the defence of the palace. As soon as these proceedings became known, the Williamsburg volunteers flew to arms, and were with difficulty restrained by Peyton Randolph and Robert C. Nicholas from assaulting the palace and seizing the governor. The authorities of the town, in accordance with a resolution of a meeting of the people, solicited the governor to restore the powder immediately, urging among other reasons which demanded it, the apprehension of a servile war, instigated by "wicked and designing men". . .

Virginia Gazette
John Pinkney, Ed.
Thursday, April 20, 1775.
WILLIAMSBURG,
To his excellency the right honourable JOHN earl of DUNMORE, his majesty's lieutenant governor general, and commander in chief of the colony and dominion of VIRGINIA.

Ex. 5.

The humble A D D R E S S of the M A Y O R, R E C O R D E R, A L D E R M E N, and C O M M O N C O U N C I L, of the city of WILLIAMSBURG,,
MY LORD,
WE his majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the mayor, recorder, aldermen and common council, of the city of Williamsburg, in common-hall assembled, humbly beg leave to represent to your excellency that the inhabitants of this city were this morning exceedingly alarmed, by a report that a large quantity of gun powder was, in the preceding night, while they were sleeping in their beds, removed from the public magazine in this city, and conveyed under an escort of marines on board one of his majesty's armed vessels lying at a ferry on James river.
We beg leave to represent to your excellency, that as this magazine was erected at the public expence of this colony, and appropriated to the safe keeping of such munition as should be there lodged from time to time, for the protection and security of the country, by arming thereout such of the militia as might be necessary in Case of invasions and insurrections, they humbly conceive it to be the only proper repository to be resorted to in times of immenent danger.
We farther beg leave to inform your excellency, that from various reports at present prevailing in different parts of the country, we have too much reason to believe that some wicked and designing persons have instilled the most diabolical notions into the minds of our slaves and that therefore the utmost attention to our internal security is become the more necessary.
The circumstances of this city, my lord, we consider as peculiar and critical. The inhabitants, from the situation of the magazine, in the middle of their city, have for a long tract of time been exposed to all those dangers which have happened in many countries for explosions, and other accidents. They have from time to time, thought it incumbent on them to guard the magazine. For their security, they have for some time past judged it necessary to keep strong patrols on foot: In their present circumstances, then, to have the chief and necessary means of their defence removed, cannot but be extremely alarming.
Considering ourselves as guardians of the city, we therefore humbly desire to be informed by your excellency upon what motives, and for what particular purpose the powder has been carried off in such a manner, and we earnestly entreat your excellency to order it to be immediately returned to the magazine.
To which address his excellency returned to this verbal answer. Ex. 6. THAT, hearing of an insurrection in a neighboring country, he had removed the powder from the magazine, where he did not think it secure, to a place where it would be in perfect security and that, upon his word and honour, when ever it was wanted on any insurrection, it should be delivered in half an hour. That he had removed it in the night time to prevent any alarm and that captain Collins had his express commands for the part he had acted. He was surprised to hear the people were under arms on this occasion, and that he should not think it prudent to put powder into their hands in such a situation.
On Tuesday last the inhabitants of this city met at the court house, and generously subscribed towards the relief of those brave sons of Liberty, the Bostonian.

Virginia Gazette
Alex. Purdie, Ed,
April 21, 1775 (Supplement)

This morning, between 3 and 4 o'clock, all the gunpowder in the magazine, to the amount, as we hear, of about 20 barrels, was carried off in his Excellency the Governour's wagon, escorted by a detachment of marines from the armed schooner Magdalen, now lying at Burwell's ferry, and lodged on board that vessel. As soon as the news of this Manoeuvre took wind, the whole city was alarmed, and much exasperated; and numbers got themselves in readiness to repair to the palace, to demand from the Governour a restoration of what they so justly supposed was deposited in this magazine for the country's defence. However, as some Gentleman represented the propriety of remonstrating to the Governour upon this occasion, in a decent and respectful manner the Common Hall assembled, who after deliberating some time, waited upon his Excellency with the following address, which was presented by the Hon. P E Y T 0 N R A N D 0 L P H, Esq; Recorder of this city, and is as follows: ...
Same as preceding

Wirt, William
Sketches of the Life & Character of Patrick Henry
Philadelphia: 1817.
Pages 134-35.

In the midst of the irritation excited by this intelligence, came the news of the bloody battles of Lexington and Concord, resulting from an attempt of the governor, general Gage, to seize the military stores deposited at the latter place. The system of colonial subjugation was now apparent: the effect was instantaneous. The whole country flew to arms. The independent companies, formed in happier times for the purpose of military discipline, Ex. 7. and under the immediate auspices of lord Dunmore himself, raised the standard of liberty in every county. By the 27th of April, there were assembled at Fredericksburg, upwards of seven hundred men well armed and disciplined, "friends of constitutional liberty and America."

Virginia Gazette
John Pinkney, Ed.
Thursday, June 8, 1775.
WILLIAMSBURG.
INTELLIGENCE EXTRAORDINARY.

…
It is certain that several barrels of gunpowder were found buried in the magazine. This has induced some timourous persons to believe that there is a subterraneous train from the palace to that place, which, in case of alarm, being set fire to would blow up the town in an instant.
This scheme was the better calculated to do execution, as the magazine was the general place of rendezvous for the volunteer company upon any alarm. By blowing it up at such a juncture, his lordship wisely foresaw he could destroy their whole body in a moment, and, Sampson like, slay more at his death than he had done in his whole life.
…
It is a real fact that the young ladies in Williamsburg requested the gentlemen of the volunteer company to spare l-----t S-----, in case of a battle with the marines as they wanted so diverting a little creature to tie to their apron strings.

Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia
1773-1776, Volume 13, pages 223-24.
Tuesday, the 13th of June, 15 Geo. iii. 1775

. . .
Your Committee farther Report, that before they proceeded to examine any Witnesses they waited on his Excellency, to request that he would be pleased to direct the Keeper of the Magazine to give them access thereto, and, having received the Keys three days after their first application, they immediately proceeded to inspect the Magazine, and found therein nineteen Halberts, one hundred and fifty seven Trading Guns in pretty good order, but very indifferent in kind, fifty one Pewter Basons, eight Camp Kettles, one hundred and eight new Muskets without Locks, and about five hundred and twenty seven old Muskets, the barrels very Ex. 8. rusty, and the Locks almost useless, twelve hundred Cartouch boxes, fifteen hundred Cutlasses with Scabbards, one hundred and seventy Pistol Holsters.. one hundred and fifty old Pistols, or thereabouts, with and without Looks, fifty Mallets, two bundles of match Rope, two hundred Cantines, thirty five small Swords in bad order, one Tent and Tent Poles, one Hogshead of Powder Horns, one hundred and twenty seven Bayonets, one hundred Knapsacks in the Smiths Shop, and that part of the Magazine called the Armory, and a quarter of unsifted Powder, tolerably good, in the Powder Room, that has no communication with the Amory, also five half Barrels of loose Powder buried in a Hole in the Magazine yard, the top of which, (in quantity about two half barrels) was totally destroyed by the late Rains the rest very damp, but quite sound; this, his Excellency acknowledged to your Committee, was buried there by his orders. The deficiency, this Committee suppose, is owing to the fifteen half barrels which Captain Collins moved from the Magazine as acknowledged in the Governor's Message to this House.

Dunmore, Lord
Letter to Secy. of State, S. P. 0., Va. Vol. 195
Virginia Papers, Vol. III, 1775-1781.
N. Y. Pub. Lib.

Fowey in York River
25th June, 1775.
... It happened likewise a day or two after the meeting of the Assembly that two men were wounded, in attempting in the night to rob the magazine of arms, by the discharge of a musket, loaded with large shot, which had been placed by the keeper in a window in such a manner that any person, forcing through it, would fire the gun against himself ....

JOURNALS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA 1776-1777
Vol. I. page 125.

Upon considering the situation of the Publick Magazine, and the great Quantity of Gun powder lodged therein belonging, both to the Continent and this State Resolved that General Lewis be requested to direct another Magazine to be built at some convenient place as soon as possible, the Expence whereof will be defrayed by this Board, if Congress should not deem it a necessary Continental charge.