Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Of The First Floor

Access to Basement

Access was possible to the Basement under the central hall and the partially excavated space under the south portion. Access under the north portion was not possible without injury to the building since there is no opening to allow entrance to it. As the north and south portions on the first floor are identical it was considered sufficient to investigate one of them from below.

Condition, Kind of Material

The floor framing measured is in rather good condition and almost entirely original. This is surprising considering the rebuilding of 1836 and the relocation of the house to a new site in 1908. The material of the original framing is of oak. Some members show rot in the bottom edges. The sills are heavy. Although sizable the summer beams and chimney girt are not large. The joists are rather small. The original framing throughout the building is not as robust in dimensions as might be expected. This may be due to the fact that the early builders considered oak a much stronger structural material 3 than the customary yellow pine or poplar and consequently felt that thinner sections were permissible for the framing members.

Basement Divisions, Framing Divided into Bays by Summer Beams, The Sills

The basement is divided into three portions by brick walls under the partitions of the central hall but, as noted, only two of these were investigated. These walls and the exterior walls bear oak plates, apparently all original. The floor framing is in turn divided into three bays, east to west, by two summer beams running north and south in the two portions investigated. The eastern summers continue on the same line and join the different sills they meet with tenons. The western summers are not aligned and are half lapped over the sills they join. Where the main south sill meets those on the east and west walls it is attached by tenons. The sills in the central portion are half-lapped over the western sill. Where they meet the east sill they are not joined to it themselves but heavy oak scabs are notched into this sill and fastened to the side of the sills they strengthen with hand wrot nails and large wooden pins. The joint of the south sill of the central portion and the west sill is reinforced in a similar manner despite the half-lapping. The main south sill appears to run in back of the chimneys continuously from east to west.

How Wall Framing Meets Sills

On top of the sill under the south wall of the central hall can be seen the bottom of the framing resting on the sill. The south face of the framing is flush with the south side of the sill. Inspection of the conditions can be made from the partially excavated area under the south portion. The method by which the framing joins the sill is conventional with posts and braces tenoned and pegged into it.

Sill Splices

A few feet south of the south wall of the central portion is a half-lapped splice joint fixed with a wood pin on the east and west sills respectively.

Framing at Chimneys

The framing around the east and west chimneys at the south end was carefully studied. It was concluded that the east chimney was intrusive and the framing cut around it, doubtless in the changes of 1836. Had this chimney been contemporary with the original framing the girt for the west chimney would have been repeated in a similar manner.

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Unusual Feature

In general the framing is straightforward and of a type to be expected in a building such as Tazewell Hall. One curious feature is the use of oak cleats to tie together the ends of the joists resting in alignment on the east summer of the central portion. They are fastened to the sides of the joists with hand wrot nails and are original. A detail is shown on the drawings.

Plaster & Whitewash in Basement

Originally the main portion of the building had a full basement. Lath and plaster were attached to the underside of the joists leaving the summers and sills exposed where they extended below the plaster surface. The exposed portions of these members were white washed. Upon inspection it was found that the lathing was fixed by machine cut nails indicating that it was installed in 1836 or later. A few fragments of lath remained which were obviously hand split.

Of the Central Hall

The original, system of wall and ceiling framing is straightforward but unfortunately it is greatly complicated by the numerous revisions made to it during the changes of 1836 and by some replacements installed before that date. In making the measured drawings the 1836 ceiling and second floor members have been omitted although studs of that period have been shown on the drawings of the wall framing.

General System
Posts, Girts, Studs

At each corner of the hall is a post into which the girts are framed with mortice and tenon joints about mid-way between the sills and plates. The corner posts are continuous pieces through the whole distance. On the present north and south walls at approximately the third points are post-like studs which are continuous. The girts are framed into them in the same manner as at the corner posts. Thus there are three girts on each of the latter walls of which the two western ones are on the same line while the eastern one is at a slightly lower level. The east and west walls each have a single similar post which creates two girts, joined to the post as elsewhere. These are dropped girts in that they are at a lower level than those at the north and south walls. The original studs are let into the respective sills, girts and plates with tenons. They are spaced about 2'-0" ± on the north and south walls but on the other two walls the spacing is different. The continuous posts are much heavier in section than the studs as would be expected. They are joined to the sills and plates with tenons. The plates are half-lapped at the corners.

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The East Wall Upper Portion

Posts, Studs, Original Girt Was Replaced, Diagonal Braces, Roof Notches, Cornice Line

At the east wall upper portion the corner posts are original as well as the continuous post and an adjacent stud. Next to each corner post on the bottom of the plate is a former stud mortice hole but the studs themselves are missing. The original post and stud may have been moved southwards about 2½" at some early period since the mortices in the plate are off center northwards by this amount. Possibly this fact has no significance because as they now stand the stud and post are correctly centered in the wall. Just south of the stud are two more mortices. The stud which once filled the northern one is missing and the mortice looks original. Some question attaches to the period of the southern mortice as a late poplar stud is located on it with a tenon fitting it. The present oak girt shows no stud mortices on its top surface. It gives the appearance of being a replacement. The joint where it meets the post is rather loose and the wood pins do not go into the girt. It is a different joint than the others elsewhere in the hall in that the girt is continuous and half-laps the post on its outer face. In other words, two original girts were replaced by a single one. It was noted that the inner face of the girt contains no lathing nails or holes. The studs and post above it do show remains of both early and late lathing nails. This may indicate that the new girt was installed in 1836. On both the post and the original adjacent stud are mortices for former diagonal braces located not far below the plate and on the north and south faces of the two uprights. Holes for former wooden pins also remain and in one of the mortices was found a piece of an old oak tenon. The top of the girt was carefully examined for old mortices of braces and studs, as mentioned above. No signs of such wore found -- a further support to the theory that the girt is a replacement. Just below the brace mortices are notches on the outer face of the post and stud which probably were cut originally to receive the head member of a window. On each corner post on the outside faces is a sloping notch close to the level of the present second floor. Similar notches appear at a higher level on the post and stud. The cuts are assumed to represent an early porch roof line. On the original uprights can be seen lathing nails both early hand wrot and late machine cut. On the late poplar members are seen only the late type. On the old members the earlier lathing nails stop on a horizontal line about 15" below the bottoms of the 6 ceiling joists possibly indicating a former cornice line. All trim on this wall is of the 1836 period.

The East Wall - lower portion

Alterations
Windows, Entrance Door, Pilasters and Dado, Old Plaster, Cornice above pilasters

The lower portion of the original east wall framing is badly disturbed and gives evidence of some early alterations before the 1836 changes. Old members consist of the corner posts, a continuous post flanking the entrance door on the north and an oversize stud at the south. The next studs north and south of the post are original pieces of oak fixed in place with hand wrot nails. They appear to have been former members reused when the girt was replaced. At the north east corner the corner post and ends of girts joining it are all badly rotted. From the post extending diagonally downward to the south is an original brace. It is attached to the post with a mortice and tenon joint fixed with a wood pin. No marks can be found of a similar brace to the south except the sloping cut at the top of the reinforcing piece along the south side of the stud. On the north side of the post from the under side of the brace to the sill is another reinforcing heavy piece of oak. These pieces are attached to adjacent framing with hand wrot nails. A clue to their period is mentioned later under pilasters. The stud is tenoned into the girt and pinned with a wood peg. The framing under the windows cannot be determined without removing the present panelled dado which seemed inadvisable. The location of the south window agrees with the arrangement of the original panelling. The trim of this window appears old and in its original position but the sash is of 1836. The trim of the north window is old but does not quite agree in location with the arrangement of the panelling. Here the sash is of 1836. The discrepancy is minor. The post and stud which flank the front entrance have been cut away to accommodate a wider door. The distance between the vertical members before cutting would accommodate a door the same width as the original and existing west entrance door. At present the east door (2 valve) and frame are of the 1836 period but the interior trim is colonial. It seems probable that the widening of the opening occurred during the colonial period possibly when the pilasters were added to the lower part of the hall. If so, the panelling adjacent to the door must have been rearranged. The pilasters center on these panels, and on the spaces between the door and window trim. The dado cap was cut to receive the pilasters which were otherwise applied over the panelling. 7 At about the level of the necking of the north pilaster was a hand split cleat, removed when the pilaster was taken down. It was notched into the north edge of the post and lapped the relocated old stud to the north. It was fixed in place with hand wrot nails and was used to support the pilaster. Further remarks may be found below about those found at other pilasters elsewhere in the Hall. No rearrangement of the panelling was made to provide a neater appearance. The north pilaster was removed for study. In back of it was found a sizeable area of original hand split lath from which the plaster had been taken off. The laths were attached with hand wrot nails. The area of the old lathing extended over the framing members between the window and door and up to the head of the door thus showing that the replaced old stud and the reinforcing piece must have been installed at a comparatively early date. The baseboard below the two windows was removed for inspection of the top of the sill. Because of debris it was not possible to trace stud or brace mortices at the north. At the south no stud or brace marks could be found. Of course, the sill at this point may have been replaced at an early date but no clear picture could be obtained of the changes. Behind the panelled dado no lathing nails can be seen. After taking down the pilaster an opportunity was provided for studying the paint coats on the top of the cap. A line was found showing that a cornices at one time ran across the cap on the plane of the face of the fluting of the pilaster. The tops of the other pilasters were inspected and the same line appeared. No evidence was found, however, to indicate the form of the cornice which must remain conjectural.

The West Wail - Upper Portion

Stud Mortices In plate, Window Notches, Diagonal Braces

The west wall bears some similarity to the east wall. However, it has been much disturbed. Except for the corner posts only one original vertical framing member remains in place. This is a post, continuous from the lower portion. The girts are original and frame into the post. Likewise the plate is original. There are four original mortices in the bottom of the plate. The third from the south wall receives the tenon of the continuous post which is fastened therein with a wood pin. The other three apparently received over sized studs of a post-like character pinned in place in a similar manner. The pins are missing. The balance of the studs now in place are of poplar and doubtless of the 1836 period. The second old stud mortice from the south wall is covered by one of these poplar posts which is not let into the plate, unlike the example at the east wall. On the continuous post are notches for the head and sill members of a window frame. They are on the inner face TAZEWELL HALL
NORTH ELEVATION-
RESTORED 8 of the post rather than outside as in the east wall. The top notch is at the same level as the two notches already mentioned in the original post and stud of the east wall. Slightly above the lower notch on the north face of the continuous post is the mortice and peg hole for the tenon of a former brace, now missing, which extended diagonally downward and northward. It was not possible to see if the lower end of this brace left notches or other marks on the top of the north girt. No such marks were visible on the south face of the north corner post. It was not possible to investigate marks of a similar brace at the southern girt. Originally it seems probable that both braces were part of the framing system of the wall.

The West Wall - Lower Portion

Condition
Three Bays, Door Opening, Window Openings, Panelled Dado, Pilasters, Lathing Nails

Of all the portions of the east and west walls more original framing remains here. Curiously enough there were no diagonal braces originally or later. The wall is divided into three bays. The center bay contains the entrance door and is composed of a continuous post at the north and an oversized stud at the south which is let into the girt above with a pegged tenon joint. The girts frame into the post. The studs of the other two bays containing the windows are original. They are of smaller size than the members of the center bay and are tenoned into the girts above them. The top of the door opening is defined by two original headers half lapped over the post and stud at the outer face of these members. The door trim and door are colonial and seem to be original including the hardware. The door as it now stands was lowered about 3" when the stair was installed to swing clear of the stair soffit. The top window headers are notched into the flanking studs on the inside face. Although covered by the window trim it is probable that they are original members. The windows seem to be in their original locations since the old panelling at the north window is obviously arranged for its position. The panelling at the south window was removed when the stair was built but it occupies a relatively identical position to the north window which it balances about the axis of the hall. Both windows have old trim with frames and sash of the 1836 period. Of the two pilasters on the wall the installation of the stair caused the removal of the southern one. The northern one still remains in place. Evidence for the former southern pilaster may be seen where a notch for the cleat supporting it occurs near the top of the second stud from the south wall. A similar notch occurs on the opposite stud about the axis of the hall, although the cleat itself 9 is missing for some reason. A section of the original baseboard was removed below the north window to study the top of the sill. No significant marks were found. No former lathing nails were visible on the original stud faces behind the panelled dado. This fact indicates that the dado is original in period.

Lathing Nails

The late stair and trim cover a considerable part of the girt. Wherever possible it was inspected for evidence of lathing nails. None could be found. The girt does not appear to be a replacement. The evidence was not conclusive.

North Mall - Upper Portion

Framing System, Posts, Girts, West Bay

The principal members of the original framing arrangement of the upper portion of the north wall consist of the continuous corner posts and two continuous intermediate posts extending from the sill to the plate. At the corners the plate is half lapped over the corner posts from each of which extends a tenon into the lapped joints. The posts are tenoned and pegged into the plate. Midway between are three girts joined to the posts with tenons and wood pins. The two western girts (the girts of the two western bays) are on the same level while the eastern girt is dropped slightly below this level. The girts of the east and west walls are dropped even farther below this general line. In the western bay there were, originally three studs whose tenon mortices remain in the bottom of the plate. The western of these still contains the original stud but the two eastern ones are empty and the former studs are missing. The balance of the framing in this bay is of poplar and of the 1836 period. Part of an original diagonal brace remains. The upper end of the brace meets the corner post near its top with a mortice and tenon joint fastened by a wood pin. It extends downward and eastward a short distance where it was cut off, scribed to an oversize, late poplar stud and fastened with machine cut nails. The outside faces of the original corner posts, plate, girts, continuous posts and intermediate studs were flush. Late studs meet the plate with butt joints. Rigidity is obtained by notching these studs over cleats nailed to the bottom of the plate.

Center Bay

In the center bay are two original diagonal braces which are tenoned and pegged to the flanking posts near the tops and which extend downward to the top of the girt where they butt on the center line of the bay. Five original stud mortices remain in the bottom of the plate. The studs have been relocated or else done 10 away with. At present four old oak studs are relocated in the bay scribed against the diagonal braces. They meet the plate with butt joints. They are fastened in place with machine cut nails and are notched over cleats. In no case do they occur at original positions as indicated by the former stud mortices in the plate. The outer, or north, faces of the posts, girts, plate and original studs were flush. Some variation in this respect occurred on the inside faces. Therefore in 1836 some of these inside faces were cut back with the adze or hatchet particularly the east post and center girt. Evidence of former lath and plaster on the girt were missing, therefore.

East Bay

Almost none of the intermediate framing in the east bay is original but four original stud tenon mortices do remain in the bottom of the plate. In this bay, as in the west one, part of an old diagonal brace is still in place. It is joined to the corner post with mortice, tenon and pin near the upper end of the post and extends downward and westward a short distance where it is cut off to scribe against a late, heavy poplar stud. Two such late posts are present in this bay fastened to the plate with notches over cleats.

Roof Notches, Cornice

On the outside face of original framing members of the upper part of the north wall were found a series of diagonal notches which indicate the slope of the original, hipped roof beyond. This evidence can be seen in detail on the drawing. Close inspection further revealed an added supporting fact that the former weatherboard nail holes above the roof line could be identified properly spaced but that below this line they were noticeably missing. On the inside face of original members can be seen a line about 15" below the ceiling joists where the early hand wrot lathing nails terminate. Below this point they can be seen all the way to the top of the present second floor. The line so shown was in all likelihood that of the bottom of a cornice. No evidence was found, however, to indicate the design of the cornice.

It was not possible to inspect the original surface of the tops of the three girts to check on former stud and brace locations because of strapping built in at these points in the 1836 changes.

North Wall - Lower Portion

Framing System
West Bay, Late Second Floor Framing, Pilaster and Dado Panelling, Baseboard

The lower portion of the north wall is divided into three bays by the two intermediate posts which are original as are the corner posts and girts. The west bay is slightly narrower than the others as is the upper portion. All three of the original intermediate studs are in place, tenoned into the girt. A diagonal brace slopes downward from the upper part 11 of the corner post to a position one stud west of the post at the east of the bay. The brace is joined to the post in the usual manner. Deep notches occur in the bottom of the girt which were cut over the tops of the late second floor joists installed in the 1836 changes. On the girt can be seen remains of hand wrot lathing nails and marks of lath and plaster. About 6" below the bottom of the girt is a line of notches cut into the inner faces of the studs and posts and which support a collar beam which in turn provides the bearing for the floor joists. Although the notches are shown on the drawing the collar beams and joists have been omitted for clarity. A detail of this construction is shown on the drawings. It is, of course, of the 1836 period. A similar notch was cut into the east side of the corner post to receive the end of the collar beam. Where the latter meets upright members it is half lapped at these points. The original dado panelling is in place in this bay and a pilaster. The typical pilaster cleat remains attached to the three eastern vertical members with hand wrot nails. The stud directly behind the pilaster has original hand wrot lathing nails on its face although the laths have disappeared. The pilaster is placed over the panels without regard to spacing or arrangement and the dado cap is cut away to receive it. The original baseboard was removed between the pilaster and the west wall. Debris prevented proper inspection of the top of the sill nor was this possible from the basement.

Center Bay
Diagonal Brace, Studs, Pilaster

The center bay retains most of its original framing. An original diagonal brace extends downward and westward from the eastern continuous post to which the brace is joined in the usual way. It meats the sill at the third stud west of the post. The original intermediate stud arrangements from west to east is as follows: A stud mortice in the bottom of the girt locates the former position of a missing stud; the next stud is oversize, or postlike, and is tenoned and pegged into the girt; the next three studs are in their original positions, are tenoned into the girt and where they scribe against the diagonal brace they are fastened to it with hand wrot nails. The same late notches for the 1836 second floor framing in the bottom of the girt and on the faces of the vertical members are present as in the west bay. Another pilaster is located about in the middle of the bay with the usual cleat near the top. The cleat is notched into a stud at its west end while the east end laps a stud. These ends are fixed with hand wrot nails.

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Door
Pilaster and Dado

An original door with contemporary trim, frame and hardware is located in the western portion of the bay. It is symmetrically flanked by the pilasters mentioned is this and the western bay. The panelled dado is also original and relates to the pilaster as noted under the west bay. The original baseboard was removed from the pilaster to the new pilaster east. It was impossible to inspect the top of the sill for framing marks because of debris.

East Bay
Problem, Large opening & Present Arch
Framing of room beyond unusual
Dado Panelling, Summary

The east bay presents a problem. The continuous post at the west, the corner post and the girt are original but no evidence was found for intermediate studs or braces. In the bottom of the girt are four deep notches but these were cut to house the tops of the late second floor joists. the girt shows no evidence of former lathing and plaster, it is framed into adjacent posts in such a way that it could hardly be a replacement of an earlier girt. The post and corner post are also notched to receive the late collar beam mentioned previously. From the evidence it appears that a large opening of some kind led into the north east room beyond. What this was like before the arch and flanking pilasters were installed in the hall is the problem. The west wall of the northeast room retains its original framing which is unusual in that it does not join, structurally, the north wall of the hall. The terminal and oversize stud of the west wall is several inches north of the hall studding. A glance at the plan of the condition on the drawings will show this curious situation. The east wall of the northeast room, however, does join the hall framing by means of a diagonal brace tenoned and pegged into the northeast corner post. What infilling, if any, of the opening from the hall to the room beyond preceded the arch is, therefore, undetermined. As has been said no early or original framing notches are to be found in the bottom of the girt. Unfortunately it is not possible to investigate for such marks on the top of the sill. Another important point was investigated having to do with the relation of the dado panelling in the two rooms. If the opening was untrimmed and no partition or other division occurred originally it would be expected that the panelling was continuous along the east wall of both areas and turned the corner from the west wall of the room beyond to the north wall of the hall. However, the adjacent ends of the panelling in question show no evidence of this. They are arranged to meet the conditions as they now pertain with the arch in place. To sum up the matter, even if redundantly, we know that the arch and pilastars are contemporaneous and that the arrangement of 13 the panelling accommodates the arch. We do not know what treatment was employed at the opening in the period preceding the installation of the arch and pilasters. Yet we know that there was such a period.

North Wall - General Considerations

Late Plaster Cornice, Period of Dado

Although the late second floor framing has been discussed as yet the coved plaster cornice of the same period has not been mentioned. The lathing and plaster of which it was formed was removed exposing a series of late wood blocking to which the latter were fixed with machine cut nails. By removing the plaster cove the surfaces of original framing members were brought to light. As explained above marks of early lath and plaster could be seen on the girts of the west bay of the north wall and the center and west bars of the south wall above the late collar beam notches in the uprights. The lathing nails were hand wrot. On the eastern girts of these walls and the girts of the west wall this evidence was lacking. So much of the west wall girts are covered by the late stair that the evidence was inconclusive. The lack of traces of lath on the eastern girt of the north and south walls might be explained if these surfaces held strapping. The signs of plaster on the east wall girt are missing because the girt is a replacement. This evidence made possible the conclusion that there was no intermediate cornice until the pilasters were installed. The same evidence of former master surfaces were found behind the pilasters on the old studs and posts.

The faces of original framing behind the panelled dado were inspected wherever possible and invariably showed no evidence of former lath and platter.

Pilaster & Arches

Although the arch and pilasters are somewhat later than the dado and original plaster surfaces they are, none-the-less, splendid examples of Colonial architecture. It is suggested they be retained and a cornice placed above them in case the building is restored. Likewise the cornice at the old ceiling line should be replaced.

It appears from inspection that the pilasters and probably the arches in the central hall on the north and south walls were taken down when the second floor was installed and then replaced. It is difficult to imagine how the collar beams could have been fitted into place otherwise. This accounts for machine cut nails in some of the pilaster cleats and in miscellaneous blocking and late nails behind the arches.

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The South Wall - Upper Portion

Framing System

In general the south wall, upper portion framing resembles that of the North wall. Both are divided into three bays. The conclusions drawn are the same.

West Bay

Therefore, wherever possible in the following description reference will be made to the north wall. The west bay is narrower than the others. It is framed almost identically as the same bay of the north wall.

Center Bay

The center bay varies slightly from its opposite in the north wall. An original diagonal brace extends downward and westward from the east post meeting the girt next to the westward stud. It is fastened to the post in the conventional method. There are four old intermediate studs in their original positions in this bay. They are tenoned into the plate and where they scribe to the diagonal brace they are fastened with hand wrot nails.

East Bay

The east bay is almost identical, with its counter part in the north wall.

Roof Notches

Because there are more original framing members in the three bays there are accordingly more diagonal notches on the outer faces of old members than were found on the north wall. They indicate the former roof slope over the one story portion south of the central hall. The line so represented matches the one on the north wall. Its peak is exactly on the center line of the upper south wall.

The South Wall - Lower Portion

See remarks on similarities to north wall under "upper portion".

Similar to North Wall

The west, central and east bays are almost identical with their counter parts of the north wall including pilaster cleats. The discussion of the east bay of the north wall is applicable here where conditions, evidence, etc., are the same.

Pilaster

The west pilaster of the south wall disclosed a piece of important evidence. In the paint coats on the east edge of this pilaster could be seen clearly in profile the marks of the former cap of the panelled dado removed when the stair was built.

Lathing Nails

On the girts of the central and west bays are remains of hand wrot lathing nails and marks of the former lath and plaster. On the east girt no evidence of this kind could be found. From the method of framing 15 the girt into adjacent posts it hardly sees possible that the girt is a replacement. Possibly original lathing rested on strapping which would account for the lack of lath marks.

The Ceiling Framing

Hipped Roof Indicated
Rafter Projection, Late Stair Well, Joists, Cornice Line

The arrangement of the original ceiling framing of the central hall indicates that the roof above was hipped although it disappeared when the 1836 changes were made. On the east the rafters project about 13" beyond the plate and on the west 12"±. What the projection may have been originally is a matter of conjecture because of possible changes made in 1836. For the type of cornice probably used on the exterior of the central hall portion a 12"± projection of the joists seems adequate. In the north-west portion of the ceiling framing several joists were removed to allow space for the 1836 stair to the attic. The ends of the joists at the west of the stair well were left in their original positions lapped over the plate but sawed off flush with the inside face. The ends of all the north-south joists were cut off flush with the outer faces of the respective plates to prevent interference with the new second floor ceiling of the 1836 alterations over the former north and south one story portions. The terminal north-south joists are fastened to the plates with wooden pins. The joists are spaced approximately 2'-0" on centers and are 4" x 6" ± in section including the diagonal members at the corners. On the bottoms of the rafters may be seen the original hand wrot lathing nails as well as the machine cut nails which took their place in the 1836 changes. An important added bit of evidence may also be seen on the lower face of the joists. About 15" away from the face of the wall framing is a line within which hand wrot nails do not appear. Thus is established the possible projection of a cornice.

The West Wall

Condition, Relation to Hall Framing, Posts & Brace, Wedge Cuts

The framing of the west wall is in major part original with the various members in their old positions. The north end of the partition is a few inches south of the south wall framing of the central hall. There is no structural connection between the two. For a more detailed discussion of this relationship see remarks under "North Wall - Lower Portion - East Bay". The first upright is a post which is tenoned into the plate but without the usual wood pin. At its upper part a diagonal brace is fastened to it with the usual joint. From this point the brace extends downward and southward meeting the sill at the third stud south of the post. Compared to other braces in the building it is rather slender. In the lower half of the post are two saw cute in the south face. In one of these is a thin wedge of wood projecting beyond the west face of the post. It is believed that the cuts and others like it in the wall were made to hold wedges so placed as to fix the back of the panelling of the room beyond in proper alignment while being installed.

Door

Slightly north of the middle of the wall is an original door with old trim, frame and hardware. Flanking its large studs, or posts, tenoned into the plate but not pinned. Between the door bay and north post are three intermediate studs which are tenoned into the plate and in their original positions. Between the door posts is an original stud mortice in the plate but the old stud is missing and was replaced with a later piece of hard pine scantling.

South End, Diagonal Brace, Conditions at Chimney

At the south end of the wail a section of original framing is missing where the chimney was installed during the 1836 changes. The present wall terminates a few inches north of the chimney breast. Here is a post-like stud of poplar which is of the 1836 period. It supports the plate with a half-lapped joint. Near its lower end is an original diagonal brace sloping downward to the north. It joins the plate just beyond the next stud north. It is scribed against the north face of the post and attached to it with machine cut nails. The brace originally continued southward and upward until it met a post in the south wall framing into which it was tenoned and pinned. Because of the chimney it was not possible to see what kind of a joint occurred between the plates of the west and south walls. In the mortice just mentioned the oak tenon and two pins 17 were found in place. The manner in which the brace and plate were cut off and the poplar post inserted clearly indicates that originally the west wall continued to the south wall and that the chimney is therefore later in period. See added remarks about the chimney under framing "of the First Floor".

From the poplar post to the door hey are three original intermediate studs. They are tenoned into the plate. On the west face of the southern stud and the next one north, respectively, are one and two saw cuts for wedges. They appear to have served the same purpose as those in the north, terminal post. Two of these cuts retained their wedges which extended to the back face of the panelling of the room beyond.

See added remarks on the panelling and other trim of the south-east room below.

The East Wall

North End

Most of the framing of the east wall is original and in old locations. At the north, the plate is tenoned into the southeast corner post of the central hall. From the upper part of the corner post extending southward and downward is an original diagonal brace. How it is joined to the post could not be determined. The lower end of the brace meets the sill just beyond the third stud south.

Windows

There are two windows in this wall. Their locations and trim are original but the frames and sash are later. That the locations are original is borne out by the fact that the original dado panelling on this wall is arranged about them intentionally and fits the window trim precisely. See general remarks about panelling and other trim in this room below. The arrangement of framing under the windows could not be determined because it is concealed by the panelling.

Diagonal Brace, Window Framing, Diagonal Brace & Extra Tenon

From the north end of the wall to the first window are three intermediate studs in original locations, the third of which forms the north side of the window opening. They are tenoned into the plate and where scribed to the diagonal brace are fastened with hand wrot nails. From the middle of the window head to the plate is an old stud fastened to the plate with hand wrot nails. The south side of the opening is defined by a post tenoned and pinned to the plate. Near the top of the opening on each flanking vertical member is a typical header notch located on the inner faces.

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Although now filled by the ears of the present late window frame the notches appear to be original and to have received the ears of the earlier frame. Because of the panelling it was not possible to inspect for the sill notches. About two thirds of the way up, the south window post is joined by a diagonal brace which extends downward to the sill, at the north post of the south window. A few inches above the brace joint at the post is another similar one in which remain an old tenon and two wood pins. The tenon is cut off flush with the south face of the post. The only diagonal explanation for the extra joint seems to be that it reflects an error on the part of the early builders. Between the window posts is one original stud tenoned to the plate. Just north of it is a section of old stud relocated resting on the diagonal brace at the bottom. The top has an old tenon but does not quite reach the plate. Apparently it is a nailer for the late exterior weatherboards. From the window post which defines the north side of the south window opening southward to the south corner post the framing is almost identical in reverse order to the section from the south post of the north window northward to the north corner post. The joinery of the plates and south corner post is interesting. The plates are half-lapped over the post which is tenoned into them at this point.

The Finish Woodwork

The east wall has a complete run of original panelled dado in place from end to end. The west wall has the same dado from the door to the north end. Some question attaches to its location because of a vertical filler piece 4" wide inserted between the east panel stile north and the face of the backboards of the arch. The base and cap of the dado continue across the filler. This fact indicates that the run of panelling in question is original and that an error was made in overall dimension necessitating the use of a filler.

West Wall
Late Trim

South of the door next to the edge of the trim remains in place the original terminal stile of the former dado with its molded edge mitred at top and bottom where the missing rails joined it. South of this point the dado has disappeared and was replaced by a molded base and chair rail of a later period. At the chimney breast is a late fireplace, hearth and mantel. On the east face of the breast the base changes to a plain board and a chair rail consisting of a portion 19 of the west wall base molding. At the south wall is a late door with narrow trim. Between it and the east wall is carried the same base and chair rail as on the chimney. All the features are late in period. In this area there is no cornice.

Original Extent of Dado

Wherever the old dado exists in this room no lathing nails were found on original studs, posts, etc., behind it. In those portions where the dado is missing no hand wrot lathing nails were found -- only machine cut nails may be seen. This evidence plus the facts that an original stile remains at the south edge of the west door trim and that the east wall dado is continuous strongly indicates that formerly the dado ran around all the walls of the room.

Original Cornice

A cornice runs across the north end over the arch with a bed mold break above the key block. It continues along the east wall and returns westward across the room at a point above and to the north of the north jamb of the south window. On the west wall the cornice is handled in the same manner in reverse. Where it breaks across the room the south side is composed of a flat board molded only on the bottom with a very late looking profile. There is evidence in the east wall framing that a partition crossed the room below the cornice. A notch remains cut into the east dado cap on this line where the dado cap of the partition joined it. The floor boards are colonial and were not interrupted by the missing partition. In the north east room a similar partition is in place obviously late in period, see remarks about this under "North East Room" below. Apparently, the cornice like the dado, continued around the room and was not interrupted by the chimney which is known to be later, except that the dado did not continue across at the arch. Thus the partition, cornice change and dado change must have occurred during the 1836 alterations. This is further borne out by the study of the nails where the cornice is missing. At this portion only machine cut nails are in place but below the former cornice line can be seen remains of old hand wrot nails for the original lathing. Another interesting point is that a few inches north of the cross cornice on the undisturbed portions on the east and west wails the crown mold and beaded back board have the old 45 degree mitred splices. Were the cross cornice original in location these joints would have been nearer the middle of the run or else would be absent.

The West Wall

Relation to Hall Framing, Door, Conditions at Chimney, Diagonal Brace

Most of the framing of this wall is original. At the south end is a post tenoned but not pinned to the plate which overhangs it slightly. There is no connection between the plate or the south post to the north wall framing of the central hall. This condition is discussed under "Central Hall - North Wall - Lower Portions and under "Southeast Room - West Wall". A diagonal brace is attached to the post. It meets the plate at the second stud north. As in the south east room an original door with its old frame, trim and hardware is located near the middle of the wall. It is flanked by original posts tenoned to the plate but not pinned. The original stud between these posts was replaced with a late piece of poplar. It does not meet the plate where the old stud notch remains. Between the south post and the door bay are two old studs tenoned into the plate. At the north end of the wall where it meets the chimney breast is a late, poplar post bearing the original plate which is cut off at the brick line. Between the latter post and the door bay are three original studs tenoned into the plate. As in the south east room a short section of the original diagonal brace remains. Its upper end is scribed against the late post. In the framing of the north wall is an original post which received the brace and in which is left the former mortice joint. See also "North Wall"

Cross Partition

Just north of the door in the west wall is a late, cross partition. The studs are of poplar and are obviously intrusive. They rest on a thin sole piece on top of the original floor boards which are continuous from north to south. At the top the studs are tacked to one of the old ceiling joists with machine cut nails. See further description under "Finish Woodwork" below.

The East Wall

The east wall of the northeast room is framed like the same wall in the south east room. Almost all of the framing is original and is arranged identically except for very slight differences. The windows are also alike as is the arrangement of the panelled dado around them. The framing at the heads has been altered as the headers are of poplar.

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The Finish Woodwork

Like S.E. Room
Cross Partition, Dado of Partition

In general the description of the finish woodwork in the South East room applies here. The center cross partition is still in place with a trimmed opening in the middle. The trim on the south side of the opening may be of colonial material and salvaged for reuse here. The trim on the north side is a beaded strip evidently late in period. There is no panelled dado on this side. The partition has a panelled dado on the south side made up of original panelling relocated in the present position. It scribes against the old dado of the east and west walls without regard for spacing and the dado cap is notched into them. It consists of a single panel on each side of the trimmed opening. To fit the spaces the panel stiles have been reduced in width. On the west wall where the cross partition scribes to it a piece of original dado panelling is in place and extends a few inches north of that point. It includes part of an old panel and is made up of the stile, part of the top and bottom rails, part of the base and cap. This is evidence that the panelling continued northward along the west wall originally.

Present Cornice, Cornice Changes

The cornice of the south portion of the northeast room is in place on all four walls. On the south, east and west walls it is original and in its old location. The cross partition cornice is obviously in a later position although it is original in itself. The east and west cornices project a few inches north of the cross partition where they are cut off. The partition cornice seems to scribe against them. On the west wall a former piecing out joint may be seen in the bed mold cut at 45 degrees. On the west a similar joint occurs in the beaded back board. Both joints are a few inches north of the partition. They indicate that the east and west cornices once continued northward. Early builders would not piece out at these points but would have used either continuous pieces or placed the joints nearer the center of the room were the partition originally intended.

Base

In the north portion another type of base is used. It may be of colonial material salvaged and reused. It replaces the original base of the old east wall dado. There is no chair rail in this portion. The mantel is late as are the door and transom in the north wall.

Original Appearance of room

The evidence shows that originally the north east room, like the south east room, had a cornice all around and a panelled dado on the east, west and north walls. The present chimney, fireplace, hearth, mantel, cross partition, trimmed opening, door and transom in the north wall are all late and of the period of the 1836 changes or later.