Montpelier Restoration Update - 2/20/2008

Plastering

A scratch coat has been applied to the walls and ceiling of M-106 (North Passage). To prepare for plastering, the gypsum finish coat found over sections of surviving c. 1850s plaster was removed to ensure that the plaster will be able to “breath” and not trap moisture in the masonry walls. The lime plaster found under the gypsum finish coat, which is vapor permable, will be preserved and coated over with a new finished brown coat.

The ceiling of Dolley’s kitchen has also been scratch coated. This is the first space in the cellar to be plastered.

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Painting

Dino C. and Greg Callaway are priming the woodwork in M-105 (Dining Room).

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M-107 (Entry)

Ed Gomez repairing the back band that runs around the top of the arched doorway.

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M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez has installed the chair rail. This chair rail had previously been fitted into place and then removed to allow the triglyphs and oval pockets for the decorative rosettes to be carved by Blaise Gaston. Now the only element missing from the Drawing Room now is the chimney cap and it is currently being built by Blaise Gaston.

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M-109 (South Passage)

Gene Lyman has started to install the circa 1764 paneling. Before the paneling is installed, a layer of roofing felt is attached to the wall to prevent moisture from the brickwork migrating into the wood paneling.

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M-110 (South Stair)

Mac Ward has started to install the heart pine treads and risers for the period I stair.

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M-111 (Back Chamber)

Bill Bichell has installed the paneled jambs for the window in this space.

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M-114 (Vaulted Closet)

Keith Forry is applying the back band around the door to M-111 (Back Chamber).

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M-008 (South Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin has placed the newel post for the cellar stair. To securely hold the newel in place a stainless steel bracket is installed below the brick floor and the post is then mounted onto the bracket.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 2/13/2008

Plastering

The scratch coat has been applied to the walls and ceiling of M-118 (Nelly’s Chamber), M-117 (South Wing East Closet) and M-116 (South Wing Passage). The brown coat has also been applied to the ceiling in M-118.

 

Painting

Dino C. has started to prepare M-105 (Dining Room) for priming.

 

M-103 (North Wing, West Closet)

Keith Forry is installing a baseboard against the stair enclosure boards.

 

M-107 (Entry)

Ed Gomez is installing the last section of base cap on the north and south walls.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez has installed the cleats that will support the Drawing Room pediment. Above is a picture of the pediment held temporarily in place. It will not be permanently installed until after the Drawing Room is plastered.

Steve Chronister is also repairing the sliding-sash side-light windows. Similar to the single-hung, pocketing sidelights found flanking Montpelier’s main entrance door, these sashes also pocketed into the surrounding wall. However, instead of being single hung, the sashes are carried on bronze rollers and pocketed horizontally instead of vertically.

 

M-109 (South Passage)

Gene Lyman continues to repair the passage’s paneling.

 

M-110 (South Stair)

Mac Ward is installing the foot lights for the stair. Since this stair is enclosed the modern lights are needed to allow visitors to safely climb and descend the stair case.

 

M-111 (Back Chamber)

Bill Bichell has finished installing the door frame to M-114 (Vaulted Closet) and has started to install the paneled jambs for the window.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin has installed the door frame that will access the closet under the passage’s stair.

 

M-006 (Storage)

Keith Forry has installed the new threshold for the doorway between this room and M-005 (Wine Cellar).

 

M-007 (Servants’ Hall)

Les Lamois has started to install the studs in the partition that divides this space from M-006 (Storage). Mark Gooch is also cutting a sill for this partition.

 

M-008 (South Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin has started to install the passage stair and he is currently repairing the framing

Montpelier Restoration Update - 2/6/2008

Plastering

The masons are whitewashing the ceilings in M-104 (Mr. Madison’s Room) and M-105 (Dining Room). They have also started to prepare the South Wing (M-115 through M-11 for plastering.

 

Painting

Dino Copeland has primed the baseboards in M-100.

 

M-106 (North Passage)

Mac Ward has finished the railing for the stair. He is currently installing the skirt board and the cove molding that runs under the nosing of the treads.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez has started to install the cleats that will support the Drawing Room pediment.

 

M-109 (South Passage)

Gene Lyman is repairing the longest section of the circa 1765 wainscot.

 

M-111 (Back Chamber)

Bill Bichell continues to install the door frame between M-111 (Back Chamber) and M-114 (Vaulted Closet).

 

M-118 (Nelly’s Chamber)

The repairs to the flooring around the hearth have been finished. Unlike the other hearths in the house, which are laid with sandstone or marble, the physical evidence suggests that this hearth was originally paved with bricks. Brick was a common material for hearths in Madison’s time and so bricks will be re-laid.

 

M-212 (Southwest Chamber)

Wayne Mays has plastered the brick face of the fireplace and a portion of the sides.

 

M-001 (Dolley’s Kitchen)

Ed Gomez has finished installing the kitchen dresser.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin is almost finished with the North Cellar stair and will soon start to build a similar stair in M-008 (South Cellar Passage).

 

M-005 and M-006 (1765 Cellar)

Les Lamois has started to cut mortises into the sill of the reconstructed partition to receive the new studs. Once the studs are installed he will nail riven clapboards to them and complete the partition.

The masons are starting to repoint the failed mortar joints on the walls of these rooms. Years of unmitigated rising damp and exterior drainage issues had caused the mortar found near the cellar floor level to fail.

Mason Wayne Mays has also produced two mockups of the material that will be used to recreate an earthen floor in the 1765 cellar. A small portion of the original clay floor was uncovered by the Montpelier archaeologists when they excavated the cellar and so we are attempting to restore an earthen floor that will be similar to the original. The clay floor samples are made out of brick dust, clay and lime.

 

Colonnade

The railing is being prepared for installation and the boards that will hold the individual deck panels in place have been installed.

 

Exterior

The race tower, built in the 1990s to view the bi-annual steeplechase races held at Montpelier, was taken down. The tower will be reconstructed on a private farm outside of Richmond.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 1/30/2008

Plastering

The masons have put the finished white coat onto the ceiling and the finished brown coat onto the walls of M-104 (Mr. Madison’s room) and M-105 (Dining Room).

 

Painting

Dino Copeland has finished preparing M-100 (North Wing Chamber) for painting and has started to sand and prime the wood work in M-009 (Nelly’s Kitchen). Jack Fisher continues to put the first coat of hand ground paint onto the second floor woodwork.

 

M-109 (South Passage)

Gene Lyman continues to repair pieces of the South passage’s circa 1765 wainscot. He has started work on the longer pieces and should begin to re-install them in the next week or two.

 

M-106 (North Passage)

Mac Ward continues to install the stair railing and is currently working on the rail that runs around the second floor landing. He is using a jig to lay out the baluster locations, removing most of the wood with a router and then squaring the holes with a hand chisel.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez has installed the cleats on the back of the overdoor pediment for the Drawing Room.

 

M-111 (Back Chamber)

Bill Bichell has started to install the door frame that leads into M-114 (Vaulted Closet). This small, low doorway was originally built in circa 1765 and provides the only interior access to Nelly Madison’s south wing.

 

M-115 (South Wing, East Closet)

Keith Forry is installing the baseboards for this room.

 

M-118 (South Wing Chamber)

Bill Bichell is restoring the flooring and trim that surrounds the room’s hearth.

 

M-001 (Dolley’s Kitchen)

Ed Gomez is installing the dresser against the east wall. A deep, long pocket in the masonry and wooden nailers inserted into the brick joints provided physical evidence for the dresser and documentary evidence is found in the bill from carpenters Dinsmore and Neilson. The dresser will include two drawers and the table top is made from one large piece of tulip poplar while the frame is heart pine.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin has installed the treads for the stair and has started to cut the skirt boards.

 

M-005 and M-006 (1765 Cellar)

Les Lamois is cutting the studs for the partition that will run across the 1765 cellar. The new studs are made out of oak. Because the original studs, which appear to have been removed in circa 1855, were pit sawn and hewn, Les is re-creating the pit saw marks on the surface of the stud with a reciprocating saw.

 

Colonnade

The deck panels continue to be assembled.

 

Exterior

Thomas Tyler is removing the gravel that had been put down in the back yard of the Mansion to form a staging area for the mechanical and HVAC contractors. In order to protect the underground archaeological resources, landscape cloth was installed before the gravel was spread. Some of the gravel will remain for the next couple months to provide construction access to the rear of the building.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 1/16/2008 through 1/23/2008

Plastering

The masons have put the scratch coat onto the walls and ceiling of M-105 (Dining Room). A brown coat has also been applied to the walls and ceiling of M-104 (Mr. Madison’s Room). Currently, they are putting a brown coat onto the ceiling of M-105. Plastering in M-100 (North Wing Chamber) has been completed and, since the walls will be coated with a dark yellow distemper, they have not been whitewashed.

 

Painting

Dino Copeland has finished prepping Dolley Kitchen for painting and has started to prep M-100. Jack Fisher has also started to apply the hand-ground, linseed-oil based paints to the second floor trim. This traditional paint is very similar to what Madison would have used (minus the white lead pigment) and forms a “ropey” texture that is a defining characteristic of hand-ground paints.

 

Millwork

Blaise Gaston has started to layout and carve the flutes and composition ornament impressions for the chair rail in M-108 (Drawing Room). When this chair rail is finished and installed, it will be the highest status chair rail in the house.

 

M-109 (South Passage)

Gene Lyman continues to repair pieces of the South passage’s circa 1765 wainscot

M-106 (North Passage)

Mac Ward continues to install the stair railing. To securely fit a small section of the hand rail between two newels on the landing, he has cut mortises into both newels and installed a square, scarf-jointed wooden inner rail into the openings. After the rail was set, he then hollowed out a section of the finished railing and slipped it over the inner rail. This technique allows for a stable railing that does not have any visible joints or fasteners.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez continues to install and repair the baseboard for this room. In the course of removing an existing piece of baseboard he found a section of original baseboard that had been re-used as a shim in circa 1880. This piece of baseboard originally butted against the plinth of the stone chimney surround and provides evidence for how the baseboard and base cap terminated against the chimney piece during Madison’s ownership.

 

M-118 (South Wing Chamber)

Keith Forry is installing reconstructed caps on the baseboards in this room. All of the caps had been removed when Marion duPont converted the space into her “Red Room” in the 1930s. The Red Room was an art deco designed living room/parlor and was one of the most iconic spaces in the duPont’s Montpelier. Because of its importance it has been re-installed in duPont wing of the new Montpelier visitor center.

Bill Bichell is also installing the cornerbeads on the face of the chimney stack. Prior to installing the beads, wooden nailers first need to be inserted into the bead joints of the masonry.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin has installed the stringers for this stair and has started to install the treads.

 

Colonnade

The ipe sleepers have been installed and the carpenters are assembling the deck panels and laying out the Chinese railing that will encircle the deck.

 

Exterior

Roofers from Martin Roofing have finished installing the copper downspouts for the gutter system.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 1/10/2008

Plastering

The masons have applied the finish coat to the wall of M-100 (north wing chamber) and are putting the brown coat onto the walls of M-104 (Mr. Madison’s Room). They have also started to whitewash M-101 (North wing, east closet).

 

Millwork

The dresser (a piece of furniture much like a modern kitchen counter with shelves above it) for Dolley’s kitchen was delivered. Evidence for the dresser was found on the east wall of Dolley’s kitchen and it was fabricated by Blaise Gaston.

Blaise Gaston and Nick Oster are currently reconstructing the exterior doors for the wings and M-111 (Southeast Chamber).

 

M-112 (Old Dining Room)

Gene Lyman has finished installing the baseboards in the closet under the period I (circa 1765) south stair.

 

M-106 (North Passage)

Mac Ward is installing the stair railing. To provide extra support to the railing, four iron balusters have been added. Iron balusters were a traditional way to strengthen stair railings in the early-19^th century and the iron balusters on the Montpelier stair will be visually indistinguishable from the adjoining wooden balusters.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez continues to install the chair rail and baseboard. After the chair rail has been fitted, it will be removed and triglyphs will be carved into the fascia. Oval rosettes made from composition (composition is a material made from chalk, hide glue, resin and linseed oil that was commonly used to recreate architectural ornaments in the late-18^th and early-19^th centuries), similar to rosettes found at Arlington House in Arlington County, Virgina, will be applied between the triglyphs. Gold Leaf Studios in Washington DC is making the composition rosettes.

We also received the models for the egg-and-dart moldings that will be installed on the Drawing Room pediment. The models were carved by Fred Wilber and include examples of both the horizontal and the raking sections. Molds taken from these models will be used to produce the sections of composition ornament that will be applied to the pediment.

 

M-109 (South Passage)

Gene Lyman is repairing the pieces of circa 1765 wainscot that will be installed in this space. Even thought the wainscot was altered by the duPonts when they added a partition at the east end of the passage, almost all of the paneling survived. To repair the paneling, Gene is replacing portions of the end stiles (vertical boards that form the frame around the panels) that were removed during the duPont renovations.

 

M-115 (South Wing, East Closet)

Bill Bichell is installing the plank embrasure for the window in this space. Keith Forry has also finished installing the baseboards for this room.

 

M-118 (South Wing Chamber)

Keith Forry is installing the reconstructed baseboards on the east and south walls of this room.

 

M-201 (Large Bedroom)

Jack Fisher, a painter who specializes in applying historic paints, has started to prepare the walls of 201 for a glue based distemper. To prepare the walls he is applying what is essentially a primer made from an unpigmented distemper. Distemper was specified for this room because it was found on the surviving circa 1810 corner beads that flanking the fireplace.

 

M-206 (Drawing Room Chamber)

Dino Copeland is priming the trim. When this room is finished, all of the second floor will have been prepped for painting and primed.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin has finished installing the cellar stair partition and is installing the cellar stair stringers.

 

M-007 (1765 Cellar)

Tim Proffit is rebuilding the back wall of the cellar fireplace.

 

M-008 (South Cellar Passage)

The masons continue to prepare this room for plastering by making final adjustments to the spacing of the laths. The lath spacing is critical because if it is too narrow or too wide, the wet plaster will not attach, or key, correctly.

 

Colonnade

The ipe sleepers are being installed on the colonnade deck.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 12/26/2007 through 1/2/2008

Plastering

The masons have applied the scratch coat to the walls and ceiling of M-104 (Mr. Madison’s Room) and are currently putting the brown coat onto the ceiling. They also continue to plaster in M-103 and are preparing the Dining Room (M-105) and the South Cellar Passage (M-00 for plastering.

 

M-112 (Old Dining Room)

Gene Lyman has finished installing the cap for the wainscot and has started to install the baseboards in the closet under the period I (circa 1765) south stair.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Ed Gomez has started to install the chair rail and restore the missing pieces of baseboard in this room.

 

M-111 (Back Chamber)

Mac Ward has almost finished re-installing the door frame that leads into M-110 (South Stair). This door frame was also re-used by the duPonts and was recovered during the restoration’s deconstruction phase.

 

M-116 (South Wing Passage)

Keith Forry has finished trimming the doors and is installing baseboards. Since this room does not have a chair rail, the space will be completely trimmed once he is finished.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin continues to install the north cellar stair enclosure. All of the boards have been fitted and primed and he should be installing them this week.

 

M-003 (1797 Cellar)

Les Lamois and Thomas Tyler have finished installing the wooden floor in the cellar. They have also installed the studs for the partitions that will divide the space into approximately four separate rooms. The studs were placed in the original 1797 lap mortises and are made out of heart pine. To give the new material a period appropriate finish, an adze was worked up and down the face of each stud.

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M-008 (South Cellar Passage)

The masons are preparing this room for plastering by removing a gypsum plaster finish coat that was applied over a layer of circa 1850 stucco in the 1880s or 1900s. The 1850s stucco, which once covered all of the Mansion’s exterior walls, was painted to look like granite blocks. This is one of the few places that the circa 1850s stucco survives and it gives great insight into how the Mansion appeared after it was sold out of the Madison family.

 

West (Front) Yard

The two holly trees that once flanked the portico have been removed. They were planted in circa 1950 by Marion duPont and were not part of the original Madison landscape. With the trees gone, we are now able to restore the west yard’s grade back to its circa 1820 level and begin to work on reconstructing the historic roads and paths.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 12/18/2007

 

Plastering

The masons have applied the finish coat to the ceiling of M-100 and M-103. They have also troweled the scratch coat onto the walls and ceiling of M-101 and M-104

 

M-112 (Old Dining Room)

Gene Lyman continues to refine the design of the cap that runs across the top of the south wall’s wainscot and has started to install the cap atop the dado on the room’s remaining walls.

 

M-108 (Drawing Room)

Blaise Gaston has delivered the pediment that will be installed over the doorway to M-109 (South Passage).

 

M-109 (South Passage)

Mac Ward has almost finished re-installing the door frame into M-110 (South Stair).

 

M-116 (South Wing Passage)

Keith Forry continues to install the trim for the doors. Several pieces of the trim for the west side are original Madison moldings recovered from the duPont additions.

 

M-206 (Drawing Room Chamber)

Dino Copeland is preparing this room for painting.

 

M-212 (Southwest Chamber)

Bill Bichell has started to repair the upper-window sash’s central muntin. This muntin had been damaged by duPont-era, half-round window locks that gouged the molding when the lower sash was raised. To repair the damage, Bill is first using a jig to make a clean cut on either side of the gouged section. A router is then mounted onto another jig and used to remove only the damaged section of the muntin. Finally, a new section of molding is fitted into place.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

Olivier Dupont-Huin, a carpenter who recently started working at Montpelier, is reconstructing the north cellar stair. A similar stair will also be built in the south wing and these winder stairs will eventually be enclosed with wide, vertically-set boards. The original Madison-era boards, which the duPonts had cut down and re-used, were recovered during deconstruction. Paint ghosts found on the boards provided us with an incredible amount of information for designing the reconstructed stairs, including the tread, nosing and risers sizes as well as the stairs’ slope and paint colors.

 

M-003 (1797 Cellar)

Les Lamois, Mark Gooch and Thomas Tyler continue to install the floor in this space.

 

M-008 (South Cellar Passage)

The masons have finished laying the running bond pavers.

 

Colonnade

The metal decking supports have been installed. Eventually this deck will be covered with wooden boards and enclosed with a Chinese railing.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 12/12/2007

Plastering

The masons continue to apply the brown coat to the walls.

 

Electrical

Final trim out of the outlets is underway. A majority of the outlets will be installed in the baseboards or in the throats of the chimneys.

 

M-105 (Dining Room)

Ed Gomez has installed the back band around the fireplace architrave and has finished installing the corner beads.

 

M-112 (Old Dining Room)

Gene Lyman is installing the cap molding that runs across the top of the south wall’s wainscot.

 

M-109

Mac Ward is re-installing the door frame that leads into the enclosed period I stair. This door frame had been re-used by the duPonts in the cellar.

A circa 1764 brick that had been inscribed with what appears to be a floor plan was found on the east wall of this room. The drawing may show two rooms flanked by a central passage and the draftsman was most likely illustrating a plan for what is common known today as an I-house. Because the lines are slightly rounded and have soft edges, it is clear that the floor plan was drawn on the brick before it was fired. During the deconstruction we found a 1797 brick that had also been sketched on before it was fired. That brick, however, appears to be more closely related to Montpelier and shows a rough plan of the mansion’s portico.

 

M-116 (South Wing, East Closet)

Keith Forry continues to repair the recovered Madison-era door trim.

 

M-209 (Upper South Passage)

Dino Copeland continues to prepare this room for painting.

 

M-002 (North Cellar Passage)

The masons are laying the brick pavers on the floor of this space. Similar to Dolley’s kitchen, the bricks are being laid on edge in a herringbone pattern. The Masons are also preparing the masonry supports for the cellar stair, which the carpenters should start to install next week.

 

M-003 (1797 Cellar)

Les Lamois, Mark Gooch and Thomas Tyler are installing the pine floor boards over the wooden sleeper joists. Archaeologist Matt Reeves found evidence for the sleepers when the archaeology department excavated the cellars prior to the restoration. The boards are being butt jointed and then faced nailed in place with reproduction T-headed wrought nails. The ends of the boards are also not being staggered, like in modern floors, but instead they are being laid so that the joints line up (as was common in secondary spaces during the late-18^th century).

 

M-008 (South Cellar Passage)

Bill Bichell and Keith Forry are repairing the door frame that leads into the circa 1765 cellar space. Multiple areas of insect damage at the bottom of the legs and deteriorated tenons necessitated the repairs.

The masons are also preparing the floor of the space for brick pavers. Stone dust is being used to level the floor and hand-molded bricks from Old Carolina Brick Company laid in a running bond pattern will be used for the pavers.

Montpelier Restoration Update - 12/5/2007

 

Plastering

The masons are applying the brown coat to the walls and ceiling of M-100 (North Wing Chamber) and M-103 (Western North Wing Closet). They are also preparing M-104 (Madison’s Room) for plastering.

 

M-105 (Dining Room)

Ed Gomez has installed the remaining baseboard and chair rail. He has also started to install the chimney breast’s corner beads.

 

M-106 (North Passage)

Mac Ward has finished installing the baseboard and chair rail for this space.

 

M-112 (Old Dining Room)

Gene Lyman is re-installing the fluted pilasters that flank the fireplace. These pilasters were originally installed in circa 1765 and they have remained in M-112 throughout Montpelier’s multiple renovations. They were removed during the restoration because the nailers that secured the fireplace’s surround had come loose.

 

M-117 (South Wing Passage)

Keith Forry continues to install the door frames leading from this space into the south wing closets. Parts of the door trim for the interior of M-116 (East closet, South Wing) were re-used in a Montpelier farm building known as the “Laundry House.” These are some of the only pieces of Madison trim that we have found re-used outside of the Mansion.

 

M-118 (Nelly’s Chamber)

 

Bill Bichell has installed the legs for the doorway to M-116 (South Wing Passage). He is also installing the trim for the eastern window. The side pieces of trim for this window were found to have been re-used by the duPonts in their 1901 additions.

 

M-209 (Upper South Passage)

Dino Copeland is preparing this room for painting.