RAC Update – 2/27/2006

General 

Reviewed at this weeks RAC meeting were the following items: Mansion mechanicals, Handicap Access, Chinese railings, exterior red wash, exterior brick conservation treatments, interior stairs, and a review of mantel evidence and designs.  We are also looking to institute a change in the RAC meeting schedule due to the increased pace of the restoration.  Instead of meeting two to four times a year, a one day meeting will be held every two months with two longer meetings in the spring and fall.  I am tentatively scheduling the meetings for the last Friday of every other month (the next meeting would therefore be scheduled for April 28^th).

Drawing Room (M-108) 

Ray C. continues to carve the dutchmen and replacement elements for the fireplace surround. 

North (1797) Passage (M-106)

The framing in the location of the Period II north stair was partially exposed when the circa 1901 lath was removed for the investigation.  After removal, portions of three periods of framing were found (1797, circa 1850(?) and circa 1901) and it appears that portions of timbers from the 1797 stair were re-used when the stair was reworked in circa 1850(?).  Specifically, a joist that contains two mortises (a stud mortise and a larger mortise for what was most likely a post) was reused and it appears to match up with a truncated timber that once served as the top plate for the passage’s northern wall.  Angled framing members that once supported the 1797 stair carriages also survive in situ.

HVAC

While most of the issues involving the HVAC appear to have been reviewed and accepted at the RAC meeting, one issue involving the floor vents in the Drawing Room (M-108) remains.  The question is essentially whether it is worth running visible ductwork in the space between joists of the cellar and along the side of a girt to reach the existing floor vents in front of two of the triple-hung windows.  Pros: saves original fabric (high quality flooring that was exposed during the restoration period), re-using the existing vents would make the HVAC system more efficient and not having vents in the corner would allow for more flexibility for furnishing the room.  Cons: Harder to have an authentic interpretation of the northeast room of the cellar (which is currently believed to have been used for, based on knowledge of other sites, dry storage by James Madison Sr. and possibly Jr. as well).  If the ductwork were to be run between the joists and along the girt in this location, it would be the only space, aside from the security closet, in the cellar to have exposed ductwork (other areas would be hidden by plank covered chases or disguised with crates and/or barrels).  Any thoughts the RAC might have would be helpful and let me know if photos or drawings for the alternative location of the ductwork would be useful.

Colonnade 

Repairs continue to the cornice and the rubber membrane has been installed over the subfloor.  (Mac, Amy, and Austin)

Portico 

Bill continues to cut the joists and girts for the restored Portico’s deck. 

Roof 

Peter P. continues to install the shingles and Scott M. (and crew) continues to prep the roof ahead of Peter by removing the existing sheathing (leaving any Madison material in place) and installing new sheathing. 

RAC Update 2/21/2006

 General  

As part of an effort to finesse the electrical plan, an investigation for physical evidence of ceiling lanterns was made by Mark W. and the Architectural Research Department.  Possible evidence for the lanterns was found only in the Vestibule and the Drawing Room, although the duPonts had installed ceiling fixtures in many other rooms.  More information on the evidence is included under the room reports.

Drawing Room (M-108) 

Ray C. continues to carve the dutchmen for the fireplace mantel and he is currently working on the egg and darts.  When he investigated the matching pattern found on the stone fireplace facing in the 1760 parlor (M-112), he discovered that the layout was a bit idiosyncratic (some of the “eggs” are quite a bit larger then others).  Outside of developing a pattern for the new dutchmen, the revelation may be a bit trivial but it still brings up interesting thoughts about the quality of workmanship that is being shipped to the colonies in the early and mid-18^th century. 

We are also starting to map out the holes we found under the circa 1870s or 1880s (?) finish coat.  The western wall has been completed and it appears that the pier mirror currently found in Montpelier’s collection could have been placed on the south side of the elevation.  However, the visible holes in the frame do not exactly line up and we’ll inspect the mirror again to see if there is any additional evidence

Mark W and I also found what appears to be a pre-1830s hole (it was made with a spoon bit) in a joist located in the approximate center of the drawing room ceiling.  Currently it is speculated that the hole was used to hang a ceiling lantern or lamp. 

Vestibule (M-107) 

Physical evidence for a ceiling lantern was also found in this space.  The evidence consists blocking made from pit sawn wood secured with double-struck cut nails (similar to other Period Three examples).  The blocking is again located in roughly the center of the ceiling.  While a single rectangular nail hole can be seen, a majority of the evidence for how the lantern was hung as been obscured by a later electrification campaign. 

Parlor (M-112) 

The window architrave was carefully removed from the north window to allow for the brickwork above the window to be stabilized and repaired.  After removal, Steve Chronister noticed that flat tipped screws were found embedded in the upper corners of the architrave.  The screws, which are about 3/8” in diameter, are currently assumed to be associated with cloak pins (the architrave was secured with machine cut nails in all other locations).  An approximate TAQ of circa 1830 is usually given to flat tipped screws and so right now we are relating the screws to the Madison occupation.  If anyone on the RAC has any further information on dating screws through changes in manufacturing techniques, we would be grateful to hear it in hopes of narrowing the date range for the pins.

Vaulted Closet (M-114) 

When Wayne was repairing the brick work over the circa 1810 doorway leading into the Nelly Chamber (which was placed in the location of a circa 1764 window), he found a surviving section (roughly 6” x 8”) of the 1764 interior window jamb.  The jamb is finished with plaster and is painted a dark red color.  The jamb would have been located in a closet in the period I house and so it gives us an interesting insight into how the PI dwelling’s secondary spaces were finished.  We are going to have Susan Buck sample the paint and hopefully she will be able to give us more information on the space’s evolution.

Colonnade  

The cornice for the Colonnade is being repaired with wooden dutchmen and epoxy fillers. After repairs have been made, the cornice will be repainted and re-installed.

Portico 

The joists and girts for the portico deck are currently being cut and installed by the carpenters.  The western doorways leading to the portico have also received their newly constructed paneled jambs (Blaze Gaston).  The jambs look great and it’s exciting to see elements with exposed finished surfaces being installed.

Roof 

Peter P. continues to work on the southern slope of the Portico and the northern slope has been prepped for shingling.  A high shingle cull rate remains an ongoing problem.

Masonry 

The masons (Price Masonry) continue to repair areas of failing mortar and to replace failed bricks.  Specifically they are working in the basement (southern wall of the Wine Cellar (M-004)), Dolly’s Kitchen, the northern and southern wings (M-100 and M-118) and the Parlor (M-112). 

RAC Update – 2/13/2006

General 

With the release of the mechanical drawings, much of the AR department’s focus has been on assessing the impact the systems will have on the Mansion.  If any member of the Restoration advisory committee has any questions or would like any additional photos, just let me know and we will email them to you.

Drawing Room Fireplace (M-108) 

Ray Canetti continues to carve the dutchmen and replacement pieces for the sandstone surround.  Its impressive work and were getting lots of photos and video of Ray working.

Dining Room Chamber Fireplace (M-201) 

Based on a preliminary investigation by Ray C., Mark W. and the ARD, the fireplace’s sandstone surround appears to date to c. 1797.  However, physical evidence shows that it was moved and slightly expanded in c. 1809 when the opening was centered in the chimney breast.  It also appears that the brick fireback was completely rebuilt at one time (c. 1880?) and it now incorporates original bricks as well as fairly modern replacements.  It also looks like the brickwork on the chimney breast was whitewashed in c. 1797, suggesting that a mantel was not immediately installed after construction.  Ray C. also says that the stone appears to be Whitehaven sandstone (similar to the close grained flagstones found on the Mount Vernon Piazza).  Whitehaven, which is found almost on top of the St. Bee’s quarry, would be an interesting quarry since James Sr. was also getting the stone for his fireplaces there roughly thirty years earlier.

Dolly’s Chamber (M-100) 

The section of the southern wall which forms Dolly’s Dressing Room (M-101) has been reconstructed.

Nelly’s Passage (M-116) 

The walls for Nelly’s Passage have been reconstructed.  These walls are the last partitions to be rebuilt in the southern wing.

Roof 

Peter P.continues to install the shingles, although the cull rate remains extremely high. 

Colonnade  

Work continues on the decking and guttering. 

Portico 

The archaeology and masonry have been completed and the carpenters are laying out the templates for the first floor joists. 

RAC Update – 2/6/2006

General 

Work progresses without any major complications and the warm weather has been an unexpected bonus. 

Dining Room Fireplace (M-105) 

Ray C. has started to remove the c. 1880 and c. 1901 infill from around the fireplace opening.  Photographic evidence, as well as physical evidence, relates that there were at least three generations of mantels installed on the chimney breast (the 1797 Madison mantle, a fairly heavy Victorian mantel and a duPont era ornate marble mantel).  Fortunately most of the alterations for the later mantels involved infilling around original 1797 material.  As a result, it appears that the rough dimensions for the facing of the fireplace can be recovered.  C. 1797 wrought iron cramps have also been found in situ that, according to Ray C., were probably used to hold a facing made from either sandstone or limestone.  The cramps will also give us, once they have been unbent, a fairly exact measurement for how far the facing projected past the chimney breast (or if it projected at all). 

Drawing Room Mantel (M-108) 

The St. Bee’s sandstone for the dutchmen has arrived and Ray C. should begin to carve the replacement pieces soon.

Dolly’s Chamber (M-100) 

The floor has been uncovered and the final remnants of the glue are being removed.  I also spoke too soon when I said the floorboards in the chamber were thinner then the boards used to floor the Nelly Chamber.  It appears that thinner boards were just used near the northern wall (which was the part of the floor that was cleaned first).  However, the Dinsmore accounts still show small differences between the rooms and these will still be investigated and analyzed.  We have also yet to look for evidence of bookshelves on the floors, but we will as soon as the last of the glue is removed.

Dolly’s Kitchen (M-001) 

The archaeologists are finished in Dolly’s kitchen.  More evidence of herringbone paving was found, but, again, very little cultural material was recovered.

Roof 

Shingling continues and Peter P. is slowly marching his way around the house installing the lower rows of shingles.  Work is also progressing on the wing roofs and the sheet metal for the guttering has been installed.

Colonnade  

The first level of subfloor has been installed as have the outriggers and blocking for the entablature. 

Portico 

The engaged brick piers have been reconstructed for the Portico deck. 

Masonry 

Miscellaneous repointing and repairs are being made to the exterior and interior.  Specifically, work is being done to the south wall of the 1760 wine cellar (M-004), the 1760 Passage (M-109) and the c. 1810 doorway between the Drawing Room (M-108) and the 1760 Passage (M-109).  

On-Site Interiors Meeting 

Susan has instituted a twice monthly on-site interiors meeting.  At the last meeting we discussed where, and if, to leave windows in the finished fabric to demonstrate the architectural fabric.  No decision has been made, but several areas that demonstrate clear evidence of the mansion’s evolution were highlighted as well as the desire to leave one whole room unrestored.  A consensus to use reproduction artworks in the Drawing Room (M-108), instead of trying to purchase or loan originals, was also reached.