Preserving an American Treasure

Archaeology Survey is Underway!

2010-12-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

Four archaeologists from Dovetail Cultural Resource Group are on site this week conducting a Phase I archaeological survey of the entire 5.5 acre Tudor Place property. Work began Monday Nov. 29^th with the establishment of a grid, the transects of which were flagged at 25 foot intervals using a total station and measuring tapes. This provides a systematic way in which to locate shovel test pits. Test pits are exactly what they sound like, pits dug into the ground with a shovel to test for artifacts. The archaeologists work in teams of two, one person digs while the other sieves the soil for artifacts. They will continue the on- site survey work through Friday December 3^rd. If you are interested in archaeology now is your chance to see it in action!

Example of artifacts found thus far (clockwise from upper left): white clay pipestem, cufflink, glass button, and locally produced earthenware (possibly colonoware).

The Summerhouse Restored!

2010-09-28T07:24:00.001-07:00

If you have walked the gardens at Tudor Place you may have noticed a small wood garden shelter set above the Bowling Green providing a restful place to sit and view the fountain and flora below. You may have also noticed that this little shelter was in a sorry state of disrepair. It had deteriorated since its construction in the late 1950’s when Armistead Peter 3^rd (AP3) hired William Hingam to build the Summerhouse. Its design replicates AP3’s memory of a ruinous shelter once located west of the central path where the flower knot is today. The Summerhouse has been beautifully restored by the skilled hands of the carpenters and painters of the John L. Juenemann, and is well worth a look on your next visit.

The deleterious conditions that were addressed in the restoration include rotten and insect damaged wood, failing paint, and the correction of a significant racking or structural distortion which had moved the vertical members far out of plumb. To do this, cribbing which is a temporary wood frame, was built to support the pyramidal roof. The original structural members of the roof were in excellent condition and only required a new coat of paint while the shingles and a few fascia (vertical boards at the top of the posts) and sub-roof boards were so badly deteriorated that they had to be replaced. The original copper drip edge and finial were cleaned and reinstalled and the lattice walls and solid back wall panel were removed and any sound wood was set aside for reinstallation. A jack was used to carefully bring the roof into a level position prior to the installation of four replacement corner posts which were anchored to new bases in the ground. The structure was then reassembled using salvaged wood and custom milled replacements that replicated the exact dimensions and details of the original pieces. The Summerhouse was primed and painted to match the original color scheme. The finishing touch was the installation of the decorative cast iron corner brackets that had been missing from the structure for many years.

The beautifully restored Summerhouse is a perfect place for visitors to enjoy the changing autumn leaves, migrating birds, and our lively squirrel population.

Video: Restoring the Historic Pebble Dash

2010-06-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Silva, Director of Architectural Conservation at Tudor Place Historic House and Garden explains the process of preparing samples for future restoration of the pebble dash.

Conserving the Semicircular Bench

2010-06-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

Above: HABS photo 1962

History of the Bench:
The semicircular bench is an early landscape feature at Tudor Place. A bench with this description was first mentioned in a letter from Anna-Maria Thornton (wife of William Thornton, architect of Tudor Place and of the first U. S. Capitol Building), in 1809 stating that “Mrs. [Peter was] very busy making a seat in a grove of locusts.”

In 1925 the bench underwent a major renovation where it was enlarged and its position adjusted to sit “at right angles to the path”. The original bricks were salvaged and used in the reconstruction and any additional bricks were used on the interior of the seat, hidden from view. The diamond of marble pavers that enliven the bench patio, were original to the Temple Portico and re-purposed after the 1914 renovation work which replaced the Portico floor.

The iron back to the bench, designed and fabricated by Jorss Iron Works, includes the monograms of Caroline and Armistead Peter 3rd.

Conservation:
The bench is currently undergoing conservation treatment to remove atmospheric soiling and biological growth from the seat and marble pavers. Broken pavers will be repaired and the tiles reset in a leveled bed to promote better drainage.

Prior to the start of work, a conditions assessment was completed in order to document any damage, loss, soiling, drainage or structural problems that should be addressed in the conservation treatment phase of the project. This included written and photographic documentation of the bench.

Treatment began on Wednesday with a general cleaning and application of an architectural anti-microbial solution. A schematic drawing of the pavers was completed prior to removal so that each tile could be re-installed in its original location. The tiles were then removed from the dell and brought to a work area to be individually cleaned in a detergent bath and gently scrubbed with soft, synthetic bristled brushes. Broken pavers will be pinned back together and cracks will be filled with grout. The repaired pavers will be set in a leveled bed of sand.

Before treatment (top), after treatment (bottom)

Exciting Discoveries!

2010-03-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday March 10th, landscapers working on the property of our neighbor to the north uncovered a surprising find, an antique double-barreled pistol. The neighbor immediately called Executive Director, Leslie Buhler about the discovery. The brass flintlock pistol appears to have been manufactured in Belgium probably dating to the late 18th or early 19th Century according to Philip Schreier, senior curator of the National Firearms Museum. The wood handle has rotted over time but the brass is in good condition with beautiful roping and linear details and a distinct oval proof mark.

With the plan for additional digging in the yard, Tudor Place called in an archeologist from Dovetail Cultural Resources Group, Inc. to monitor work. On March 11th, 2010, two pits were dug to the north and south of the entry stairs of the house. The northern site revealed what appears to be an ash pit, both hand and machine made bricks, and an iron hinge complete with screws and wood fragments. To the south of the stairs a square block of schist was discovered and could potentially be a foundation pier for a structure. Surrounding the block were other building materials including a nail, a plaster sample (with both the fine and scratch coats), mortar samples with lime blebs and charcoal inclusions, and an assortment of ceramic fragments.

The reason for our interest in what is unearthed at the house next door is that the lot once was part of the much larger original Tudor Place estate which was the whole city block. Despite all that is known about Tudor Place, there are still many unanswered questions. We have yet to establish the location of slave quarters and service buildings vital to the function of an early Georgetown estate. Historical documentation has not yet revealed information about these features and archaeology may be our only method for discovering this potentially enriching aspect of the site’s history.