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~ Heritage Advocacy, Education, and Support in Prince George's County

Prince George's Heritage Blog

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Masonry Assessment & Repairs Begin

30 Wednesday Mar 2016

Posted by pgheritage in Uncategorized

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20160325_183308

West facade showing typical cracks in the stone wall telegraphing though the stucco surface (above) and the chased cracks (below right).

 

 

This week Federal Masonry Restoration has begun the assessment phase of the masonry repair project under the watchful eye of Aeon Preservation Services.

Craftsmen have “chased” (carefully removed loose material) persistent cracks in the exterior wall system which have “telegraphed” through the stucco exterior surface, to reveal the source of the problem. Since these are very thick (2′-3′) mostly stone walls the centers are often filled with rubble and cemented together with lime based mortar.  Inside the walls the mortar has powdered in some areas and we have even found whole oyster shells as part of the fill.

The discovery process involves “sounding” or tapping lightly upon the entire wall surface with a hammer to discover hollow sounding areas which indicate loose masonry and or that the stucco has separated from the wall surface.

 

In removing the layers of stucco on the surface, we have found numerous campaigns of repair beginning with the original lime/oyster shell mortar, and later Portland cement based mortars, and even some ready mix concrete. It appears that the top layer of stucco applied during the 1980 restoration contained a much softer Portland cement based plaster mix, though with none of the oyster shell particulates.

20160330_075309The good news is that the cracks so far are all localized and are not as a result of foundation subsidence (from poor construction or sinking soils), so the repairs are quite typical – grouting with a lime based mortar in several lifts to fill all of the voids and bring the “chased” cracks back to the adjacent intact stucco surface.

We’ll talk about the chimney conditions in another post as they are constructed of brick masonry and were a concern as a result of the earthquake a few years ago.

Pulleys but no counter weights?!

22 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by pgheritage in Hilleary-Magruder House Restoration, Uncategorized

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Our first task in the window restoration and repair project involves investigating the condition of the windows to determine how they had fared since the 1980 restoration. We knew from visual observation that a lot of paint was peeling and there was evidence of moisture related deterioration on the inside of the sashes.Further, the 1980’s restoration documents did not provide any observational notes which might give us a clue as to their age or construction. While it is presumed that the sashes are not original, their multi-light configuration suggest either a pre or post Victorian era age (earlier as Federal/Italianate rarely used large panels of glass or late as Colonial Revivals often imitated the smaller muntin configurations of earlier architectural styles), and remains unresolved to this posting.

20151228_143423 HM south WRPH1

Phase 1 Window investigation.

So sashes from three representative openings were removed (one window on each level on the South or back side of the building) to determine conditions and get a general feel for how repairs would proceed on all sashes.

 

One of the first things noted was that sash pulleys had been installed for single hung windows (only one set per window opening), but there were no counter-weight ropes. Further inspection revealed that there was no dado slot for the rope or a knot hole to tie it off as one might expect. The blocks supporting the pulleys were removed to reveal that the pulleys were constructed of finely machined hardwood with a flared brass bearing shaft through which a brass axle pin was inserted, clearly shop made but field installed.

We drilled small holes in the counterweight boxes to insert a scope and discovered perfectly made rectangular boxes that were…completely…empty. Also, there are no obvious counter weight box doors through which the weights could be installed in the boxes for use.

20160216_175536

Bob Schnabel carefully removes caulk and nails to open shutter box

We also carefully pried open one of the interior shutter boxes which had been nailed and caulked into place in the 1980 restoration. Those restoration documents only specified that inner shutter panels not be replaced. Once open we discovered that the shutter had been stripped of all paint, the attachment to the window frame modified, rendering the hinges inoperable, no secondary shutter leaves and no obvious access point for counterweight installation as that counterweight box panel (essentially the window frame), is one continuous piece of wood.

 

20160216_175616

solid pulley box at back of  shutter box (no access door for counter-weights).

So what we have discovered so far provides no real “smoking guns.” Our working theory and summary conclusion as to the age of window systems thus far, based on observational and background information are as follows:

 

Documentary Evidence:

  • Earliest photographs reveal the sashes (which appear to be the current units) are single hung, have relatively small glass panels and are all very delicate in woodworking proportion suggesting a Federal/Italianate period or Colonial Revival period – so 1785-1850 or post 1890. We are leaning more toward Federal/Italianate as the thinness of the materials and proportion is uncharacteristic of the Colonial Revival period.
  • There were significant ownership changes during both of these periods, with more affluent owners apparently (but not conclusively) in the Federal/pre-Civil War periods (bracketed by Henderson and Magruder ownership periods respectively). At 50 to 100 years old, life cycle replacement of building systems and changes in contemporary style might prompt more affluent owners to make modifications which we see here today.
IMG_0046

No dado slots for sash cords.

  • Xerographic copies of photographic documents from the pre-1980 restoration suggest that the exterior was finished in ruled plaster creating an ashlar stone appearance on some or all of the exterior stone masonry walls. Unfortunately, and to our knowledge, that work was not dated prior to its removal. It seems unlikely that this was an original finish to the 1742 Middle Georgian era Colonial structure. If however it was an early modification – this technique was widely used during the Federal period- it suggests that an intensive improvement campaign may have been engaged then including window systems. This could be during the early construction of the Federal City (Henderson Period) or its rebuilding after the War of 1812, maybe as late as pre-Civil War (Magruder Period) or even later, as building in a “Federal Mode” continues to this day in Washington DC.
  • Newspaper reports of the time document several instances of significant window damage in Bladensburg after powder mills exploded mainly in the Federal period, prior to consolidation of munitions manufacturing away from this area.

Physical Evidence

IMG_1274

No evidence of hold open hardware (pins or bolts) on upper or lower sash faces.

  • The window sash currently installed are not related to the sash pulley/window frame system on the first floor (typical condition for all 7 of the 9/9 windows to be verified).
  • The lack of counterweights in the boxes or access panels to service them in window opening examined suggest that they may never have been used.
  • Pulley system may be original to the building (counter-weighted systems were introduced to the colonies in the late 17th), but hardware and the quality of the machining of the wood pulleys may suggest a later installation. The pulley blocks are installed with a hooked notch and a single cut nail. Cut nails are in regular production and use by the1780’s.
  • The sash maker/installers do not appear to have employed any counterbalance or hold open system other than props. So far there are no clear indications of hardware shadows or hole patterns which suggest a bolt or pin type locking system (typically involving locking the lower sash to the upper).
20151228_154330 HM WRPH1 204 jamb det

Hole for pulley block.

  • It appears that most of the window woodwork was stripped of paint in 1980 so only 2-3 coats of modern paint are evident on sashes and no records of paint analysis are in evidence in archival materials.
  • The relationship of the shutter boxes to the sash counterweight boxes is unclear due to 1980 restoration work. While it seems clear that the shutter panels are very early, the counterweight boxes appear to be fabricated and finished differently. Additional lumber species and fabrication technique identification is needed here to be more conclusive.

The investigation continues…

Beyond the Battle Symposium – This Saturday. Register Today!

07 Tuesday Oct 2014

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btb Symposium topics 140917 wbkgnd (1)

LUNCH INCLUDED

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The Doctor Is In Event at Magruder House – Great Fun!!

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

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Albert Roberts – The Doctor
Conscript the Boys
The Group

Brain Surgery
Daring to Touch
Tools of the Trade

The Leg Saw
smelling salts

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Visit the Royal Doctor – Battle of Bladensburg

12 Tuesday Aug 2014

DR

Come See The Royal Doctor at the Battle of Bladensburg

Saturday, August 23, 2014 – Bladensburg Waterfront Park

11:00 am – 9:30 pm

FREE Shuttles and Parking from the University of Maryland, College Park (Lot 1/Campus Drive), Landover Metro Station (Bus  Bay B), and Colmar Manor Park (37th Avenue, Colmar Manor, MD) operate to Waterfront Park

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Albert Roberts – The Royal Doctor at The Medical Tent

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Albert Roberts – The Royal Doctor at The Festival Stage

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Albert Roberts – The Royal Doctor at The Medical Tent

Sunday August 24, 2014 – Historic Magruder House

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Albert Roberts – The Royal Doctor at The Medical Tent (Magruder  House)

Learn More about the Battle of Bladensburg Event

http://undauntedweekend.splashthat.com/

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Consider Supporting the National Endowment for the Humanities

03 Thursday Apr 2014

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Advocacy Image

Act Now to Support Humanities Funding

Funding support local preservation efforts like the History in the Making. A  Series that was held in Prince Georges County.  This program was made possible by a grant from the Maryland Humanities Council, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

 Yesterday, Paul Ryan called for the complete elimination of funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities in his FY 2015 budget resolution. 

 Help defeat the Ryan Proposal today by urging your elected officials to join a bipartisan effort to support NEH. By signing on to the Senate “Dear Colleague” letter, your Senators can demonstrate support for NEH funding to the appropriations committee members that hold the agency’s future in their hands.

 Click here to send our message to your Senators today. They are waiting to hear from you.

 

If you sent a message last week, thank you. If you haven’t sent one yet, it is critical that you act now. The deadline for Senators to sign on to the letter is Friday, April 4.

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Join Board Member Stacie Hawkins and John Petro Today at the Maryland Heritage Legislation Briefing

04 Tuesday Feb 2014

Join Board Member Stacie Hawkins and John Petro Today at the Maryland Heritage Legislation Briefing

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The National Preservation Institute (NPI) Window Seminar comes to Greenbelt, MD

02 Sunday Feb 2014

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education, event, Greenbelt, marketing committee, Maryland, NPI, The National Preservation Institute, window

The National Preservation Institute (NPI) Window Seminar comes to Greenbelt, MD

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Link

New Bostwick Website!

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

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New Bostwick Website!

This might be old news to most by now, but the recently released UMAPP website for Bostwick is a great step forward in making Bladensburgs history more accessible and its remarkable resources known. 

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PGH recommends “How Buildings Learn” as a good preservation read

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They’re Built is an illustrated book on the evolution of buildings and how buildings adapt to changing requirements over long periods. It was written by Stewart Brand and published by Viking Press in 1994. Wikipedia
Published: 1994
Author: Stewart Brand

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  • Ahhhh, the sweet smell of fresh cedar!: The Roof Restoration Begins
  • Chimneys are Okay!
  • Masonry Assessment & Repairs Begin
  • Pulleys but no counter weights?!
  • Hilleary Magruder House – The Restoration Begins

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