Preservation Updates
Starting November 1, 2011:
Window restoration, Woodlawn mansion
At The National Trust for Historic Preservation, we do surely do love our old wooden windows, especially when they are as distinctive as Woodlawn’s overscaled twelve-over-twelves, ovals and fanlights, designed by Dr. William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol and of our ”sister site” Tudor Place. Thanks to a grant from The National Trust’s Historic Sites Fund, a substantial gift from Nellys Needlers and a number of private donations (thank you, donors!), we will begin work this summer on the north front (the side of the house facing the carriage circle). Working with Davis Buckley, Architects and Planners, and Robert A. Silman Associates, Engineers, we will be treating deteriorated Aquia sandstone sills and lintels as well as the the wooden frames, sashes, glazing — including painstaking removal of 30-year old UV film—and reinstalling the shutters, too. We don’t have all the funding necessary to do all four sides of the house — with over 52 windows–but it’s a start! Stay tuned!
Summer 2011
Phase I of the conservation of the exterior cypress siding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House was set in motion. (www.popeleighey1940.org)
Frank Lloyd Wright knew what he wanted, but he didn’t always leave the most detailed instructions of how to achieve that vision. In the case of the Pope-Leighey House, 70 years of sun, rain, bugs and pollution plus various treatments have left the cypress siding weathered unevenly. Protected areas under the eaves and carport have one patina, while exposed areas have another, and areas where water splashes up from the ground or drips down from those sleek-looking (but gutterless) eaves — well, that’s a whole other story. It isn’t clear from the documentation how Wright intended the exterior siding to look (and our Associate Architect Elizabeth Milnarik, Ph.D., did extensive research on the topic). Did he know it would weather to a silvery gray? Or did he want it to look “like new”? And can we do anything to moderate the unevenness of the weathering, which was surely not intentional?
Thanks in part to funding from Save America’s Treasures (the sadly now-defunct sole source of federal funding for bricks-and-mortar restoration projects) and the Historic Sites Fund of the National Trust, we engaged architectural conservator Pamela Kirschner to conduct testing and additional research to determine the precise causes and nature of the current condition of the material; to identify past treatment materials and methods and to test various coating products (nontoxic and green products only, thank you very much) to see which would best protect and stabilize the cypress.
Oak Grove Restoration ensured that the siding was carefully cleaned and minute cracks caused by dessication and borer bees were repaired–using a top secret stash of aged cypress that perfectly matched the grain of the 1939-40 original material.
Half-a-dozen coatings were then applied in test panels that will be monitored for a full year, to see how they hold up in coloration, adhesion and reactivity to the weather and elements here in Alexandria. It’s a very conservative approach, but we feel a work of the importance of Pope-Leighey is exactly the kind of case in which we need to don our “extra-best practices” hats as preservationists to ensure that the building is safeguarded as an artifact for future generations.
Restoration Completed:
Smoke House
Smokehouse "After" Restoration, April 2010
Woodlawn is happy to announce the restoration of the 1803 Smoke House is complete!! Located immediately to the north of the main residence, this brick outbuilding was designed (like the main house) by architect of the U.S. Capitol, Dr. William Thornton, and constructed ca. 1803. It was used to smoke ham and other meats for storage and consumption on the estate.
Restoration included replacement of the wood shake roof in historically accurate materials and methods; repointing of the brick; repair to decorative plaster panels and repair of interior wood beams.
Plantings and landscape elements in the adjacent pond garden area (perfect for weddings and events!) will be enhanced this spring and summer (2010).
The project was designed and will be managed by Davis Buckley Architects & Planners of Washington DC, Davis A. Buckley FAIA, principal. The Graham Gund Architect of The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Barbara Campagna FAIA, LEED is overseeing the work for the National Trust.
We thank the following sponsors and donors for making this important project possible:
The Alexandria Association
The Historic Sites Fund of The National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Allegheny Foundation
Nelly’s Needlers
The National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Virginia Chapter, Washington, DC Committee
