Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Sites and Structures Reports |
Archive Number |
HPTSSR20 |
Title |
Sites and Structures Report, March 2014 |
Description |
Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County Sites & Structures Report, 3/12/14 MOUNS JONES HOUSE RESTORATION: As reported at the last meeting, it has become obvious from close inspection and measurements that the central segment of the masonry wall facing the Schuylkill River is distended from a vertical alignment by as much as 6 or 7 inches. The "bulge", visible on inside and outside surfaces of the wall, covers about 325 square feet between the blue lines on the attached Image #1, showing the displaced wall area outlined in blue. The contour lines on the drawing [Image #2-"bulge"diagram] show the extent and shape of the deformed area, structurally a radial "membrane" in unstable tension and stress. Measurements from the plumb grid-plane suspended from the rafter-tails (Image #3) show that the dislocations are 6 to 7 inches at the extremities, rather than the estimated 5 inches shown on the drawing. The slowly but measurably disintegrating wall masonry has moved several inches away from the floor-boards since the 1965-70 restoration [Image #4, daylight through widening gap]. Based on this disparity, there is also the possibly of de-lamination and rubble-disintegration within the wall-mass. The 2014-2019 restoration campaign will dismantle, reconstruct, and stabilize the river-side façade-wall and restore the door and window designs, fenestration forms to their 1716 locations and materials, and, to the extent compelling evidence provides the essential details, the type and operation of the authenticly re-fabricated windows, achieving four important objectives: (1) Reconstruction of the deformed and structurally unstable segment of the wall, re-placing each stone "unit" in its original location (where determinable); {a} {a} During de-construction of the unstable wall ranges, it became apparent that a significant quantity of the stones making up the wall had fractured or become degraded, or were too small and misshapen for a well-bonded wall, and that the surviving mortar residue was often "friable" [coarse and in-cohesive]. These conditions, coupled with poor bonding and careless integration of the stone units, rendered it unfeasible and imprudent to re-set stone units in their original locations in the walling-pattern. (2) Restoration of the proper plumb alignment and re-establishment of stable bearing-compression between the foundation, restored wall planes, and the rafter plates supporting roof loads; (3) Restoration of the doorway from its 19th century location in the northern bay to its documented original site, roughly centered under the 1716 date-stone; and (4) Fabrication and installation of a new door and windows in their original locations, as delineated in the masonry evidence beneath the interior 1970 plaster coatings. The shoring system designed in concept by Trust volunteers was professionally engineered to ensure that roof loads, scaffolding, materials decks, and compromised wall margins will be safely supported and stable during the project. KEIM HOUSE RESTORATION: The details of the balcony railing have been worked out. Drawings of the balcony elements and kitchen-entry structure will be provided before fabrication. The pent roof framing [Image #5] will be covered with Oley Valley type clay tiles with appropriate exposure and lath spacing coordinated with the sizes of local tile units. {b} {b} The clay tile finish was a late change [from German side-lap shingles] based on compelling evidence [including century-old photographs] that the original roofing of the 1753 house was tile-on-lath.Federal-era addition shutters have been consolidated or fabricated based on surviving originals [Jan 17, 2014 Lainhoff report]. Conservation of windows and door frames was completed in 2013. GEORGE DOUGLASS HOUSE: Nine pairs of shutters will be fabricated for the 5-bay 1765 house-block. Laurence Ward, Updated: September, 2016, Oct. 2016, October 2020 |
Date |
March 2014 |
Object Name |
REPORT |
Catalog Number |
1008.01.065 |
Search Terms |
HPTSSR Sites and Structures Committee Report wall failure wall displacement contour drawing mortar deterioration grid-plane gauge boards bearing compression doorway shoring balcony pent roof frame Bulge Diagram Blue-line photo |