Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Mouns Jones |
Title |
Northwest perspective view |
Archive Number |
MJHPH86 |
Description |
Black and white photographic print of Mouns Jones House by H. Winslow Fegley, showing a northwest perspective view, and other images described below. Details include: north [left] gable-end chimney; southeast [right-of-center] corner chimney; early second floor casement window above doorway; three post-1886 hung-sash windows [two in first floor wall, one second story, right, behind tree branch]. The casement windows, with horizontal long axes, appearing in the 1886 woodcut drawing in this elevation [see MJHDWG2--1000.01.089], were possibly of the earliest form, proportions, and alignment. The western eaves wall and northern gable wall shown remain fully stuccoed as in 1886 woodcut. The casement window above the door in the northern bay appears to be in the alignment and opening, and of the approximate dimensions, as the opening seen in the 1886 woodcut [record #MJHDWG2], and other photographs in this archive [see MJHPH 86, -62, and -65]. It was the only window in the west eaves wall not replaced (except temporarily{n}) after 1886 with vertically aligned hung-sash windows, which became available as stock items in eastern Pennsylvania by 1725, as advertised in "American Weekly Mercury," Philadelphia, February 23-March 4, 1725; see excerpt published in Prime, Alfred Coxe, "The Arts & Crafts in Philadelphia, Maryland, and South Carolina, 1721-1785, Gleanings from Newspapers," p. 292 ("Sash Windows of the best Crown Glass, ready Painted Glaz'd and Hung, with the choicest Lines & Pully's just fit [sic] to put into buildings," offered by Thomas Chalkley of Philadelphia). {n} A vertically aligned hung-sash window was temporarily installed above the door during the 1965-1967 restoration work (archive record MJHPH68); see MJHPH51 showing a horizontally aligned casement window in this location later in the same 1965-70 restoration campaign. The residual white pargeting seen here has been described as a "mud and lime" mix [based on recent sampling, probably a mixture of lime putty, sand, and sometimes clay] in the January 1961 HABS survey report [MJHTX1--1000.01.018, which does not comment on the post-1886 replacement of earlier casements with the three "hung-sash" windows shown here. The doorway appears to be a recessed and board-sheathed opening, typical of 19th-century forms. An 18th-century door frame would probably have been aligned closer to the exterior wall plane. This 19th century doorway opening will be closed-up and partially replaced with a casement window. The originally doorway centered under the date-stone niche will be re-opened [see masonry-joint outline of doorway in photo #6863 attached]. The empty date-stone niche appears near top of the wall, centered just below the vertical sight-line of the corner [right] chimney. The date-stone fell out when the roof collapsed in the late 1950s and was picked up by local resident [Dr. Ackerman, a Pottstown dentist; see record #MJHPH6], who conscientiously delivered it to the Historic Preservation Trust when he discovered that the house was to be restored and preserved. See MJHPH66 and 67 for slightly different [and probably contemporary] perspective views of this elevation, and a clearer image of the three windows in the center and south bays. See a further consideration of this elevation and its 1965-1970 restoration in MJHPH67--1000.01.072 Laurence Ward, August 2010 |
Search Terms |
MJHPH MJH Mouns Jones House Mouns Jones House Photo Gable-end Chimney Ruins Corner Chimney Casement Window Hung-sash Window Datestone Niche Pargeing Pargeting Sheathed Doorway Vintage Photo Window Frame ruins |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Accession number |
1000.01 |
Date |
c.1965 |
Photographer |
H. Winslow Fegley |
Notes |
Image Note: West eaves wall and openings after pre- 1958 roof collapse [see 1957 newsprint photo in MJHPH67]. |
Catalog Number |
1000.01.092 |