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The Accidental Preservationist

An unexpected journey

From Historic Preservation

10.10.2017

A Mysterious Bathing House

For those of you who follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you have likely seen posts that I have done from the archaeological dig here on the property. We have found and continue to find a lot of fascinating artifacts, but what you may not know is that the impetus for the dig was not…

10.10.2017

My New Old House

When I took up residence at the Chancognie House, I must admit that I did not know much about it other than what was on the historical marker on the wall – Simon Jude Chancognie House, c. 1816. Only half of that turns out to be correct, but more about that later. In my search…

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What is The AP?

Join me on an unexpected journey in restoration and research at the circa 1810 Simon Jude Chancognie House in Charleston, South Carolina and beyond.

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Picking up where Katie, @c.johnson_preservation and Alena left off…. One of my pandemic projects here at the Chancognie House was to finish stripping the second floor piazza fascia, parts of which had been done in years past by the aforementioned graduates of the @mshp_grad_program during their time here in Charleston. As they can all attest, it is tedious work to remove 27 layers of paint (as determined by @paintchipsanalysis) without damaging the delicate and intricate original carving, but it is also incredibly satisfying to reveal those details. More reveals coming soon…. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Ah, the tales this shutter could tell…. This first floor shutter from the Chancognie House is especially weathered on one side and since this is the side that would be exposed when the shutters are closed, it is likely that this pair of shutters (its mate shows similar weathering) was closed for an extended period of time in an area that saw a lot of exposure which would be the south side of the house here. Fortunately, it will receive some attention soon and be ready to protect the house for another 200 or so years. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Even though the Chancognie House is a frame structure, I find a lot of bricks on the property from early 19th century handmade bricks to later manufactured bricks such as this one. They were used for a variety of purposes here – building foundations, outbuildings, and 20th century landscaping. Bricks have been made for centuries and for most of that time, they were handmade. The process slowly began to be mechanized in the mid-19th century, but there were a lot of human hands involved well into the 20th century as evidenced by this brick. Even as machines started making the bricks, they were still turned by hand while drying and this brick, which likely dates to the early 20th century, was apparently picked up before it had dried completely. It was used in a walkway with the unmarked side up and I will now add it to the house collection of unusual bricks. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

467 panes of glass later, I am stowing my putty knife to glaze another day…. That day will come again, probably sooner than I would like, as maintenance is an ongoing task, but for now, here’s to not laboring over Labor Day! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Shutter revelation may not sound quite as catchy as transom transformation (see previous posts), but it is just as satisfying. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Instagram

Picking up where Katie, @c.johnson_preservation and Alena left off…. One of my pandemic projects here at the Chancognie House was to finish stripping the second floor piazza fascia, parts of which had been done in years past by the aforementioned graduates of the @mshp_grad_program during their time here in Charleston. As they can all attest, it is tedious work to remove 27 layers of paint (as determined by @paintchipsanalysis) without damaging the delicate and intricate original carving, but it is also incredibly satisfying to reveal those details. More reveals coming soon…. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Ah, the tales this shutter could tell…. This first floor shutter from the Chancognie House is especially weathered on one side and since this is the side that would be exposed when the shutters are closed, it is likely that this pair of shutters (its mate shows similar weathering) was closed for an extended period of time in an area that saw a lot of exposure which would be the south side of the house here. Fortunately, it will receive some attention soon and be ready to protect the house for another 200 or so years. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Even though the Chancognie House is a frame structure, I find a lot of bricks on the property from early 19th century handmade bricks to later manufactured bricks such as this one. They were used for a variety of purposes here – building foundations, outbuildings, and 20th century landscaping. Bricks have been made for centuries and for most of that time, they were handmade. The process slowly began to be mechanized in the mid-19th century, but there were a lot of human hands involved well into the 20th century as evidenced by this brick. Even as machines started making the bricks, they were still turned by hand while drying and this brick, which likely dates to the early 20th century, was apparently picked up before it had dried completely. It was used in a walkway with the unmarked side up and I will now add it to the house collection of unusual bricks. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

467 panes of glass later, I am stowing my putty knife to glaze another day…. That day will come again, probably sooner than I would like, as maintenance is an ongoing task, but for now, here’s to not laboring over Labor Day! #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

Shutter revelation may not sound quite as catchy as transom transformation (see previous posts), but it is just as satisfying. #theaccidentalpreservationist #chancogniehouse

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