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The Accidental Preservationist

An unexpected journey

From Shopping

12.01.2018

Holiday Guide to Gifts that Give Back – Supporting Historic Preservation in Charleston, SC

Finding the perfect holiday gift for everybody on your list can be a challenge. To help with this endeavor, I complied this holiday gift guide – best of all, these gifts support the preservation and research work being done by three of my favorite organizations here in Charleston, SC: Drayton Hall, The Charleston Museum and…

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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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Mystery Object Monday! We have made several discoveries during the renovation process here, the first of which is in the lower right-hand corner of this photo – a lead pipe. At first, we thought it might be part of the water extraction system for the cistern since it runs along the top of it – see the second slide (the top of cistern is the rounded area) and we found part of it at the corner of the cistern (third slide). But then we found the pipe heading out into the yard and came up with the theory that it was an early municipal water pipe that might have gone to the former privy. We found an early toilet in the privy (fifth slide, pictured with a bottle that we found inside) which could suggest that an early plumbed bathroom was installed in the old privy. Let me know what you think! #theaccidentalpreservationist

As the renovation project continues, I am constantly surveying the site for artifacts. Dirt here has been moved around quite a bit during construction projects over the past two plus centuries, so I never know what I might find where. #theaccidentalpreservationist

The renovation project is in full swing here and I am way behind in sharing all of the interesting discoveries that we have made thus far. Some discoveries have answered questions, others raised more questions - more about it all soon! #theaccidentalpreservationist

Dumbarton House is interpreted to the the time period of 1804-13 which was during the residency of Joseph Nourse, the first Register of the US Treasury, and his wife Maria. At the time, verdigris, a paint pigment made from copper, was the most vibrant green available and was a popular color choice for wealthy households. The verdigris in the dining room is actually painted on squares of wallpaper which was a common way of making plain wall coverings through the early 19th century. #theaccidentalpreservationist

Thank you to @catherine.eick for the fantastic tour of @dumbartonhouse! Built c.1799 by Philadelphia merchant Samuel Jackson, it now serves as the headquarters of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. The house has a fascinating history starting with its sale to Joseph Nourse at public auction in 1804. In 1813, Nourse sold the property to Charles Carroll, who named it Bellevue, and the following year, Dolley Madison sought refuge there when the British burned the White House. In 1915 the house was moved 100 feet to accommodate road construction in Washington. In 1928 the property was purchased by the NSCDA and opened to the public in 1932 as Dumbarton House. As early as 1931 work began to undo later alterations and return the house to its original federal design. Research and preservation work are ongoing and I look forward to returning to see how this property continues to evolve! #theaccidentalpreservationist

I have my doubts that we will be able to put this recent find to use when it comes time to paint.... #theaccidentalpreservationist