Commandant Samuel L. Breese Letter 31 January 1855
Commandants Office
Navy Yard Gosport
January 31st 1855
Sir,
I herewith forward an estimate and plan for the completion of the Keepers House at Fort Norfolk Magazine. A comparison of the elevation of the first proposed and this one, with, I am sure be favorable to the last. A prominent object as it will be from the harbor and it's approach almost vis and vis to the Hospital, itself as imposing edifice, it is I think much to be desired that this should be in its style and architecture somewhat more over then the first proposed, especially when the difference in cost is so trifling. The ground being quite high on which it is to be placed enables it to have a cellar, kitchen, & c. I would recommend the adoption of the plan.
I am very Respectfully,
your obedient servant,
Sam. L. Breese
Captain
Comm Joseph Smith
Chief of the Bureau of Yards & Docks
Washington
Estimate of the probable cost of labor and materials for completing Keepers House at Magazine, Fort Norfolk
as accompanying plans revised January 22, 1855
300 cub. yds Excavation @ 25 c per yd $75 00
10 “ “ Stone Masonry (completed) $6 “ “ 60 00
10,000 Common Brick @ $7 “ “ 490 00
100 Casks lime @ $1.36 136 00
1000 Bush Sand @ 7 c 70 00
856 Yds plastering @ 35 cts 300 00
10 sq Roofing of ton complete @12 120 00 1251.00
Painters Material 101 45
“ Labor 102 00 221.45
140 days Mason’s labor @ $2 280 00
150 “ Laborers @1.25 187 50 467.50
1939.95
Amt of Materials required for completing
House Joiners work
2 M feet white pine plank @ $45 $90 00
5 M feet Mercht with pine “ “ $27 1/2 137 50
2 M “ Yellow pine “ “ $25 50 00
250 feet “ “ joist “ $25 6 50
Hardware Nails & c 150 00
Labor 1800 00
One Iron Verandah & Balcony 800 00 3034.00
49739.95
Specifications for Constructing the Keepers House at Magazine Fort Norfolk Carpenters
Dimensions
Thirty six feet wide in front by twenty five feet deep two stories high exclusive of cellar.
Stories
Cellar 6’ 9" pitch. First story 11 feet, second story 11 feet the first story floor to be 4 feet above level of yard pavement.
Timber
First floor of Joyce and cellars to be laid 18 inches from center and at least 6 inches above the earth with air holes in exterior walls running up above surface of the yard.
Principal and chamber floor joist to be laid 16 inches from center to be thoroughly hinged with cross braces; to be 4 inches on walls, with beveled and to 1 inch in wall on top; all the framed partitions, to be well set with 16 inches centers, well braised and thoroughly bridged and keyed and anchored into brick walls.
Flooring
Floors of basement story to be nailed through and care taken to cross nail; to give the greatest strength.
The floors of principal and chamber stories to be secret nailed with best floor had, all the flooring of the whole house to be well and closely nailed and neatly smooth after laying.
Doors
The door of principal entrance, to have side and transom sash and finished according to plan. All the doors of the house to be of good patterns and neat finish.
Windows
The windows in the parlor, to extend to the floor with lower sections of panel works to open with hinges, the sash and two flights; to be double hanging. All the windows of the house to be according to plan and dimensions given.
Base trimmings and castings stairs
Of all the stories to be of good finish and neat work. Of all the windows and doors openings to be neatly fitted and finished with moldings.
The staircase leading from basement to be straight flight with a door at top. The main staircase from first to chambers story to be neat and clean with hand work under the treads finished to the floor to close in the basement stairway, with a door leading to same the. same. The handrail to be of mahogany 4 inch diameter with appropriate and proportionate balusters turned and well at bottom. Rail continued around well hole on chamber floor.
Blinds
All the windows in basement to be closed in with panel shutters. Those of the principal and chamber floors to be of slat blinds all to be hung with best cast parliament butts and fasten with the best usual fastenings inside and out.
Miranda
The floor timbers to be 2 in by 8 in. 18 in from center, Sills 8 in. square, supported on hitch pillars according to plan. The roof to be supported on wrought iron ribs and covered with best roofing tin.
The Ballustrade pillars entablature and cornice to be of wrought iron railing work of a neat pattern to conform to the proportions represented on the drawing and somewhat similar in the design; to be selected by the Commandant of the Yard.
Painting
All the interior work usually painted to have three good coats of pure American white tyine oil paint. The exterior work to be with white lead and oil paint.
Hardware
All the hardware and fastening throughout the house to be of the best quality and neat finish.
Water closet
To be of brick 6' x 8' x 8' story with one door and two windows with sash and blind. Vault to be 6 feet deep 6' x 8' wide, brick walls with box ventilator. Woodwork to be painted with two coats tyine paint.
Masons
Excavation
Perform all necessary excavation for Cellar foundations &c, and distribute the earth and otherwise grade the surface of the grounds around the building where required.
Stonework
The cellar walls to be two bricks thick, started in a base course of stone to be 2 feet thick of large stones laid crossways of the wall and top of which must be 14 inches below top of basement floor, with air holes from inside of walls under the floor, running up the walls to the outside above the pavement.
Brick work
The walls to commence on stone foundations as above described. The first floor four courses above basement to project 1 1/2 forming a belt course as shown in plans. The joints being left out 1/2 inch depth to receive a coat of cement streev with finish. The walls of principal and chamber floors to be 1 1/2 bricks thick. The chimneys to be as represented in plans, flues plastered smooth caps to be cemented and finished similar to belt course.
All the brick work to be of good hard burned brick according to samples in the yard to be laid in best lime and fresh water sharp sand mortar. The south and west fronts to be faced with best press brick.
Plastering
The inside of all exterior walls to be stripped with 1 1/2 inch streps, with 16 inch centers. All the plastering to be of two good coats of mortar with hard finish, with centerpieces in parlor and dining rooms and hall.
General specifications
All the work must be of the best character and neatly finished. All the materials to be of the best quality; and subject to the approval of the Commandant of the Yard.
Statement of materials now on hand and such as have been required and are contracted for and to be delivered also the amount of work partially done and completed
Materials on hand
26000 Press Brick (at Magazine)
500 Bushels Sand “ “
—- Bushels Lime “ ”
25 “ Cement “ “
Articles to be delivered
20,000 Laths, Contracted for & to be delivered
30 Bble. Cement
3 “ Plaster of Paris
300 lb 3 p cut nails
The frame has been received & stowed in wooden shed in yard.
Prepared inside work
For basement story &c
3 Outside doors with castings. 6 window frames, sashes, castings & shutters.
3 Inside doors with casings. 4311 running feet of wash & chair boards intended for basement &c.
For Principal Story
1 Front door. 1 Back door with casing. 6 window frames, sashes & casings. 2 Mantle pieces. 3511 running feet base intended for principal & chamber story.
For Chamber Story
4 doors with casings. 8 window frames, sashes & castings with 2 pair blinds with slats & 5 pair without slats, 2 mantle pieces
3 window frames, smashes casings& blinds without slats, 3 doors, casings & 1 mantle piece.
30 Treads dressed & 20 risers, & 30 rough treads.
2930 feet (? measure) of flooring faced and tongued & groved.
The stone heads and stills to all the door and window openings have been cut and dressed and are on the ground.
The timbers for the frame, the inside work in the state of progress, and all other materials now at the yard must be removed to the side of building at the cost of contractors. The plan of the house having been altered the contractor must use the frame and all the inside work so far as completed and in a state of progress and adapt them to the present plan and supply all the needed work to complete the present arrangement in the same style and of equal quality of material and workmanship.
Fort Norfolk Documents
1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799,
1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819
1820,
1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849,
1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859
1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869
1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879
1880,
Source of Information
National Archives, Record Group 71 Bureau of Yards and Docks
Letters Recieved from Commandants of Navy Yards -- Norfolk
June 2 1854 - June 30 1855
Box No. 159, Entry 5