Interiors - Summer 2013

vol. 31 no. 3 | late s umm e r 2013

friends of drayton hall

INTERIORS STA BI LI T Y & SU RV I VA L The Structural Analysis of a National Treasure

by Craig M. Bennett, Jr., PE, Bennett Preservation Engineering PC with Kristine Morris, Director of Communications, Drayton Hall I remember it from childhood, going there with the Draytons when we were all of the age that we were sure that we were going to stumble across buried family treasures. Even better memories followed, from the times that our own children were junior docents. What a valuable program that was, treating middle schoolers as adults!

But this was serious. We were being invited to interview for structural engineering work on Drayton Hall’s west, or landside, portico. At an initial meeting, friends in the field from Atlanta, Washington, and Philadelphia were all there to compete for the work. We friendly competitors all had lunch together after the meeting and those whose flights weren’t until late afternoon plopped down in our conference room to answer emails and crank out a little work while waiting for the time to pass.

The preservation engineering world is a very small community. c o n t i nue d on page 3

a nati onal tr us t hi sto ri c s i te

Director’s Notes–George W. McDaniel, Ph.D.

W H AT ’S NEW AT DR AY TON H A LL?

The mission of Drayton Hall, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is to preserve and interpret Drayton Hall and its environs, in order to educate and inspire people to embrace historic preservation.

Since Drayton Hall is so well known for its preservation philosophy and practices, one may have the impression that not much new happens here. And such an impression would be wrong. The truth is that there’s almost always something new being discovered. In fact, thanks to our preservation philosophy, much of the site’s evidence has been left intact, layer upon layer, so that as we work on the main house or the landscape, conduct archaeological excavations, research our collections, or collect and preserve oral histories, we consistently make new findings about this special place.

DRAYTON HALL SITE COUNCIL Anthony Wood, chairman Richard Almeida, Mary Ravenel Black, Catherine Brown Braxton, Lonnie Bunch, Mimi Cathcart, Matthew Cochrane-Logan, Edward Crawford, Jane deButts (emeritus), Chad Drayton, Charles Drayton (emeritus), Frank B. Drayton, Eric Emerson, Carl I. Gable, Phil Gaines (designee for Duane Parrish), Stephen F. Gates, Marilynn Hill, Kristopher B. King, Douglas Lee, Benjamin Lenhardt, Fulton Lewis, Peter McGee (emeritus), Joseph McGill (honorary), Hampton Morris, Monty Osteen, Jr., Duane Parrish, Suzanne Pollak, Michael Prevost, Connie Wyrick (emeritus)

Craig Bennett’s remarkable and reassuring stabilization of the portico, as described in the cover story, is but one example. In removing the stone tiles and concrete slab on the first-floor portico, his staff and ours revealed joist pockets in the brick wall, which may suggest the original support system and may serve as a prototype for a system to replace the failed concrete system, which does not mix well with the historical brick walls. Also, in preparation for the shoring system in the basement, archaeologist Sarah Stroud Clarke excavated the basement below the portico and found a fascinating array of artifacts, ranging from a 19th-century ivory microscope slide (2" × ¾"), to clay flower pot sherds, which are surprisingly similar to those we use today. We’ll soon be producing signage to interpret these findings.

On the landscape, a new visit will bring pleasing surprises. As you approach the main house, you’ll see that we have extensively cleared volunteer trees in order to preserve the 18th-century banks and ditches where they’d been allowed to grow, and which were being weakened and lifted by their roots. They were also crowding the ancient live oaks.

The result is that one can now see how different areas near the ponds, once screened from one another, were connected, so that visitors will understand all the more clearly the historical system of managing water, a system vital to the story of this plantation.

Through our enhanced communications, you’re going to notice new and more effective, attractive, and informative site signage, new site brochures, including a landscape brochure that describes native flowering plants, herbs, and trees, and an orientation brochure with a matrix of all that we offer so visitors can make the most of their time while on site.

Making its debut this past August, Circa, our monthly email newsletter, is filled with breaking stories and other exclusives. And coming in the spring of 2014, a dramatically different Drayton Hall website.

All of this, and more, to better enable you, too, to answer the age-old question: What’s new at Drayton Hall?

cover image: Measurement of a single mortar joint around the perimeter of the first floor portico, the slope having been in existence for at least a century.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR George W. McDaniel

INTERIORS STAFF Kristine Morris, editor Natalie Titcomb, graphic designer Robert A. Johnson, volunteer proofreader Design services provided by Josh Korwin of Three Steps Ahead

Friends! We want to hear from you, so please send your comments to development assistant leslie_newman@draytonhall.org and you could be quoted in the next issue of Interiors. Thank you!

Here’s what our visitors and fans have to say:

ADULT GROUP TOURS “My recent group from the National Trust for Historic Preservation came with high expectations. Having a group so well-versed in history and architecture can lead to disappointment if site staff aren’t up to the task. The group was thrilled with the visit in every way, and I was impressed at how you could speak at their level while still keeping the visit entertaining. Drayton Hall is always a must-see for International Seminar Design groups in Charleston, and this visit only confirmed that!”

— Sinead Walshe, International Seminar Design, Inc. (isdi)

FROM “We love Drayton! It’s just down the road from us and one of the best membership values in Charleston!”

— Linda S.

TRIP ADVISOR “Superb tour. The plantation house is one of the best preserved houses around. Our tour guide, Denise, was very knowledgeable and her passion was infectious. She answered all questions and made the tour a lot of fun.”

— TravelFoolVa “Without question one of the greatest houses in America. How it survived one can only guess. This alone is reason to come to Charleston.”

— Randolph M., Charleston, SC

3380 Ashley River Road, Charleston SC 29414 Phone: 843-769-2600 | Fax: 843-766-0878 www.draytonhall.org | dhmail@draytonhall.org

s ta b i l i t y a n d s u rv i va l continued from cover

We put together a great local team: Danny Forsberg for surveying, Glenn Keyes for architecture, and Richard Marks for constructability reviews and cost estimating. Then we brought in a close professional friend, Andrew Dutton, a managing partner at Hurst Peirce + Malcom, the highly regarded preservation and structural engineering firm in London. All of us had worked on countless 18th-, 19th-, and even a few 20thcentury historic structures, but Andrew brought even greater depth in Georgian structures to the team. Most importantly, Lyles McBratney, Hillary King, Ty Atkins, and now Emma Kousouris and Taylor Frost in our office rounded out a great preservation group. The stars all aligned at competitive interviews, and we were asked to evaluate the portico, direct necessary remedial action, and move on to an evaluation of the remainder of the main building.

We had visited the site in 2009 during early investigative work, and were familiar with the structure and the preservation philosophy that guided its stewardship. We also had worked well with the team responsible for holding true to those principles. We all had a like-minded sensibility to the work that would ensure a smooth and productive partnership towards realizing the ultimate goal: the long-term preservation, safety, and survival of Drayton Hall’s iconic portico.

We began the first phase of the work in January 2012, focusing on the portico on the west side, or land-front side, of the main house. The scope of work for the structural investigation and evaluation was significant, but within a few months, we had a clear picture of the issues, which we presented to Drayton Hall’s Site Advisory Council in May of 2012.

Identifying the Problem We knew that Drayton Hall was founded in 1738 by John Drayton (1715-1779), and its construction was likely completed sometime in the early 1750s. We also knew that the Georgian-Palladian masterpiece was built with locally-made brick, local timber, and imported stone, with an iconic two-story portico, both recessed and projecting, on its west elevation. From that basic knowledge, we began research into Drayton Hall’s digitized archives. What we discovered was that significant repairs or changes were made to the portico in the early and late 19th century, and the early and late 20th century.

Changes to the portico began with Charles Drayton (1743-1820). The first floor columns were replaced c. 1815, and sometime between 1870 and 1886 the brick pediment above the portico was removed

above: The west façade shows the slope of windows and doors toward the two piers in the basement that support the walls on either side of the main entry. In addition, the doors on the north and south walls of the portico appear to slope back towards the house.

The engineering team took several sets of measurements to quantify the settlement in the walls behind the portico. All measurements confirmed that the visual observations were correct. Repointed cracks below the north window on the second floor (detail not shown) are another indication of this movement.

and replaced with the wood pediment that is present today. In the 1930s the portico required major structural repairs.

The wood framing was replaced with reinforced concrete beams, over which an elevated concrete slab was poured; stone pavers were then set in a mortar bed on this slab. With concrete’s lifespan at 75 years, these beams have been a source of concern since the National Trust acquired the property in 1974. By then, the corrosion of the reinforcing was causing the concrete to “spall” or crack and break; c o n t i nue d on page 4

TH E PA L L A DI A N PORTICO

by Patricia Lowe-Smith, MS, House Manager and Preservation Technician, Drayton Hall Drayton Hall’s iconic double portico is a character-defining feature that both projects from and recedes into the main house. It is the first structure of its kind in North America and represents a sophisticated understanding of classical architecture. While most early American houses of the period were built with centered gables to simulate a pedimented portico, Drayton Hall’s portico was fully executed in the Palladian fashion. Eighteenthcentury architectural pattern books popular in England at the time of Drayton Hall’s construction did not depict recessed and projecting double porticoes, and, indeed, the English Palladians never adopted the style. Sixteenth-century architectural books featuring the designs of Andrea Palladio (1508–1580), on the

other hand, did depict such structures. This indicates that, while John Drayton may have looked to English houses for inspiration when designing Drayton Hall, it is clear that he also drew directly from books on classical architecture such as Isaac Ware’s 1738 translation of The Four Books of Andrea Palladio’s Architecture. Such a display of academic architecture was one way that John Drayton signaled his wealth and intellect to visitors at Drayton Hall. Today, evidence of alterations made by successive generations of the Drayton family make the portico something of a snapshot of the history of the site. We continue to learn about the portico and the stories it has to tell us about early life at Drayton Hall and are committed to preserving this iconic structure for the future.

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The Ultimate Solution: Replacement

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a 1977 structural analysis conducted by Robert A. Shoolbred, Inc. reported the condition. The concrete beams were repaired in the 1980s; this repair, still visible on site, was achieved by removing loose concrete, cleaning the reinforcing, applying a corrosion inhibiter, and applying new concrete to the beam to bring it back to the original dimensions.

Fundamentally, our goal is to stop further damage to the historic structure, which means the only true long-term solution for the concrete beams and slab is to replace them. Several strategies could be appropriate, and these will be further researched and assessed. For example, replacement could be made with wooden framing, replicating the structure’s original framing. Although wood was considered untenable as a material in this location in the 1930s, vast improvements in wood preservatives have been made since that time. Coupled with flashing over the wood and protection within the masonry pockets, we believe that wood could last at least as long as reinforced concrete. The major advantages of using wooden framing are that it is easily repaired and completely reversible. This approach would also give visitors a better understanding of the original construction of Drayton Hall.

After completing the archival research, our team moved to on-site documentation of existing conditions. Our work included visual observations confirmed by field measurements—leveling with a builder’s level and measuring with a laser scanner.

Examination of the exterior bricks and mortar showed no signs of active settlement, which was reassuring. Exploratory work was also needed to deterStainless steel beams, roughly mine the geometry and condiin the same configuration as the tions of hidden structural elewooden framing, are another viable ments. Conducted by Drayton material choice. Though stainless Hall staff, the work included steel should last in excess of 100 four archaeological test units years, steel beams would not be as along the foundation, removal Two photos, both taken around the turn of the 20th century, show easily repaired as wood, nor would of three areas of stucco from that the slope of the windows and doors is not a new problem. they be completely reversible. As a the lintels above the first floor left: Eliza “Bessie” Drayton on the portico. Note the slope along modern repair, this approach would have columns, and removal of most the bottom course of bricks beneath the window. Courtesy of South to be considered in relation to the site’s Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia. of the portico ceiling on the preservation philosophy. Concrete beams first floor, exposing the second floor framing for further inspecwith stainless steel reinforcing could also be used. This configution. Next, we used our measurements to calculate capacities and ration would match the wood and steel options, rather than the loads. With this information we could draw conclusions and make current problematic beam layout. This approach is the least recommendations for immediate and long-term solutions. repairable and reversible of the three approaches and is another modern modification, but should last as long as the stainless steel beams and would cost less to install.

The Immediate Solution: Support and Protect Findings showed that the structure is in remarkably sound condition after more than 250 years.

However, we also found that soil stresses under two masonry piers in the raised English basement are unreasonably high and that broken brick at the base of the piers is extremely weak, though we suspect that those conditions may have existed for a long time. To better protect the historic masonry, we recommended that all steel reinforcing rods be removed from contact with the masonry and the point loads be removed from the tops of the arches.

This would require the installation of shoring posts to temporarily support the concrete beams. The reinforcing could then be removed from contact with the historic masonry, halting damage from this source, and the shoring system could effectively be left in place for 20 years, thereby giving ample time to find the right solution.

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Also, when the concrete beams are removed, the floor slab will have to be removed, necessitating an entire reworking of the floor system along with the framing.

The replacement system to be installed under the stone will be dependent on the choice for replacement of the concrete beams, but should include more protection against water intrusion.

For the second-floor portico, the best long-term approach to the current water intrusion issues would also be to rework the entire floor system. The new floor could be designed in wood and covered in On the second-floor portico, water had damaged a significant portion of the framing, ceiling, and finishes below. At that time, a plastic sheet was placed over the northwest corner of the deck as a temporary measure to slow water intrusion. All of the joints between stones on both floors and all of the concrete cracks on the second floor are potential entry points for water.

Cracking in the stucco of the lintels was a concern. After Drayton Hall staff removed some of the stucco where cracking was most severe, the brownstone behind was found to be in excellent condition, with no cracking.

Water intrusion through the concrete floor decks of the two-story portico continues to be a problem. At the first-floor level, this has caused the corrosion of the iron rebar, which is seriously damaging the arches and has also damaged the historic brick masonry of the house. Cracks in the brick masonry arches are located at the pockets of several of the concrete beams, and exposed steel reveals that the reinforcing was carried into the brick when installed in the 1930s. Several of the existing cracks show through the newer (1980s) cement-like coating, indicating that movement is likely ongoing.

a material like stone or concrete—and these choices, too, would be carefully researched and assessed. Depending on material choice, a water carry-off system would be designed to protect the wooden framing and ceiling below. If group access to the front half of the second floor portico is important, it may be possible to strengthen the framing to allow for this. Strengthening would need to be designed to either avoid damaging the lintels from loading, or to load the lintels directly above the columns.

Naturally, the decisions that result from this research and analysis are critical and, as such, are of profound interest to you as members in the Friends of Drayton Hall and to all of us who support the preservation of this national treasure. With the immediate steps that have been taken, the portico is well

Deterioration of the concrete beams is evident and the damage is progressing. This is particularly severe on the beams resting on the center and north arches. The concrete beams are damaging the historic masonry arches due to the corrosion of reinforcing in the masonry. The flat arches have been further damaged by the insertion of the beams located just above them. These beams put load in the weakest portion of the arch.

Ultimately, the concrete has to be removed to prevent further damage to the original building. Another structural system must take its place.

supported, both as it always was on the five concrete girders and with some weight taken on the shoring posts. Over the next year we will be conducting a very methodical investigation to determine the portico’s construction history. At the same time, with the shoring system securely in place, we will slowly and carefully begin removing concrete and corrosive material that is damaging the masonry; this will help to stop further damage from this source. Then, once replacement options are assessed and decisions are made, we would move forward with the initial design development. In the meantime, it is important to remember that the portico is safe and stable. c o n t i n ue d on page 1 1

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3. The upper cabinet is topped with a broken scroll pediment ornamented with mahogany veneer, carved moldings, lightwood stringing, and decorative rosettes and husks. Prior to treatment, portions of these elements had become detached from the pediment and several were missing.

1. Prior to treatment, the surface finish was found in a degraded and delaminated state with a covering of considerable dirt and grime, including soot. Using microscopy, two layers of finish were revealed, including varnish from the later 19th century and the original natural resin coating.

5. Cleaning of the clothespress helped reveal that the large mahogany doors that make up the upper cabinet are not only framed using lightwood stringing, but cut from the same piece of wood in order to exhibit a symmetrical grain pattern.

4. During conservation, the missing moldings and veneer sections were reproduced, the rosettes were reassembled, and all loose materials were reattached using fish glue.

2. During conservation, the later 19th-century varnish was removed and a reversible, high-grade acrylic clear varnish with UV light inhibitors was applied and then waxed. The color and sheen of the new varnish re-saturated the old varnish, thus retaining its place on the object.

During the summer of 2013, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation conservators completed efforts to conserve a number of Drayton Hall collections objects for inclusion in a new exhibit entitled A Rich and Varied Culture: The Material World of the Early South (scheduled to open February 2014). One of the Drayton Hall objects included in the exhibit is the Drayton family Clothespress. Fabricated between 1785 and 1790 from mahogany and pine, this example of case furniture is one of three known pieces of 18th-century Charleston-made furniture from the Drayton family to survive to the present, and the only example in our collection. As shown below, a number of treatment techniques were employed by the talented staff of Colonial Williamsburg to conserve this significant example of Drayton family furniture.

Museum Collection Profile

CONSE RVATION of the DR AY TON CLOTH E SPR E SS

Text by Carter C. Hudgins, Ph.D., Director of Preservation and Education.

3380 Ashley River Road . Charleston, SC 29414 . 843.769.2600 . www.draytonhall.org

Post-conservation photograph by Craig McDougal.Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Pre-conservation photograph by George Williams.

Conservation by Christopher Swan, Furniture and Wooden Artifacts Conservator at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Photographs of the clothespress before (left) and after (right) conservation.

Acc #NT 98.6.1. Mahogany, soft pine, hard pine, brass

Drayton Clothespress, Charleston SC, 1785-1790

8. When the clothespress arrived in Williamsburg, a pair of wooden knobs was fitted to each of the three drawers positioned in the lower case.

7. Removing the dirt and grime helped to clarify the lightwood stringing found throughout the clothespress, such as the stringing used to accent the three drawers on the lower case.

10. Only three of the original foot blocks were found to survive and one example had been moved from the rear of the clothespress to the front during a repair campaign.

During treatment, the relocated foot block was returned to its original location and the missing foot block was recreated and reattached.

9. Analysis by furniture conservators determined that the wooden knobs were not original and that the original drawer hardware consisted of brass bail-and-rosette pulls with a 3 5⁄8” spacing. When they were installed, the replacement wooden knobs were attached using one hole from the original pulls and the second holes were likely plugged at that time.

6. In addition to removing the 19th-century varnish, the lightwood stringing found throughout the clothespress was cleaned with sodium hydroxide. This technique removed the outer oxidized surface of stringing to reveal a lighter colored wood and thus reestablished the contrast between these delicate wood elements and the darker mahogany.

HORTICULTUR E OF THE PAST R ETUR NS TO DR AY TON H A LL by eric becker, manager of landscapes, horticulture, and modern facilities Over the past several years, staff and student interns have been researching the Archival Collection of Charles Drayton (1743-1830) and compiling information on horticultural endeavors occurring at Drayton Hall in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This large amount of information is now allowing us to create a picture of the horticultural world of Charles Drayton, and to bring it to life, on a small scale, through informative plantings around the museum shop. (See images on facing page.)

Charles Drayton was the son of John Drayton (1715-1779), founder and builder of Drayton Hall.

Charles became the second resident owner of Drayton Hall after his father’s death. As a young man, Charles was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and studied medicine. Because much of the medicine of the time was derived from plants, Charles attended botany classes and learned about many plants, making observations of them. Such observations included the flowering and fruiting dates of plants noted in his written work titled “Flora.”

Charles also began to document in a diary the many travels, occurrences, and tasks associated with daily life at Drayton Hall, in Charleston, or at one of the many outlying production plantations under his ownership from 1780-1820. Many of his entries were about farming and, more specifically, about types of ornamental plants he

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was growing or purchasing for Drayton Hall. Notes were made on the many types of fruit trees, vegetables, and herbs grown for consumption by both the occupants and visitors at Drayton Hall, and also by the enslaved who grew and prepared the bounty of harvest.

Placeholder caption for the handwritten Flora notebook, dated January, February, and March.

Just as important as his diary entries are Charles’s specific documents on landscapes, horticulture, and botany.

Topics range from landscape notes on Humphrey Repton and ferme ornée gardening, to an inventory of plants procured and planted on the property provided by the French botanist André Michaux, to a wish list of exotic plants noted exactly from the famed

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. Additionally, Charles inventoried what was likely his father’s library, which contained books such as Miller’s Garden Calendar.

Charles also socialized with Robert Squibb, a regional horticulturist, who published The Gardener’s Calendar for South-Carolina, Georgia and NorthCarolina (1787), which Charles subscribed to. Charles also noted visits to local gardens of the time and the horticultural pursuits of his neighbors at Middleton Place and Ashley Hall.

In response to the Landscape Master Plan of 2003, funded

by Parker and Gail Gilbert, plans were initiated to better preserve and interpret the current and past features of the site over the centuries. Because horticultural pursuits were so well documented for a long period, the development of small, informal interpretative plantings based on Charles Drayton’s documents are now being installed in the public spaces around the Drayton Hall museum shop. Visitors will find groupings or single specimens, both exotic and native, of plants noted

by Charles Drayton or that he likely read about in his library. Many of these plants are labeled on site with an interesting quote from Charles.

Further research and garden development is currently underway for additional plantings that demonstrate some of the edible and medicinal plants used and mentioned by Charles

in his archives and books. Collaboration between the staff of Drayton Hall and Constant Harbonn (above), student of the French National School of Landscape Design (ENSP) Paris, will produce a plan for these plantings. Constant is this year’s recipient of the French Heritage Society’s internship program in association with the National Landscape School in Paris and several historical institutions located in Charleston.

Drayton Hall has participated in this program for four years, each year having students focus on research and planning that help to further implement the Landscape Master Plan and enhance the visitor experience. So, on your future visits to Drayton Hall, be sure to look for these new plantings and informative signs for a look back at the rich horticultural world of Charles Drayton.

Pomegranate Punica granatum

While travelling to Columbia in 1791 to serve as a Representative to the State Assembly, Charles Drayton visited the Goose Creek residence of his brother-in-law Peter Smith.

From there he sent “sundry flowering plants [including] Pomegranates for fruit, [and] double flowers…” back to Drayton Hall.

Label design by Joseph Mester, Drayton Hall staff. Botanical photo provided by Missouri Botanical Garden from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine.

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THANK YOU TO SITE COUNCIL MEMBERS ROLLING OFF IN 2013 Dear Friends, ¶ For those of you who are not familiar with the Drayton Hall Site Advisory Council, this is a distinguished group of 24 men and women who provide advice, counsel, and support to Drayton Hall without assuming the legal or fiduciary obligations of a board of directors or board of trustees. The current members come from diverse backgrounds, but they share in common an appreciation for Drayton Hall’s past and a hopeful vision for its future. Two members of the Site Advisory Council will be rotating off at the end of 2013. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their service and share some of their thoughts on Drayton Hall.

Mary Ravenel Black has been a Friend of Drayton Hall since 1991 and has served on the Site Advisory Council for nine years. She has found the most gratifying aspect of her time on the Council to have been the opportunity to continue her life-long interest and study of art history and decorative arts through her involvement with Drayton Hall. In addition to learning a great deal about architecture and life in 18th-century South Carolina, she has also experienced how “complicated” the management of a property such as this can be. She notes that “the interconnections of SC governmental and environmental entities, Charleston County entities, other museums, developers and, of course, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, demand vigilance, communication, and diplomacy.” As a result of her years of service, she has found the process of planning the proposed national interpretive center on the property to be “multi-faceted.” Mrs. Black believes that, “as Drayton Hall pursues its mission, the new center should become a gathering place for preservation leaders, historians, and many others to share their knowledge. This is my hope for this unique institution.” Mrs. Black and her husband, Robert, divide their time between Charleston and their farm in Illinois.

Amelia (Mimi) P. Cathcart is a Charleston native and life-long resident who chairs Drayton Hall’s Development Committee and is a former vice chair of the Site Advisory Council, on which she has served for nine years. Mrs. Cathcart has considered it “a great privilege” to serve on the Site Advisory Council, and has appreciated “the opportunity to meet with bright, energetic, and progressive men and women both on the Site Advisory Council and the staff who embrace historic preservation and look for excellence in the preservation of Drayton Hall and its historic grounds.” During her tenure, she notes that she has learned so much about the “amazing architectural details of the Great House”, and found participation in an archeological excavation on site to be “tremendously informative.” Mrs. Cathcart also joined recent Drayton Hall trips to Italy and Colonial Williamsburg, both of which she found to be “tremendous learning experiences.” As Drayton Hall moves into the future, she looks forward to the beginning of a capital campaign, under the direction of Steve Mount, our new Director of Philanthropy, and hopes that the proposed interpretive center “will be completed in the near future.”

As their terms on the Drayton Hall Site Advisory Council draw to a close at the end of the year, we wish to offer our sincere gratitude to these two dedicated ladies who have given so much of their time, talents, and energy to this important work. We have no doubt that they will both continue to be vital participants in the life and mission of Drayton Hall.

Dr. George W. McDaniel Executive Director

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s ta b i l i t y a n d s u rv i va l continued from page 5

above: Our findings indicated that for the safety of visitors to Drayton Hall, live loads on the first floor of the portico should be limited until the loads have been removed from the crowns of the arches with temporary shoring. To achieve this, the concrete beams will be temporarily supported on shoring posts. Each beam would require two adjustable shoring posts, bearing on a sandbox to spread the load to a larger bearing area. This would safely support the portico for groups and also allow the corroding reinforcing in the ends of the beams to be cut away and removed from the historic brick masonry.

left: The shoring system being constructed in the basement to support concrete beams under the portico. Boxes made of pressure-treated wood, lined with plastic and filled with sand, have been installed below cement beams and then galvanized steel shoring posts were bolted in place at the top and bottom. Lifting is done in micro meters or one millionth of a meter. We will continue to closely monitor and make any necessary adjustments over time. Shown clockwise from left: Craig Bennett, Richard Marks, and Jeff McNeally.

above: The deconstruction of the concrete part of the first-floor portico determined that incremental lifting of the shoring would not cause additional damage to the surface.

The concrete slab is currently well supported, both as it always was on the five concrete girders and with some weight taken on the shoring posts.

left: Craig M. Bennett, Jr., PE, is the founder and president of Bennett Preservation Engineering in Charleston, South Carolina. The firm is deeply focused on the structural analysis, engineering, and preservation of existing historic structures.

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Total Recovered Fiber All Post-Consumer Fiber

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30th Annual Spirituals Concerts with Ann Caldwell & The Magnolia Singers December 7th and 8th

Save The Date!

A Rich and Varied Culture: The Material World of the Early South

Saturday, December 7th, 4:30pm to 6:30pm, & Sunday, December 8th, 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

Opens February 15, 2014

The event begins with a reception and informal house tours followed by the concert—a rare opportunity to gather in the raised English basement of the main house to hear music that could have been heard centuries ago in the surrounding fields and praise houses.

Reservations required; seating is limited. Tickets: still $35 for adults; $30 for Friends of Drayton Hall.

Call 843-769-2638 for information and reservations.

Don’t miss the chance to see 26 objects from the Drayton Collections making their official debut at Colonial Williamsburg’s Dewitt-Wallace Museum www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/do/art-museums/ wallace-museum/arts-of-the-south/

Stay Connected!

Watch for Circa, our new monthly e-newsletter. A supplement to Interiors, Circa is filled with timely news and recent updates that we can’t wait to share with you.

Comments about Interiors or Circa? Suggestions for future articles? We welcome your thoughts!

Please contact Leslie Newman, development assistant for membership and annual giving, at lnewman@draytonhall.org or (843) 769-2612.

Visit our website at www.draytonhall.org for additional information.