Murray-Dick-Fawcett House Exterior Restoration (Phase II)

Learn about the exterior restoration at the Murray-Dick-Fawcett House at 517 Prince Street.
Page updated on October 16, 2024 at 4:34 PM
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Murray-Dick-Fawcett House Exterior Restoration (Phase II)

Phase II restoration of the exterior doors, windows and wide-board siding is complete and reused much of its original materials.

Following the Phase 1 emergency repairs to the roof of the Murray Dick Fawcett house in 2021-2022, Phase 2 of the work was initiated in 2022 to restore the siding, porches, windows and doors to make the building envelope watertight.  Oak Grove Restoration, the nationally respected contractor located here in Alexandria that performed the Phase 1 work, was retained to continue this work.

Before doing any work, a combination of archival research and field investigation was performed to understand the physical and social history of the site.  Deeds, fire insurance maps, family photos and ledger entries were combined with close inspection of the materials in the field, dendrochronology and laboratory paint analysis. 

historic photo of Murray-Dick-Fawcett House ca. 1900

This ca 1900 photo is very helpful because one can see that there are small buildings on the parcel to the west during this period.  These are also shown on Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps in the late 19th century. 

Note also the narrow clapboard siding that had been applied over the original wide-board flush siding on the south and west elevations.  For some reason, the clapboard siding was never installed on the east side of the house.

Murray Dick Fawcett House 1936 photograph

This 1936 HABS photo is the only one we have of the east and north walls of the 1797 kitchen/smokehouse/privy.  The east wall is whitewashed but the north wall is mostly unpainted.  Note the cat entrance in the bottom of the smokehouse door in the center. 

Siding Repair

An estimate of the original construction dates for different sections of the house was established by dendrochronological testing of framing members and review of the saw marks, nails and paint, etc. 

MDF architectural drawing with building phases
Siding research
Siding assessment. Three images
Siding re-creation. four images.
Brick nogging and timber framing, four images
Texture sample, siding bead sample.
Siding repair, three images
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MDF architectural drawing with building phases
An estimate of the original construction dates for different sections of the house was established by dendrochronological testing of framing members and review of the saw marks, nails and paint, etc.
Siding research
Siding Research:

Note the multi-angled scratches left by the up-and-down stroke of the saw blade when the beaded, flush siding was hand cut from a log by two persons using a pit-saw technique. This method was common in Alexandria through the second decade of the 19th century when lumber could be cut in water powered mills. The size of each siding board was unique and they varied in length and width depending on where they were cut from the round logs. The wrought nails shown here were also common during this period. The siding on the west elevation shows traces of the original dark red paint that is clearly evident on the east elevation where it had been protected in the attic of the east elevation. Samples of the paint were analyzed in the laboratory to determine the original colors used.
Siding assessment. Three images
Siding Assessment:

The previous owner had removed the clapboard siding that had protected the original beveled siding for over 120 years and performed extensive repairs at that time. The siding on this wall was, nevertheless, in very poor condition and required complete replacement. The size and location of each board was carefully documented and tagged.
Siding re-creation. four images.
Siding Re-creation, 1774/1784, West Wall

Once the individual siding boards were labeled, drawings were made by hand in the field and then entered into a computer program. They were then carefully removed and taken to Oak Grove’s shop to be laid on the floor, recreating their original location on the wall. Later repairs were identified by comparing nails, paint and saw marks on the back side of the boards. Original siding on the 1774 section was determined by laboratory analysis to be old growth Southern Yellow Pine, while Eastern White Pine was used on the 1784 section. Because of extensive deterioration on the west elevation of both the 1774 and 1784 sections, all of the siding on that wall had to be replaced. Because the original boards were up to 16” in width and 20’ in length, modern pine is not able to replicate the original sizes without splitting and warping. Therefore, Sapele, a sustainably sourced African hardwood that is a cousin of Mahogany was custom cut to these sizes. All portions of the original boards determined to be reusable were salvaged for patching on the south and east elevations. These relocated siding boards are labeled so that future researchers can identify the source of the material.
Brick nogging and timber framing, four images
When the siding on the west elevation was removed, it exposed the original timber frame. Dendrochronology testing indicated that oak and pine trees for the frame were cut and likely shaped in 1772. It was common in Alexandria to purchase timber frames that had been precut and knocked down for transport to the site. Roman numerals carved at the mortice and tenon joints aided reassembly. Patrick Murray did not own the lot until 1774, so the frame would have been erected at that time.

Brick Nogging are soft brick used to infill between the studs of a wood frame building. Plaster is then used to finish the interior and wood siding covers the exterior of the wall. Nogging slightly increases structural stability and reduces noise transmission but primarily increases fire resistance and provides some thermal mass reduces air infiltration and prevents rodents nesting in the wall cavity. Loose nogging was stabilized with the appropriate lime-based mortar.
Texture sample, siding bead sample.
Sapele replacement siding was sawn to match the historic thickness with a modern band saw, which generally recreates the texture of the original flush siding boards but the consistent vertical saw marks are clearly distinguishable from the irregular marks on the hand sawn boards when viewed closely. Mock-ups were made to confirm that the beveled top and bottom edges of the replacement siding boards would recreate the water shedding function of the original hand-planed flush siding.
Siding repair, three images
A layer of breathable housewrap was used to cover the west elevation prior to installation of the siding. The Boards were secured with stainless steel finish screws and galvanized iron reproduction wrought nails. Holes were pre-drilled for the nails to minimize disturbance to the nogging and 18th century plaster on the interior.

As with all original material on the building, siding boards were retained in situ to the maximum extent possible using Dutchman patches.

Window Repair

All window sash were removed, the location stamped on each one and then taken to the Oak Grove shop for restoration in controlled conditions. 

Window repair, three images
Paint and Glazing Removal with Steam Cabinet, two images
Window sash restoration, four images
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Window repair, three images
All window sash were removed, the location stamped on each one and then taken to the Oak Grove shop for restoration in controlled conditions. After taking samples, the majority of the paint was carefully removed from the frames in situ, so that new paint would adhere. Note the rotating bird’s beak support for the single hung window sash in the picture on the left.
Paint and Glazing Removal with Steam Cabinet, two images
A steam cabinet was used to remove multiple layers of lead-based paint and glazing compound from window sash. Oak Grove employees wear suits and masks for protection from the lead during restoration.
Window sash restoration, four images
Rotten or damaged rails, stiles and muntins of the original window sash are spot repaired to preserve as much material as possible. Blown glass was carefully preserved and reinstalled in their original locations before sash were shop primed and painted.

East Entry Restoration

When 517 Prince was constructed, it was just outside of the town boundary and the south façade extended over the property line by approximately two feet and the central entrance extended even further into the pedestrian footpath.  When the town limits were expanded and the grades of Saint Asaph and Prince streets lowered in the early 19th century to facilitate drainage toward the river, the entry steps had to be relocated to the east side of the house and a covered entry and bedroom addition were constructed ca 1816.  

The present entry looks much the same today that it did in the ca 1900 photographs. 

East Entry stoop, photos, plans
Archaeologists digging
Porch and stoop retaining wall repair
step location beneath porch floor
paint ghost of newel post
stoop guardrail reconstruction, five images.
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East Entry stoop, photos, plans
When 517 Prince was constructed, it was just outside of the town boundary and the south façade extended over the property line by approximately two feet and the central entrance extended even further into the pedestrian footpath. When the town limits were expanded and the grades of Saint Asaph and Prince streets lowered in the early 19th century to facilitate drainage toward the river, the entry steps had to be relocated to the east side of the house and a covered entry and bedroom addition were constructed ca 1816.

A brick retaining wall, constructed on the east property line when the grade of the adjacent property was lowered in response to the new street grade, was being undermined by tree roots over many years and had to be reconstructed with historic brick and lime mortar.

The present entry looks much the same today that it did in the ca 1900 photographs.
Archaeologists digging
This photo shows archaeologist Garrett Fesler of Alexandria Archaeology excavating where the stoop retaining wall at the east entry had to be rebuilt because it was falling into the neighbor’s driveway. During careful deconstruction and examination of the brick bond pattern and the mortar used, it was determined that this was not the first time this section of the wall had been reconstructed.
Porch and stoop retaining wall repair
The entire porch had shifted several inches toward the east as the retaining/foundation wall failed and the porch had to be moved back and stabilized.

Pit sawn porch floor joists with round mortices on the top indicate that they were earlier boards that were reused from another location for the 1816 porch.
step location beneath porch floor
Alexandria Archaeology was able to identify a depression below the existing wood porch flooring, indicating the location of the original steps at the east entry door when the front stoop was relocated but prior to construction of the covered porch and bedroom addition to the east side of the structure in the early 19th century.
paint ghost of newel post
One of the most interesting finds during the covered porch restoration was a paint ghost mark indicating the profile of the half newel where the stoop’s guardrail was attached to a panel on the porch wall. The profile was traced and knives were cut to reproduce the railing shape.
stoop guardrail reconstruction, five images.
The previous guardrail was in poor condition and had been inappropriately repaired over time. The iron “wickets” that formed the guardrail baluster were completely rusted where wood railing retained moisture. These wickets were reproduced in stainless steel and painted the original black color.

Paint Analysis

Paint samples were taken at forty different locations on all sides of the building.  The goal in this phase was to reproduce what was believed to be the original color based on laboratory analysis. 

house drawing with paint analysis test locations
paint analysis, four images
paint preparation -- man on ladder
Paint colors, after painting
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house drawing with paint analysis test locations
Paint samples were taken at forty different locations on all sides of the building.  The goal in this phase was to reproduce what was believed to be the original color based on laboratory analysis.
paint analysis, four images
Paint samples of siding were taken in multiple locations, including just below the soffit and inside the attic or behind walls where it was capsulated by the 1784, 1797 and 1816 additions where it would have been protected from weather. Samples from the surface of the mortar on the foundation of the south elevation showed clear evidence that the brick wall was also painted oxide red, which was common in early Alexandria to protect the soft, porous brick from moisture.
paint preparation -- man on ladder
The ca 1816 east addition had to be supported during reconstruction of the foundation/retaining wall. Shutters in the openings of the entry porch were restored in Oak Grove’s shop. Note the worker wearing full protection when scraping lead-based paint prior to repainting. Drop cloths collected any paint chips on the ground.
Paint colors, after painting
This shows the reconstructed stoop retaining wall, steps and baluster and the historic wall paint colors.

ca. 1797 West Porch Repairs

Water running off of the 1784 catslide roof and cricket damaged the ca 1797 west porch. 

West porch repairs, plan and two photos
west porch repairs, two images
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West porch repairs, plan and two photos
Water running off of the 1784 catslide roof and cricket damaged the ca 1797 west porch. Note that the rafters had become detached from the fascia of the 1797 ell over time and the porch was being held on the masonry ell only by the metal roofing. However, it appears from the materials used and the paint ghosts that the west porch was original to the 1797 construction and the framing was restored in place. The 2x4 rafters were sistered, with intermediate rafters added to increase the load capacity, and secured to the ledger and beam with metal fasteners. Original roof decking boards were then replaced.
west porch repairs, two images
Sanborn Maps indicate, and the HABS drawings confirm, that the west porch had been enclosed since at least 1885 and was used as storage and laundry. The enclosure walls were removed by the previous owner. The brick wall of the 1797 addition was not originally painted. This is evident from the unpainted ghost of the former porch wall on the masonry in the photo on the right. Because the porch floor is so close to grade, the joists and flooring had been replaced several times in the past, so the original open condition was recreated based on the evidence available.

The Next Steps

Historic Structure Report

Comprehensive Plan for Use & Interpretation

  • Public Engagement to consider Interpretation, visitor flow, renovation of garage to support visitor services, outdoor interpretive components
  • Restoration Design
  • Fundraising & Public Engagement
  • Restoration
  • Open as the newest OHA Museum!
House after renovation, south side
Frontage on Prince Street
West side, after renovation, with porch and red-painted wall
The porch, west side