Central Passage in Virginia: Evolution of an 18thC Living Space Mark Wenger

Work Mesick-Cohen-Wilson-Baker- Architects Williamsburg, Va Office Mark R Wenger Mennonite College-BA Uva M.A. in Architectural History Colonial Williamsburg ?

Scratch bibliography for Mark R. Wenger "Architecture of West Feliciana, : Its Beginnings and Its Sources." "Reconstruction of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia." [microform]. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, "Westover, William Byrd's mansion reconsidered." M.A. Thesis. University of Virginia, "The Central Passage in Virginia: Evolution of an Eighteenth-Century Living Space." Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, II. Camille Wells, ed. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press for the Vernacular Architecture Forum, Pp "The Dining Room in Early Virginia." Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, III. Thomas Carter and Bernard L. Herman, eds. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, Pp ed. The English Travels off Sir John Percival and William Byrd II: the Percival diary of Columbia: University of Missouri Press, "Thomas Jefferson, Tenant." Winterthur Portfolio 26, No. 4 (Winter, 1991): "Gender and the Eighteenth-Century Meal." In A Taste of the Past: Early Foodways of the Albemarle Sound Region, Ed. by James C. Jordan. Elizabeth City: The Museum of the Albemarle, "Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia State Capitol." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 101 (January, 1993): "Mr. and Mrs. Randolph's House Revisited." The Interpreter, March "The Benjamin Powell House." The Interpreter, (August 1993). "Carter's Grove: The Story of a Virginia Plantation." Williamsburg, VA: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, "Investigations at the Brush-Everard House." The Interpreter, March "Thomas Jefferson, the College of William and Mary, and the University of Virginia." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 103, No. 3 (July, 1995): with Chappell, Edward A."Fiske Kimball and Colonial Williamsburg." Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Research Review 6, No. 1 (1995/1996): "Jefferson's Designs for Remodeling the Governor's Palace." Winterthur Portfolio 32, No. 4 (Winter, 1997): "Boomtown: Williamsburg in the Eighteenth Century." In Williamsburg, Virginia: A City Before the State, Ed. by Robert Maccubbin. Williamsburg: The City of Williamsburg, 2000, with Graham, Willie and Edward Chappell. “Cole Digges house: a historic structure report.” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.(2004).

Goals Development of the central passage –From passage –Summer hall –Saloon Importance: resulted in realignment of the dwelling’s traditional spatial hierarchy.

Thomas Nelson, York Co, 1719

Prior to the Passage 17 th Wealthy planters lived in houses with only two ground floor rooms –Hall –Parlor or chamber Why no discussion of the entry? Notes suggest heavy reliance on Dell Upton’s article.

New spaces in 18 th century Quotes Dell Upton “new components were added.” –Central passage –Dining room Hall represented the social authority of the planter. Access made selective by the new central passage through which visitors had to pass.

Cabell House, Nelson Co, 1784

Impact of Double Pile plan More dramatic impact of passage. Passage holds more furnishings Used for living space, during summer months

George Mason added an iron stove to the passage.

New identity changes use Increased decorative details Remove stairs

Separate identity no stair

Passage to Saloon Isolate space and add height. Eliminate Hall and make Parlor best room Dining declines in importance

Mount Airy, the passage becomes the saloon, hall is replaced by new parlor

Tazewell Hall, Saloon

Gentry focus on English Effect of sending children to England to school More familiar with trends in English manor house design.

Increasing attention to English trends

Social life and private life separate Ground floor conforms to stylish conventions Upper floor retains passage as circulation space.

Independence of first and second floors

New informality passage and garden Special furniture for passage (hallway) Windsor chairs, hard seats not for long sitting. Can be taken out into the garden.

Windsor chairs as a studied informality