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An Architectural Summary of Franklin Court and Benjamin Franklin's House
by
Penelope Hartshorne Batcheler Division of Historic Architecture Office of Archeology & Historic Preservation National Park Service
Sept. 18, 1969 This report is an architectural summary of the available docu mentary and archeological facts related to the physical appearance of
Franklin Court, in Independence National Historical Park. It includes a conjectural plot plan of the Court, and conjectural floor plans of Benjamin
Franklin's own house which stood in the middle of the Court. Written on these plans at the appropriate location are quotes from the documentation gathered so far by the National Park Service Historians and Archeologists.
Three particularly valuable documentary sources have been included in facsimile for handy reference: two l8th century sketches of the first and second floor plans of Franklin's house, and the Philadelphia Contributionship
Fire Insurance Survey of the house made in 1766.
I was asked in March 1969, hy the Office of Archeology and Historic
Preservation, Division of Historic Architecture, to represent them on a team to investigate whether the known data would indicate that a reasonably ac curate reconstruction of the Franklin Court complex was possible.
To present an objective architectural summary of what we know about
Franklin Court, I found it essential to also suggest what we don't know.
There is a tantalizing quantity of pertinent description which has survived in correspondence, and in the enclosed survey and sketches. For example, the surveyor's mention of "A Rich Chimney peice" indicates the relative position of the Franklin House "Old Dining Room" in the rank of elegance of Philadelphia Architecture. But such a description falls far short of indicating the very form of the architectural element. The design of this chimney piece must, from the standpoint of an architect in the Branch of Restorations, be listed as an unknown. All such ’’unknowns" have been in cluded with the annotated "known" facts on the drawing to which they pertain.
\ I hasten to add that even these rudimentary conjectural plans are subject to personal interpretation, and never will be otherwise unless further historical or archeological documentation can be more definitive.
On the plot plan (sheet No. l) I have indicated areas where ad ditional archeological investigations should be made. These are areas which have possibly been undisturbed since 1812 when the Franklin structures were torn down; yet were not available to be included in the 1953 and 1981-2 NP3 archeological investigation programs.
It has been a great pleasure to be assigned, to this team. The
Historians and Archeologists, who have assembled the material which I have drawn upon, have had their reward for the good job they did in the fasci nating pursuit. My pleasure has not only been the challenge of the jig-saw puzzle aspect of putting together the plans, but of course the pleasure of reading these delightful hints to Franklin’s family life.
Conclusions and Recommendations
My personal answer to the question assigned: whether the known data would indicate that a reasonably accurate reconstruction of the
Franklin Court complex was possible -- is, no.
Anyone's answer to this question must relate to that individual's standards or aspirations for presenting Benjamin Franklin to people.
In facing the unknowns and what would be called for if a recon struction were attempted, I am overwhelmed with the conjectural decisions which would have to be made by the architect.
2 Let us consider "A Rich Chimney peice" in the "old Dining Room,"
even when it is in fact further modified by presumably being flanked by
"fluted Collums & half pilasters with intabliture." When the architect
has conjecturally decided how high the ceilings might have been, and fixed
a possible dimension for the width of the room, he must then choose a size
for the fireplace openings, and then a possible width for the chimney masonry mass. Having done this, he would perhaps turn to architectural books which may have been owned by the l8th century architect Robert Smith, who may have dictated the design of such important elements in the house.
And from these books he could choose a plate which shows possibly three
chimney pieces. The question then to be asked would be -- which of the
three might the l8th century Robert Smith have chosen for Banjamin Franklin's dining room? Having made this choice, he would then start sketching to see how this choice would fit with the chosen dimensions, and how it would com
pose with fluted engaged flat (or possibly round?) columns, with half pi
lasters flanking them, and all under a full entablature of an architectural
order of his choice.
And when he has made all these basic decisions, there are a myriad
of other decisions of construction methods, moulding profiles and the carving which probably made the insurance surveyor add the adjective "Rich."
The aspect of this process which in my opinion would make a recon
struction of Franklin's house unreasonable, is the extreme degree to which
the assigned architect's choice would enter the project. Based on the
architect's knowledge of the local l8th century building practices, the
house would be an amalgam of Delaware Valley l8th century architecture.
3 I personally would not want to commit to three dimensional materials, and ostensibly a factual presentation, that which I knew was a selection of numerous conjectural alternatives.
More appropriate in my opinion, would be a treatment of Franklin
Court which states only what we know in three dimensional materials, yet includes a presentation of all of Franklin's enlightened life through other media.
Would it be more effective to present within the preserved and reconstructed shells of the Market Street houses, those objects, etc. which illustrate the varied facets of his life, displayed in spaces which would be used by the visitor as an introduction to a two dimensional celluloid and sound, 1970's portrayal of the man: his life in Franklin Court and
Philadelphia, but also his life as it extended in ideas and deeds across the world and forward in time to us?
Physically such a presentation could be within a structure attached to the Market Street houses straddling Franklin's 1787 passageway, yet allowing the passageway to freely enter the Courtyard as always.
Without literal attempt, Franklin's garden could be respected by the use of Plane trees, flowering shrubs and "a very large Mulberry."
And on the house site itself could be presented a model of our con jectural idea of the original Franklin Court, surrounded with an exhibit of artifacts and documentation pertaining to the Court and house, and shafts which would allow the visitor to look down at the few intelligeable archeo logical survivals.
4 r
I think that with such a presentation the visitor could exit to
Chestnut Street feeling fullfilled -- having been inspired with the un believable scope of this man's life, and having been elated by the close
"touch" of the honest presentation of that which we know to have been his.
I 5 Sketch Plan of the First Floor of Benjamin Franklin's House, pre - 1786
Franklin Papers, Vol. Uk, pt. 1 , p. 110 American Philosophical Society Library
Ink sketch on back of a laid paper letter addressed "To Doctor F." [Franklin] from John Huske (a Bostonian and subsequently a member of Parliament) on a political subject, written £.1766 [opinion of APS MSS Librarian Mr. Murphy Smith].
Franklin probably drew the sketch, as the ink writing immediately above it is his hand. The unusual upper case B has similar elaborations to those of a French stencil set owned by Franklin and now deposited at the American Philosophical Society.
The original sketch was full size 1 13/16" E-W dimension x 2 l/l6" N-S dimension.
Independence National Historical Park negative No. 7826. 7
Sketch Plan of the Second Floor of Benjamin Franklin's House, pre - 1786
Franklin papers, Vol. 66, p. 12*4- ■American Philosophical Society Library
Pencil sketch on back of a laid paper receipt written by Benjamin Franklin in ink:
"Receiv'd May 17, 17oL of Benjamin Franklin, Eleven Pounds for Four Reams of Money Paper at 55/pr Ream -»_. P me / £11.0.0 ^ [Signature] Jacob [Gagy]."
Franklin probably drew this sketch. He was in Philadelphia when he wrote the receipt. As there would have been no reason for him to take the receipt with him when he departed in Nov. 7 , 176i+ for England, we can say that he probably drew the plan sometime between May and November 176*4-.
The original sketch was full size 1 6 3/8 '' square.
Independence National Historical Park negative No. 7827. 1 *
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