Asher Benjamin’s West Church: A Model for Change

NANCY S. VOYE

hysical deterioration and inade- Benjamins’ first major commission in quate space motivated the West . Not only is the West Church P Boston Society to make the follow- central to a study of Asher Benjamin as a ing decision to replace the original church stage in his architectural career in Boston, structure, which had been built in 1737: but also as a model which Benjamin That on a view of the situation and size proposed for adoption by other builders. of the present building they are of the In his first edition of The American opinion, that should the Society cause Builders’ Companion, published in 1806, those repairs to be made, which are absolutely necessary for its preservation, Benjamin included sketches of the front or these alterations and additions, which facade of the Church, its floor plan, roof its size may be capable of admitting of structure, and pulpit design (Figures 1 future accomodation. such Expenditures and 2). In addition, Benjamin furnished would prove burthensome without at- the following description of the West taining those objects for which they would be made. Your Committee are Church: therefore of the Opinion that the present The size of the house is seventy five feet House be taken down, and another square, porch twenty by forty six feet; to erected upon the Land of the Society in a contain one hundred and twelve pews more extensive plan. ’ on the lower floor. The gallery is sup- ported by columns of the Composite The Building Committee commissioned order, as laid down in this book.* Asher Benjamin as their architect and appropriated up to $20,000 for the con- In The American Builders’ Companion struction of the Church. If the demands Benjamin also provided explicit informa- for structural soundness and adequate tion and sketches regarding the execution space were the two major justifications and position of columns, windows, and cited by the West Boston Society for their other architectural details. The exterior of decision of 1805, did Benjamins’ plan for the West Church conforms to his theories the new West Church incorporate these regarding proportion and combination of two considerations in it? orders. According to Benjamins’ descrip- The young architect whom the West tion of the Church, the size of the Boston Society had chosen had been born cornices is determined by the height of in Hartland, Connecticut, in 1773. Prior to the building; and the Doric order of the coming to Boston in 1803, Benjamin had third story of the porch and the Ionic designed many houses and buildings in order of the cupola are faithful executions the Valley, including of his theory.) Likewise, in the interior, the wooden Old South Church in Wind- the composite order of the columns sor, Vermont, in 1798. In the 1803 Boston supporting the gallery and the cornice City Directory, Benjamin is listed as a detail reflect Benjamins’ sensitivity to “housewright”; the West Church was to be proportion and scale.

7 8 Old- Time

FIG. 1. FLOOR PLAN AND FRONT ELEVATION, WEST CHURCH, from Asher Benjamin’s The American Builder> Companion, 1806. (PhotoSPNEA.)

At the same time that the West Church and wooden details, Bulfinch’s New is a model of those architectural principles North Church was a prototype for the that Benjamin delineated in his guide- West Church. book, it is also proof of Bultinch’s influ- In his execution of his plan for the West ence on his architectural style. The light- Church, Benjamin used a combination of ness and delicacy of detail in Bulfinch’s brick, wood, and stone to give substance architecture are also characteristic of Ben- to the Bulfinch-influenced neo-classical jamin’s design. Like Bulfmch’s Church of details. The brick exterior is Flemish the Holy Cross, built in Boston between bond, with the exception of the rear 1800 and 1803, the West Church was facade, where the later addition of a designed with a cupola and front facade chimney and some minor repairs are of with three doors. The antecedents of irregular and lessexpensive English bond. Benjamin’s architectural style can also be The lightness of the wooden details on the traced to Bulfinch’s New North Church, exterior, the urns, cupola, swags, and built in Boston between 1802 and 1804. cornices, many of which were rendered in In its scale and in its cupola, tower, tin in a later period, made it possible for projecting porch, roundheaded windows, Benjamin to combine functionalism with AsherBenjamin s’ West Church 9

In their meetings on proposed changes in the West Church following its comple- tion in 1806, the West Boston Society acknowledged and respected Benjamins’ application of his architectural theories in the Church. On December 8, 1806, the Society voted “that it is of importance to preserve a uniformity in the appearance of the House, and therefore that no person be permitted to put up on any window, a curtain, unless of the same colour and fashion of those already put up by the Corporation . . .15‘ In another debate of the Societys’ Committee on the question of whether the communion table and font could be raised, it decided in the affirmative provided that the alterations could “be done without destroying the Harmony of the work around the pulpit.“6 Benjamins’ The American Builders’ Com- FIG. 2. SECTION AND DETAILS, WEST panion was one means of disseminating CHURCH, from Asher Benjamins’ The Amer- his architectural theory; his buildings, ican Builders’ Companion, 1806. (Photo SPNEA.) such as the West Church, were also instructive examples of his architectural his neo-classical style - the ideal he ad- principles. The West Boston Societys’ vanced in the following essay: familiarity with Benjamins’ 1806 We are well aware the magnificent temples of ancient times still retain a guidebook cannot be determined; degree of romantic grandeur, which however, the Society’s votes on contem- would do honour to the present age. It plated changes in the Church suggest the will. at the same time, be readily ac- extent to which Benjamins’ theories fil- knowledged, that an exact imitation of tered down to the lay population. those noble productions of former times, on account of the present expense of Though the Society had evinced a materials and labour, would require no reluctance to disrupt what they perceived common degree of opulence for their as the harmony of the elements in completion; and, indeed, a strict Benjamins’ design, it was not similarly conformity to the orders of Architecture seems to be demanded in the construc- inhibited when it decided to raise the roof tion of public buildings only, and other in 1823. In his 1806 edition of The of immense magnitude; in such situa- American Builders’ Companion, Benjamin tions they have a most noble and described and included a sketch of the majestic appearance; but in private buildings, and others of less magnitude, roof structure which supports a dome their massy size and the expense attend- ceiling “of forty two feet in diameter, ing them, are little suited to our conve- which rises six feet.“’ However, an exam- nience and means of appropriation. A ination of the present roof structure principal part therefore of our design, in reveals that the roof has been raised this work, is to lighten their heavy parts, and thereby lessen the expense both of approximately forty-two inches, with the labour and materials.4 holes for the original purlins still visible 10 Old- Time New England

FIG. 3. INTERIOR FRONT WALL OF WEST CHURCH, ABOVE THE CEILING. Note the original roof line and purlin holes. (Photo by William W. Owens, Jr.)

FIG. 4. KING POST (left) AND QUEEN FIG. 5. DETAIL OF BUILDER’S NUM- POSTS (right), WEST CHURCH. (Photo by BERS, ON ROOF FRAME TIMBERS, WEST William W. Owens, Jr.) CHURCH. (Photo by William W. Owens, Jr.) AsherBenjamin s’ WestChurch (Figure 3). The difference between the “exhibit a Plan and the probableex- 1806 and 1823 roof trussesis striking. The pensesof the same.” Accept Sumner’s plan 1806 truss system employed only one August 3, 1823 - for the ceiling and ask him to make queen post to each side of the king post, suggestionsregarding the roof. and its component parts were held to- August 26, 1823 - Draw up a contract gether by iron bolts (Figure 2). In con- with Messieurs Shaw, Dunbar, and trast, the 1823 truss system is composed Downing to repair the roof? of a king post with two queen posts on According to the above accounts, the each side; early nineteenth century num- Committee may have made minor repairs bers distinguish those elements of the on the roof prior to raising it in 1823. truss system which are to be joined to However, a significant and complete each other (Figures 4 and 51. Additional change in the truss system was under- evidence of the 1823 alteration of the roof taken when Shaw and Dunbar raised the can be found by examination of the rear roof; the Church financial accounts list a wall of the Church. The demarcation payment of $4,500 to them for this between the 1806 and 1823 roofs is made project.‘O It can be inferred from the visible by the smaller size and less regular above records of the Committee that the shape of the handmade 1806 bricks. identification of a structural weakness in Why did the Society vote in 1823 to the roof system necessitatedthe raising of proceed with the expensive and time- the roof in 1823 and that changes were consuming job of raising the roof? made in the ceiling, as well as in the roof. Church records reveal that as early as Unfortunately, Benjamin does not expand 1808, two years after the erection of the on his description of the original ceiling; Church, the West Boston Society estab- but the guilloche, the petal design, and lished “a Committee to Cause such re- sunken panels distinguishing the new and pairs and alterations to be made in the present ceiling are characteristic of an Dome of the Ceiling as in their Opinion early nineteenth century style. the Safety of the Same requires . . .“* No It is interesting that Thomas Sumner actual changes were made in the roof should have been appointed to draw up system until 1823, but the following plans for the repair of the ceiling and roof. accounts of the West Boston Society By 1823, Sumner had become well known Committee prove that the safety of the in the Boston builders’ community by roof was a continuing concern, though virtue of his leadership of the Mas- not one requiring immediate attention sachusettsCharitable Mechanics Associa- until 1823: tion and the Society of Associated House- October 30, 1808 - Consult and employ wrights of Boston.ii Not only was Sumner a carpenter, if necessary,to “secure the a wise choice on the part of the West roof.” Boston Society because of his reputation December 2, 1811- Arrangea contract as a builder, but also because of his for the repair of the roof. familiarity with Benjamin’s work. In con- July 29, 1818 - Examine the roof to junction with two other housewrights, determine if it warrants repair. Sumner issued the following prefatory December 4, 1821 - Vote that the roof recommendation of Benjamin’s 1806 edi- must be repaired. tion of The American Builder5 Companion: July 30, 1823 - Delegate Mr. Thomas Sumner to examine the roof, reporton Having been chosen a committee by the the feasibility of erecting a new roof, and government of the Boston Housewright 12 Old- Time New England

Society, to examine the proofsheets of a edition of the same guidebook, in which new book you were publishing, entitled, he reproduced the 181 I truss system, “The American Builders’ Companion; Benjamin made particular mention of the or a New System of Architecture:” and being satisfied that work of this kind has success of this model for spanning long been much wanted, and that yours is distances.14 Benjamins’ decision to elimi- better calculated to assist the American nate the 1806 model from subsequent builder than any that has come within guidebooks is relevant not only to a study our knowledge, we therefore do not hesitate to say, we shall cordially recom- of the roof structure of the West Church, mend it whenever we have it in our but also to the history of his guidebooks power.t2 and their influence. If Benjamins’ books Sumner and his associates were well “spread the Bulfinch and Benjamin inter- aware of the significance of Benjamins’ pretation of the Adamesque to the coun- guidebook for other builders; likewise, tryside beyond Boston,” his design for the Benjamin conceived of it as a testing West Church and its roof may have had ground for his architectural models. In the an impact on subsequent church architec- following preface, Benjamin explains ture.15 some of his reasons for having eliminated Benjamins’ omission of the 1806 truss some of the plates in his 1806 edition of system from later editions of his book The American Builders’ Comparliort from his may have been due to its lack of popu- 181 I edition: Five years have elapsed since the first publication of the American Builder; during which time I have been constant- ly employed in drawing and executing plans for buildings. The experience of that time enables me to confirm some, and reject other former methods.” Significantly, while the West Churchs’ front facade and floor plan are reproduced in the 181 I edition, the roof elevation of the Church has been omitted in the second edition. In this 1811 edition, Benjamin again responds to the problem of supporting a dome ceiling; but he now proposes an entirely different model than that which he represented in his 1806 guidebook. In the 1806 model, the king and queen posts are framed into a single, horizontal tie beam (Figure 2); in the 181 I modified scissor truss system, the tie beam is formed from two timbers that meet at an angle at the king post (Figure 6). In both the first and second editions of FIG. 6. PLANS FOR A ROOF SUPPORT- his guidebook, Benjamin emphasized the ING A DOMED CEILING, from Asher Ben- criterion of functionalism in the creation jamins’ The American Builders’ Componion. I827 and publication of his models. In his 1827 edition. (Photo SPNEA.) AsherBenjamin s’ WestChurch 13

FIG. 7. DETAIL OF TIE BEAM, SHOWING SCARF JOINT AND IRON STRAP, WEST CHURCH. (Photo by William W. Owens, Jr.)

larity or its structural failure. Benjamins’ span; instead. two timbers are joined by a inexperience in brick construction must bladed scarf joint, which is five feet in be acknowledged. Benjamins’ design for length and secured by a six foot iron bolt the Old South Church in Windsor, Ver- (Figure 7). The bladed scarfjoints and the mont, in 1798, had been executed in numbering and lettering of matching roof wood; therefore, Benjamin may not have members have much earlier precedents in fully accounted for the stress imposed seventeenth century English and Amer- upon the roof system by the heavier ican framing. However, the style of the materials used in the construction of the letters and numbers clearly dates the roof West Church. to the early nineteenth century (Figure Even without the complete alteration of 5). its roof structure in 1823, the West Not only is there a variety in the Church would be an interesting, as well as methods of joining units, but also in the an informative, model of early nineteenth sawing techniques. Examples of pit sawn, century building techniques. The tie hand hewn and up and down sawn beams are not a single piece of timber timbers are found in the roof structure stretching across the seventy-five foot (Figures 4 and 8). The haphazard pattern 14 Old- Time New England

of saw marks slashing across the surface of the wood of the queen posts are characteristic of pit sawing (Figure 8). The split in the lower end of this queen post suggests that the post was pit sawn up to this point and was then split the rest of the way. After the raising of the roof in 1823, various minor changes and repairs con- tinued to alter the appearance of the Churchs’ interior and exterior. In 1824 the West Boston Committee voted to erect a new pulpit.t6 The curvilinear and decorative design of the new pulpit was stylistically compatible with the detail work of the new ceiling, as well as with the original ornament and orders of Benjamins’ execution of the interior (Fig- ure 9). In the course of the nineteenth century, repairs were made on the roof and chimney, and the windows in the wall FIG. 8. DETAIL OF QUEEN POST, SHOW- behind the pulpit were bricked up. Fur- ING PIT SAW MARKS. (Photo by William W. Owens, Jr.1

FIG. 9. DR. BARTOL IN THE PULPIT AT WEST CHURCH. (Photo SPNEA.) Asher Benjamins’ West Church 15 thet reinforcement of the building struc- have been critical, at least at first. The ture was undertaken when the West necessity of a complete alteration of the Boston Society sold the Church to the City roof system must be considered in rela- of Boston in 1896. The Church served as a tion to Asher Benjamin’s reputation as a branch of the Boston Public Library until pioneer in the field of architectural en- it was bought by the Methodist Church in gineering. Benjamin’s inclusion of the 1960. roof elevation of the West Church in his Change in both the ownership and the 1806 edition of The American Builders’ structure of the West Church charac- Companion may have had ramifications for terized the history of the building. The other New England buildings, which had roof system of the West Church appar- been built under the influence of Ben- ently contained within it certain structural jamin’s popular guidebook. However, problems which necessitatedmajor repair Benjamin’s model of a new truss system and change. The time which elapsed in his 1811 edition of his guidebook between the West Boston Committee’s demonstrated his ability to test and recog- initial investigation into the “Safety” of nize the shortcomings of his earlier mod- the dome of the ceiling in 1808 and their els and subsequently, to conceive of new decision to raise the roof in 1823 implies solutions to previously unresolved archi- that the weakness in the ceiling may not tectural problems.

NOTES t West Boston Society Records, 1805, Society 1804-1837: A Brief History, with Biographical for the Preservation of New England Antiq- Sketches of the Members” (an unpublished uities (SPNEA). research project, Boston University, 1973). * Asher Benjamin and Daniel Raynerd, The p. 63. American Builders S Companion: or, a New System t* Thomas Sumner, Jonathan Loring, and of Archhecture; Particularly Adapted to the Present James Butler, “Recommendation” in The Amer- Style of Building (Boston: Etheridge & Bliss, ican Builders Companion; or, a New Sysiem oj 18061,p. 60. Archirecture; Particularly Adapred IO the Presenr 3 Ibid., p. 60. Style of Building by Asher Benjamin and Daniel Raynerd (Boston: Etheridge & Bliss, 1806). 4 Benjamin and Raynerd, 1806 edition, p. vi. t3 Asher Benjamin, The American Builders 5 Recordsof the Committee of the West Boston Companion; or, a New System of Architecture; Societv Corooration. December 8, 1806, P. 4, Particularly Adapted to the Present Style oj ’ Boston Pubiic Library (BPLJ. Building (Charlestown: Samuel Etheridge, 6 Recordsof the Committee of the West Boston 1811), p. iii. Society, April 6, 1807, p. 7, BPL. t4 Asher Benjamin, The American Builders’ ’ Benjamin and Raynerd, 1806 edition, p. 60. Companion; or, a New System of Architecture; 8 Recordsof the Committee of the West Boston Particularly Adapted IO the Presenr Style oj Society, February 14, 1808, p. 11, BPL. Building. Ed. William Morgan, 6th ed. (1827, 9 Recordsof the Committee of the West Boston reorinted New York: Dover Publications,Inc., Society, October 30, 1808-August26, 1823, pp. 1969), p. 78. 16-68, BPL. ts Benjamin, Ed. William Morgan, 6th ed., to West BostonSociety Records, December 20, p. vii. 1823, SPNEA. t6 Records of the Committee of the West tt Gerald Ward, “The Society of Associated BostonSociety, August 3, 1824, p. 75, BPL. Housewrights of the Town of Boston, 16 Old- Time New England

FIG. 1. MR. ISAAC SMITH, oil on canvas by John SingletonCopley, 1769.40 l/8 by 50 l/8 inches, excluding frame. (Courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery; Gift of Maitland Fuller Griggs.)