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Architecture As a Portrait of Circumstance: the Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh

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Architecture As a Portrait of Circumstance: the Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 1990 Architecture as a Portrait of Circumstance: The Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh Cynthia Anne Rose University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Rose, Cynthia Anne, "Architecture as a Portrait of Circumstance: The Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh" (1990). Theses (Historic Preservation). 437. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/437 Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Rose, Cynthia Anne (1990). Architecture as a Portrait of Circumstance: The Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/437 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Architecture as a Portrait of Circumstance: The Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh Disciplines Historic Preservation and Conservation Comments Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Rose, Cynthia Anne (1990). Architecture as a Portrait of Circumstance: The Restoration Career of George Edwin Brumbaugh. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/437 UNIVERSnYy* PENNSYLVANIA UBKARIES ARCHITECTURE AS A PORTRAIT OF CIRCUMSTANCE: THE RESTORATION CAREER OF GEORGE EDWIN BRUMBAUGH Cynthia Anne Rose A THESIS in The Graduate Program in Historic Preservation Presented to the faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE 1990 Preservation, Advisor George E , '^OTias, Ph.D. , Lecturer, Historic X^^-^'<^'^^a^>^-»-^-^a- ^^- /^ Marianna M. Thomas, AIA, Lecturer, Historic Preservation, Reader J...^ I i^f\ 0^ jhi^ ijil oi.^ UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARIES . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks are due to George E. Thomas who has taken a deep interest in this project and has given freely of his time and insights. Thanks are also in order for Marianna Thomas who has shared observations based on her experience with several of Brumbaugh's projects. During the course of the year, it was necessary to make frequent use of the G. Edwin Brumbaugh Archive at Winterthur Museum. I would like to thank Richard McKinstry for his cooperation in making this collection accessible I would also like to thank John Milner for sharing his knowledge of the work of Brumbaugh and for assisting me with various aspects of my research. A special thanks to Anita Schorsch who spoke to me at great length about her dear friend, Mr. Brumbaugh. Particularly valuable was the knowledge of Timothy Noble who shared several observations and insights. Finally, I wish to thank Roger Mower for his kind assistance with my research on Pottsgrove Manor. CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS iv INTRODUCTION 1 BIOGRAPHY 3 THEORIES AND TECHNIQUES 9 CASE STUDIES 16 Pottsgrove Manor 18 Ephrata Cloister 27 Second Street Market 45 Fallsington 60 A COMPARISON OF BRUMBAUGH AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES ... 70 CONCLUSION 86 BIBLIOGRAPHY 87 . LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1) Pottsgrove Manor - front facade. Courtesy of Pottsgrove Manor. 2) Ephrata - Saron and Saal . Collection of George E. Thomas, Clio Group, Inc. 3) Ephrata - Beissel Cabin and Original Bake-House, South Elevation, Ephrata Cloisters. Prepared by G. Edwin Brumbaugh. Sheet No. 12. January 17, 1948. 4) Ephrata - Beissel Cabin and Original Bake-House, East Elevation, Ephrata Cloisters. Prepared by G. Edwin Brumbaugh. Sheet No. 12. January 17, 1948. 5) Ephrata - Saal, Prepared by G. Edwin Brumbaugh. Book of the School. George E. Thomas and Ann Strong, forthcoming. 6) Second Street Market - front elevation. Head House. Collection of George E. Thomas, Clio Group, Inc. 7) Second Street Market - Section Thru Shambles As Altered, Beginning 1809, To Provide 3 Main Aisles. Prepared by G. Edwin Brumbaugh. 1958. 8) Second Street Market - Preliminary Drawing, Complete First Floor Plan and Longitudinal Section, Prepared by G. Edwin Brumbaugh. February 4, 1958. 9) Second Street Market - Sections Thru Typical Base Courses. Prepared by G. Edwin Brumbaugh. 1958. 10) Fallsington - Moon-Williamson Log House, front facade 11) Fallsington - Stagecoach Tavern, front facade. 12) Fallsington - Schoolmaster's House, front facade. 13) Pennsbury Manor - front facade. 14) Pennsbury Manor - Manor House. Prepared by R. Brognard Okie. December 31, 1937. 15) Pennsbury Manor - Hardware. Prepared by R. Brognard Okie. December 31, 1937. 16) Old Economy Village - Great House, front elevation. Collection of George E. Thomas, Clio Group, Inc. 17) Old Economy Village - Plans - Elevations - Details, Old Economy Restoration - First Floor Plan. Prepared by Charles M. and Edward Stotz, Jr. Sheet GH 22. December 11, 1942. 18) Old Economy Village - Interior - Casings - Doors Bases - Chair Rails - Etc., Old Economy Restoration. Prepared by Charles M. and Edward Stotz, Jr. Sheet SI. December 11, 1942. 19) Old Economy Village - Mantel "Ml3" Room 203, Great House, Field Measurements, Old Economy. Prepared by Charles M. and Edward Stotz, Jr. Sheet G.H. 34. 20) Old Economy Village - Mantel Profile "Ml3" Room 203, Great House, Field Measurements, Old Economy. Prepared by Charles M. and Edward Stotz, Jr. Sheet G.H. 34. INTRODUCTION George Edwin Brumbaugh was a restoration architect whose career spanned sixty years. He is a significant figure in the field of preservation because his theories on authenticity, and his knowledge of historic building techniques helped revolutionize the field. Brumbaugh's theories were ahead of his time; the theories he was preaching fifty years ago, are still being practiced, with modifications today. The intentions of this thesis are to examine how Brumbaugh shaped and contributed to the field of preservation through his theories, techniques, and practices; to demonstrate the application of Brumbaugh's formal education on his process; and to show the development and progression of these theories, techniques and practices. Case studies were selected to demonstrate the progression of Brumbaugh's theories over the span of his career. The objective for the selection of these case studies was to cover a range of project types, and to choose projects where a substantial amount of information exists. These case studies cover four 10-year periods beginning in the 1940s, twenty years after the opening of his firm, and continuing to the end of his career in the 1980s, - 1 - . after nearly half a century of preservation work. In addition to these case studies, this thesis will also briefly compare Brumbaugh's theories to two other restoration architects of his period, Charles Stotz, the restoration architect of Old Economy Village in Western Pennsylvania, and R. Brognard Okie, the re-creator of High Street for the Susquicentennial and William Penn's manor, Pennsbury. This comparison is based on interviews with leading practitioners in the region, and my additional research, and is intended to situate Brumbaugh in relation to his contemporaries - 2 - BIOGRAPHY George Edwin Brumbaugh was born on August 27, 1890, and was raised in Western Pennsylvania, where he received early exposure to Pennsylvania German architecture from his German ancestors. When his father became the Superintendent of Philadelphia's schools, Brumbaugh attended Central High School, where he studied under William Gray. William Gray was a history teacher whose strong interest in architecture led him to write the first major essay on architecture in the City of Philadelphia. He would send many of his students to Penn, among them John 3 Harbeson and Harry Sternfeld. In 1913, Brumbaugh graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Architecture. He was a perfectionist as an architectural draftsman and a talented watercolorist and was asked to teach a course on watercolor rendering his senior year at the University. Brumbaugh's early work experience was with Mellor & Miegs and Charles Barton Keen, both offices specializing in historical revival domestic work. This is where Brumbaugh first practiced looking at historic detail which became the basis for his re-creations which were popular with early 20th century clients. Such skills would be useful in renovation - 3 - . and restoration as well. Brumbaugh's family supported him in his interests, particularly his father, Martin Grove Brumbaugh who would serve as Pennsylvania's governor from 1915-1919. It was a time when the public was again becoming aware of the State's history. Governor Brumbaugh gave much attention to the preservation of history and was instrumental in establishing the Pennsylvania Historical Commission. Brumbaugh's restoration work reflects a love of history which he no doubt acquired from his father. By 1916, having taken advantage of the opportunity presented by his father's position, G. Edwin Brumbaugh had established his own office. Until the Depression, he concentrated primarily on new construction. Scores of owners of private residences, more than a dozen churches, several schools, colleges, municipalities and other businesses
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