Delaware View House, Delaware Water Gap National Recreational
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cifre* oi&oi U S n o ti c z L9-0/IÒUS7O HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT DELAWARE VIEW HOUSE Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Prepared for: THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Bushkill, Pennsylvania Prepared by: FORD FAREWELL MILLS AND GATSCH, ARCHITECTS Princeton, New Jersey March, 1994 THE DE REMER HOUSE TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Preface List of Figures iv PART I HISTORICAL DATA Hunter Research, Inc. A. History of the Old Mine Road/U. S. Route 206/Montague Township 1-1 B. Construction Date and History of Ownership 1-4 of the De Remer House C. Significance of the Owners in the Community 1-5 PART II ARCHITECTURAL DATA A. General Description Site and Exterior n-i B. Exterior Description and Condition II-2 C. Interior Description and Condition 1. a. Basement Description and Condition H-6 b. Basement Plan H-6a 2. a. First Floor Description and Condition n-7 b. First Floor Plan H-21a 3. a. Second Floor Description and Condition n-22 b. Second Floor Plan n-36a 4. a. Attic Description and Condition n -37 b. Roof Plan H-54a PART in STRUCTURAL DATA DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION Harrison-Hamnett, Consulting Engineer Page A. Basement III-1 B. First Floor IU-2 C. Second Floor III-3 D. Attic HI-4 PART IV RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS A. Preservation Philosophy IV-1 B. Preservation Recommendations and Cost Estimate 1. Sitework IV-2 2. Exterior IV-3 3. Interior IV-5 C. Additional Room-by-Room Recommendations IV-9 D. Recommendations for Use IV-15 E. Recommended Areas for Further Study IV-15 FIGURES V-l APPENDICES Appendix A - Chain of Title Appendix B - HABS Drawings* Appendix C - 1. Map of Sussex County, 1860 2. Topographical Map of the Delaware River Basin/ Tocks Island Reservoir *To be provided by the National Park Service 3. Real Estate Map of the Tocks Island Reservoir and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, 1968 BIBLIOGRAPHY PREFACE This Historic Structure Report is designed to assist the National Park Service and future lessees of the Delaware View House with making informed decisions regarding the building’s future. Site visits were made in October 1993. At that time the house had been mothballed by the National Park Service for a number of years. Although some information was acquired regarding periods of ownership, no concrete evidence was found which could absolutely date any of the sections of the building. As often is the case in research such as this, there will be no clear or absolute answer to the questions of Who built it?, What did it look like?, and When was it built? Where possible, due to the evidence of construction habits or details typical to a particular period, likely dates of construction have been attributed. Most recommendations suggest restoring elements to their original configuration and finish. However, to some degree, the avenue of interpretation chosen and subsequent improvements to the building will hinge on the use the National Park Service assigns to the building. It is of urgent importance that the Delaware View House be stabilized immediately. If it is allowed to languish in its current state it is likely to be considered beyond repair and will eventually collapse. At present the building should be considered dangerous. Access should be extremely limited and should be restricted only to those individuals who need admission in order to provide services for the building. Individuals are to be informed of building's condition before entering. The ideal solution is to go beyond stabilization to actual repair/restoration and to have the building occupied. As long as the building is unoccupied it will continue to be a liability and a hazard. The first section of the report provides a general background of the Walpack Township area followed by specific information on the Delaware View House and the significance of the families who occupied it. The second section addresses the description and condition of the building elements. The interior of the house is described in a room by room basis. Floor plans are found at the end of the description of each floor. The third section provides a description and condition of the house from a structural standpoint. The fourth section provides recommendations and estimation of probable costs. Figures are found following the text. Supporting information such as chain of title and maps is located in the Appendix. ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK Four methodologies were used in the course of this work: Graphic Documentation Field photographs were taken and simple measured drawings of the building plans were prepared to gain a more complete architectural understanding of the building. l 2. Historical (Documentary) Research The necessary historical background information was gathered, with the emphasis placed on assembling data directly relevant to the existing structure and its development. Most of this information was taken from primary sources. 3. On-Site Physical Investigation An on-site examination of the building fabric was conducted to obtain an understanding of the building's development and its physical condition, including structure, finishes and building systems. 4. Report Compilation The findings from the physical investigation and the documentary research were recorded in written form and synthesized in the report. CREDITS The preparation of a historic structure report depends on the cooperation and assistance of many individuals and agencies. We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of Robert Williams and Leonard Peck of the Walpack Historical Society and the staff of the Sussex County Courthouse, Sussex County Historical Society, and Sussex County Library. In addition we would like to thank Mr. Thomas Solon and his staff at the National Park Service for their assistance in making the building accessible. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT The purpose of this historic structure report is: 1. To document and clearly illustrate the historical and physical evidence found in researching the building, in order to establish original and subsequent appearance with respect to plan, elevation, and finishes. 2. To document the present state of the building's architectural materials, overall structural stability and support systems. 3. To complete a detailed architectural description of the building as found, to become a part of the building's permanent archival record. li 4. To identify areas of the building’s physical fabric where change can or should occur, and conversely, where change should not occur, and to establish priorities for restoration. Finally, the following personnel of the firm Ford Farewell Mills and Gatsch, Architects and its consultants carried out the work of this report. Partner-in-Charge Michael J. Mills, AIA Project Manager Matthew S. Chalifoux, AIA Project Architects Karen Sargent Jennifer A. Stark, AIA Historical Consultant Hunter Research Inc. Michael Tompkins, Historian Structural Engineer Harrison-Hamnett, P.C. John Harrison, P.E. Word Processing Betty Bowers in DELAWARE VIEW HOUSE LIST OF FIGURES List of Figures Figure # 1 West Elevation 2 North Elevation 3 East Elevation 4 South Elevation 5 Building Chronology 6 Historic View Taken from the South 7 Early Section A Roof Enclosed in Attic 8 Porch Eave on South Elevation 9 Profile of Door Trim, Section A, South Elevation 10 Northwest Comer of Porch 11 View from under South Eave of Porch 12 Room #101, Entry Hall 13 Front Door Stored in Room #102 14 Profile of Type B Door and Window Architrave Molding 15 Room #102, South Wall. 16 Room #102, Ceiling; View to East 17 Room #102; North Wall 18 Room #102; West Wall 19 Profile of Type B Wood Baseboard 20 Profile of Type A Wood Baseboard 21 Room #103, Deteriorated Baseboard and Wall; East Wall 22 Room #104; Door to #101. Baseboard Type A and Type B 23 Room #104; Door to Room #101 24 Room #104; North Wall 25 Room #104; Type AWindow 26 Room #104; Type B Baseboard 27 Room #105; South Wall 28 Room #105; Beaded Board Ceiling 29 Room #105; East Wall 30 Room #106; Door to Room #107 31 Room #106; Door to Room #107 32 Room #106; Window 33 Profile of Type C Wood Baseboard 34 Room #106; Type C Baseboard 35 Profile of Type A Door and Window Architrave Molding 36 Room #107; South Wall 37 Room #107 38 Room #107; Door Opening to Basement Stair 39 Room #107; Cupboard in Northwest Comer 40 Room #107; Fireplace on East Wall 41 Room #107; Winder Stair 42 Room #201; Baseboard - Type A and Type B tv 43 Room #202 44 Room 203; Painted Beaverboard Ceiling 45 Room 209; Missing Floor Boards 46 Room 212; Built-in Comer Table 47 Room #217; Stone Chimney 48 Room 001; Concrete Masonry Piers 49 Porch Floor Joist Supported by Wood Ledger 50 Porch Floor Joists Bearing on Porch Wall 51 Porch, West Wall 52 Porch Rubble Foundation Wall 53 Porch Rubble Foundation Wall 54 #002; Wood Girders Supported by Stone Piers 55 #002; Wood Girders Supported by CMU Piers 56 #002; Wood Post Supporting Floor Joists 57 #002; Damaged South Wall of Building 58 Displaced Foundation Stones 59 Wood Sill Plate at East Wall 60 Rotted Beam Outside East Wall 61 Room #104; Second Floor Joists 62 Room #104; Second Floor Joists 63 Loose Tile Flooring on Second Floor 64 Attic, Wood Purlins Supported by Wood Posts v HISTORICAL DATA PART I PARTI Historical Data A. History of Old Mine Road/Walpack Township The current township of Walpack is located in the southwestern comer of Sussex County. Walpack was recognized as a municipal entity within Hunterdon County as early as 1731. In 1739 it was set off to Morris County, when that county was created, and then in 1753 it was included within the newly formed county of Sussex.