National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Historic Architecture Program Northeast Region Fort Jay Gate Governors Island National Monument New York, New York Historic Structure Report Draft Fort Jay Gate Historic Structure Report Governors Island National Monument New York, New York By Barbara A. Yocum, Architectural Conservator Historic Structure Research & Documentation Branch Historic Architecture, Conservation & Engineering Center Northeast Region, National Park Service Lowell, Massachusetts 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES and CREDITS ..........................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................xv I. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................3 ADMINISTRATIVE DATA .............................................................................8 II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ............................................................11 III. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY ..............................................................17 1795: FORT JAY GATE CONSTRUCTED....................................................... 19 Introduction ................................................................................................ 19 New York Commissioners of Fortifications ................................................. 19 Planning ..................................................................................................... 19 Charles and Joseph Mangin ...................................................................... 20 Construction ............................................................................................... 22 1798-1801: ADDITIONAL WORK ................................................................23 1806-09: FORT JAY PARTIALLY REBUILT ................................................30 1831 & 1834: LATER PLANS ......................................................................30 1830s: NEW GUARDHOUSE ......................................................................33 1856: BRIDGE REBUILT ..............................................................................39 1860s-70s: EARLY VIEWS and PLANS ......................................................39 1890-1900: MORE DETERIORATION ........................................................48 iii 1890-1913: LEGENDS OF THE GATE SCULPTURE .................................48 1903: GATE and SCULPTURE RESTORED ..............................................53 1920-21: NEW WINDOW WELLS at EAST BARRACK ...............................58 1934: RECORDING BY THE HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY (HABS) ...............................................................................58 1934-37: BRIDGE REPAIRS .......................................................................69 1938-39: GATE RENOVATIONS .................................................................69 1940: BUILDING INVENTORY ....................................................................69 1952: NEW BRIDGE and COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE ............................77 1966: DEPARTURE OF THE U.S. ARMY ...................................................80 1974: NATIONAL REGISTER LISTING ......................................................80 1976: SECOND PLAQUE INSTALLED .......................................................80 1982-83: HABS RETURNS .........................................................................80 1985: NATIONAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION ..........................................81 1992: MASONRY RESTORATION PLANS .................................................82 1996: NEW YORK HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT and DEPARTURE OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD ...................................83 2003: OWNERSHIP TRANSITION ..............................................................87 Preservation and Design Manual .......................................................87 National Park Service ........................................................................87 2005: HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT and PARK PROJECTS .............88 Fort Jay Historic Structure Report .............................................................. 88 New Gate Doors ........................................................................................ 88 Bridge Repaved ......................................................................................... 89 2006: PRESERVATION PLANS for the STONE ARCH ...............................89 2007: ADDITIONAL HISTORICAL RESEARCH ..........................................90 iv 2008: GUARDHOUSE ROOFING REPLACED ...........................................90 2011: BRIDGE REPAIRS ............................................................................91 2011-12: STONE ARCH and SCULPTURE CONDITION ASSESSEMENT and CHARRETTE .............................97 Introduction ................................................................................................ 97 Methodology .............................................................................................. 97 Documentation ........................................................................................... 97 Observations .............................................................................................. 98 Problems ................................................................................................... 98 Conclusions ............................................................................................... 98 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 98 Charrette .................................................................................................... 99 2012: HURRICANE SANDY ........................................................................103 IV. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS ...............................................................105 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................107 STONE ARCH ..............................................................................................107 Historical Summary .................................................................................... 107 Design ....................................................................................................... 107 Dimensions ................................................................................................ 107 Wall............................................................................................................ 108 Doors ......................................................................................................... 109 Sculpture ................................................................................................... 109 BRIDGE ........................................................................................................116 Historical Summary .................................................................................... 116 Stone Piers ................................................................................................ 116 Deck .......................................................................................................... 117 Drawbridge ................................................................................................ 117 Railings ...................................................................................................... 117 Steps ......................................................................................................... 117 Light ........................................................................................................... 118 SALLY PORT ...............................................................................................123 Historical Summary .................................................................................... 123 Floor .......................................................................................................... 123 Walls .......................................................................................................... 123 Ceiling ........................................................................................................ 124 v Light ........................................................................................................... 124 GUARDHOUSE ............................................................................................128 Historical Summary .................................................................................... 128 Structure .................................................................................................... 128 Exterior ...................................................................................................... 129 Interior ....................................................................................................... 134 MISSING GUARDHOUSE ............................................................................137 V. CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................147 CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES .....................................................149 TREATMENT ................................................................................................151 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................153