Buildings 8 & 10 Historic Structure Report Coltsville Na onal Historical Park Har ord, Connec cut 2017 RECOMMENDED: 2017 Superintendent, Coltsville Na onal Historical Park APPROVED: 2017 Chief, Historic Structure Research & Documenta on, Historic Architecture, Conserva on and Engineering Center, Northeast Region CONTENTS Contents................................................................................................................................ iii Figures................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements............................................................................................................... x Introduc on.......................................................................................................................... xi Execu ve Summary........................................................................................................ xi Purpose and Scope................................................................................................. xi Basis of Inves ga on.............................................................................................. xi Highlights of the Historical Background.................................................................. xi Principal Features of the Original Construc on...................................................... xii Developmental Changes......................................................................................... xiii Character Defi ning Features................................................................................... xiii Suggested Alternate Period of Signifi cance............................................................ xiii Recommenda ons for Treatment........................................................................... xiv Appendices............................................................................................................. xiv Administra ve Data....................................................................................................... xv Name, Number and Loca on.................................................................................. xv Historical Signifi cance............................................................................................. xvi Proposed Treatment............................................................................................... xviii Related Studies....................................................................................................... xviii Endnotes........................................................................................................................ xviii Part 1: Developmental History Historical Background and Context….....…………………………………………………………………………... 1 Introduc on................................................................................................................... 3 Samuel Colt’s Earlier Career........................................................................................... 3 The Historical and Local Context.................................................................................... 6 Chronology of Development and Use................................................................................... 9 Buildings 8 and 10 as built............................................................................................. 9 Planning and Design............................................................................................... 9 Site......................................................................................................................... 9 Building Form and Circula on................................................................................ 10 Materials, Elements and Details............................................................................. 11 Founda ons.................................................................................................... 11 iii Materials, Elements and Details (con nued) Envelope................................................................................................................. 11 Walls................................................................................................................ 11 Windows and window openings..................................................................... 14 Doorways........................................................................................................ 16 East and west eleva ons................................................................................. 19 North and south eleva ons............................................................................. 20 Overall form of original eleva ons.................................................................. 25 Roof form........................................................................................................ 26 Roofi ng............................................................................................................ 27 Downspouts.................................................................................................... 29 Roof structures................................................................................................ 30 Interiors.................................................................................................................. 32 Arrangement and sequence of spaces............................................................ 32 Main open spaces........................................................................................... 34 Ceilings and roof structure.............................................................................. 35 Masonry sha s and ducts............................................................................... 35 Integra on of hearths and forges and building systems................................. 39 Gas ligh ng...................................................................................................... 45 Supplementary hea ng................................................................................... 46 Water supplies................................................................................................. 46 Summary........................................................................................................................ 46 Changes in Form and Use over Time..................................................................................... 47 1855 to 1885.................................................................................................................. 47 1885 to World War I...................................................................................................... 51 Changes Related to World War I.................................................................................... 56 Building 10 – Masonry Changes, from the 1920s to 1945............................................. 62 Building 8 – Masonry Changes, from the 1920s to 1945............................................... 75 Changes in Window Openings....................................................................................... 78 Changes in Roofi ng Details and Roof Structures............................................................ 83 The Demise of the Central Store Room and Chimney ................................................... 88 and the Recladding of the Facing Façades of Buildings 8 and 10 Post 1945 iv Physical Descrip ons............................................................................................................. 92 Introduc on................................................................................................................... 92 Overview........................................................................................................................ 92 The Impact of the Demoli on of Surrounding Factory Buildings........................... 92 Building Form......................................................................................................... 94 Masonry Walls........................................................................................................ 96 Windows, and Window and Door Openings.......................................................... 103 Interiors.................................................................................................................. 106 Detailed Descrip ons..................................................................................................... 115 Building 8 - Exterior................................................................................................ 115 West wall........................................................................................................ 115 South wall....................................................................................................... 117 East wall.......................................................................................................... 117 North wall....................................................................................................... 119 Roof, roof structures and roofi ng.................................................................... 120 Building 8 - Interior................................................................................................. 120 West wall........................................................................................................ 120 South wall......................................................................................................