The Restoration of the
Historic M'Clintock House

PROJECT SUMMARY

The M'Clintock House is a nationally significant structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places and one of four critically important resources associated with the First Women's Rights Convention held in July of 1848. The other three are the Wesleyan Chapel, where the 1848 Convention was held, the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the convention's principal organizers, and the home of Jane and Richard Hunt, where the initial planning for the convention occurred.

The M'Clintocks, a Quaker family, resided in the house from 1836 to 1856. The significance of this site is derived from the family's participation in the Women's Rights Convention of 1848 and the influence of the Quaker religion on the early women's rights movement. The M'Clintock House is where the "Declaration of Sentiments" was drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mary Ann M'Clintock and her daughters five days before the Convention has held. The "Declaration of Sentiments" was the document read at the Convention airing women's grievances with society. It is often referred to as the women's "Declaration of Independence.

The exterior appearance of the house, during the period of historical significance, was that of a two story Greek Revival brick building with a wood frame/clapboard wing extending off the rear. The design is typical of that style with its low cut roof, cornice returns, and four chimneys, intended to replicate the classic balance and symmetry the temples. Most impressive of these features was the front entrance with its formal Grecian details including Doric columns, sidelights, and a rectangular transom window.

In July 1998 First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton made the M'Clintock House her final stop on her Save America's Treasures Millennium Tour. During her tour and subsequent speech she emphasized the value of the M'Clintock House to the understanding of the events proliferating one the most significant cultural reform movements of our country's history. Mrs. Clinton pledged support for this project and promised to work for funding to complete the work already begun.

The structure is in a dilapidated condition. Much of the exterior has been stabilized, however, the interior continues to deteriorate and the kitchen wing has not been reconstructed. The house is to be restored to the period of historical significance, 1836 to 1856, which was the period of occupancy by the M'Clintocks. The NPS conducted a structural investigation uncovering evidence of changes to the building after 1856. Just as the extant exterior has been returned to its appearance during the period of historical significance, the interior floor plan will be restored including reconstruction of the missing kitchen wing.

All necessary non-historic functions will be placed in the wing, such as a differently abled accessible entrance and restrooms, an orientation area, a small sales area/information desk, and a small office. Putting these functions in the wing will eliminate altering extant historic fabric in the main building. If these functions were placed in the main house, the only place capable of supporting a handicapped bathroom is in the room believed to be the bedroom of the only two free African-Americans who appear in the 1850's census in Waterloo, New York This is a significant Park theme connecting the women's rights leaders, the abolitionist leaders, and the Quakers.

Progress to Date
From 1985 to the present , the NPs has completed a great deal of work at the site.

• 1989 Remove non-historic structures from site.

• 1990 - 1992 Restore exterior of structure.



• 1993 Preliminary plans and spec for house.



• 1996 Asbestos removal.



• 1996 Preliminary archeological investigations.



• 1996 Final site concept plan.



• 1997 Exhibit Design Concept.
  
  
• 1997 Historic Furnishings Plan.



• 1997 Intensive archeological
  investigation and report.



• 1997 Final plans and specs for interior restoration and reconstruction of wing.
  
  
• 1997 Final plans and specs for
  landscape.
  

The Park is ready to go to construction on this project. The additional work to make this site a turnkey operation includes:

1. Restoration of the interior
2. Reconstruction of the missing kitchen wing
3. Fabrication and installation of exhibits
4. Rehabilitation of the grounds

WHAT IS THE THREAT TO THE HISTORIC M'CLINTOCK HOUSE?
From 1987 to 1993, work to the restore the exterior eliminated roof leaks throughout the building. This was the first step toward reducing loss of historic fabric; however, it has only slowed deterioration. Upstate New York climate with its high annual precipitation and a great range in temperature extremes continues to adversely affect the M'Clintock House in its present condition. The surrounding soil structure is thick clay that diverts ground water run-off into the basement. Consequently, the basement is perpetually wet and has standing water after heavy precipitation. These wet conditions combined with temperatures reaching the upper 90's in the summer and -20 F in the winter continue to destroy historic wood, plaster, and other materials through expansion/contraction, fungal infection and insect infestation.

Presently, there are no functional electrical, heating, and drainage systems to arrest the insidious effects of moisture infiltration and consistently high relative humidity. Wood moisture content exceeding 60% in basement structural timbers has been regularly recorded. High relative humidity throughout the building is destroying the building and negating the large National Park Service investment in restoration of the exterior. The building has no functional utility systems connections, such as electricity, water, sewer, natural gas, or telephone. Without these connections there cannot be any protection systems either, such as fire detection/suppression or intrusion alarms.

The building is framed in the post and beam style with structural timbers made of oak. The high moisture content of the building's supporting columns and beams, located in the basement, have become host to a rapidly advancing fungal infection throughout the wood. Additionally, powder post beetles have infested these timbers and are riddling the wood with their tunnels. These pests prefer moist oak to all other woods and will quickly destroy the structural integrity of the building. They will spread throughout the building if left unchecked. Passive ventilation was introduced during the restoration of the building's exterior; however, this effort had little to no effect.

It is common to find large sections of plaster splattered on the floor that have finally lost adhesion to the ceilings and walls then simply fallen away. Since the exterior restoration, the M'Clintock House interior has experienced a loss of historic fabric estimated at 25% of the historic plaster, 20% of basement structural timbers, 100% of interior painted finishes, 20% floor boards have buckled. The damage caused by moisture infiltration and high humidity in this unheated building will have destroyed most of the historic fabric in just a few short years if left unchecked.

THE PROJECT SCOPE
The project will restore, preserve, and make the M'Clintock House fully accessible to the visiting public; reconstruct the missing kitchen wing; rehabilitate the grounds to accommodate visitor use, e.g. parking lot, sidewalks, wayside exhibits, landscaping; fabricate and install exhibits.

Specifically, a foundation drainage system will be installed around the foundation exterior and a sump constructed in the basement to keep ground water run-off out. Elimination of high levels of moisture and relative humidity with in the building is the key factor to halting further deterioration. Electricity, natural gas, telephone, water and sewer services will be established for mechanical systems that will heat and protect the building from intrusion and fire. Historic wood and plaster surfaces will be stabilized, repaired, and restored to their appearance during the period of historical significance.

Infestations in the basement structural timbers will be addressed through replacement of weakened members and treatment for those retaining structural integrity.

The floor plans for the 1st and 2nd floors will be reestablished moving walls and doors to their positions during the period of historical significance. Historic plaster will be stabilized, repaired or replaced with in kind materials. Interior finishes and wood trim will match those recommended in the M'Clintock House Historic Structure Report. The heating system will be an energy efficient furnace. An intrusion/fire detection system and a sprinkler system will protect the building.

The kitchen wing will be reconstructed with the exterior matching its appearance during the period of historical significance as documented in the historic structure report. This space will contain the visitor service necessities, be modern in appearance on the interior although sympathetic to the main building's historically restored interior.

No attempt will be made to restore the grounds as little information or evidence remains as to its appearance. Improvements will consist of a small parking lot; walkways, wayside exhibits, and landscaping that soften the visual impact of the surrounding neighborhood.

Plans and specifications are complete for all construction, restoration, preservation and rehabilitation of the site.

Exhibits will be designed, fabricated and installed on the first floor consistent with Park and site themes. Included in this project is the design and printing of a site bulletin and house guide.

THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF THIS PROJECT
Women's Rights National Historical Park was established in 1980 to "preserve and interpret for the education, inspiration and benefit of present and future generations, the nationally significant historical and cultural sites, structures and events associated with the struggle for equal rights for women." Two of the three historic sites related to the 1848 First Women's Rights Convention are preserved and open to the public. The last "piece of the puzzle", the Mary Ann and Thomas M'Clintock House in Waterloo, New York, where the 1848 "Declaration of Sentiments" was drafted, is not open.

Since the M'Clintock House is not open to the public, visitors walk away without a full and in-depth understanding of the entire story. Questions are left unanswered about the free African-Americans who lived in the house with the M'Clintocks, or the vital connection of the Quaker religion to the women's rights movement. In other words, the birthplace of the "Declaration Sentiments," modeled after the "Declaration of Independence," and the blueprint for social action for women's rights over the past 150 years, is not fully interpreted.

The full story of the M'Clintocks will be conveyed through historic furnishings and exhibits at the site. The Park completed a long-range interpretive plan, which includes visitor experience objectives and an exhibit plan for the site. The plan details how visitors can obtain a more in-depth understanding of how the women's rights movement-- which continues to impact the lives of present day Americans--had its start in this simple Quaker home, in a small community in upstate New York over 150 years ago.

In the structure's present condition, interpretation of historic preservation has become an engaging theme at the site. The building was carefully dissected during the structural investigation to determine what fabric remained from the period of historical significance and what had been subsequently changed or added. Many of the clues that revealed evidence of these changes are viewable and provide an intriguing story regarding how the National Park Service painstakingly determined the appearance of this structure during the M'Clintocks residency. Laboratory analysis of paint, plaster, and mortar samples as well as identification and dating of fasteners, hardware, millwork, and other construction evidence has been pieced together to solve the mystery of exactly how this structure looked from 1836 to 1856. To facilitate interpretation of the preservation process, as an interpretive tool, sections of baseboard and wall will be left open or loosely covered so they can be easily removed to reveal the clues leading to the restoration of the house.

The five untold stories of this site include:

• The "Declaration of Sentiments": what it meant to the people who wrote it, to the other 1848 Convention participants, and in today's society;
  
  
• Involvement of Quakers in the early Women's Rights movement; Exploration of the entrepreneurial spirit of the M'Clintocks;



• Involvement of African-Americans in the Women's Rights struggle (Frederick Douglass signed the "Declaration of Sentiments");
  
  
• How historic preservation assists comprehension of our common history.

In recognition of the uniqueness of this site, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the site on July 15, 1998, as part of her "Save America's Treasures Tour". In conjunction with her tour, the Park unveiled to the public an M'Clintock lesson plan developed by the National Register's "Teaching with Historic Places" program. The lesson plan provides educators and the general public with background information on the site and the family, and is a top seller in the Park bookstore.

THE PROJECT FUNDING
All work completed to date has been accomplished with National Park Service appropriated funds and the kind support of local volunteers. Several public and private partnerships have been forged to secure the financial resources to complete the project.

The Park was awarded a grant through the Save America's Treasures Grant Program. The grant was awarded as part of a matching funds grant program administered by the
Presidents Millennium Council. This funding may be used for restoration of the house interior alone, as the program will only fund preservation or restoration efforts.
Reconstruction or rehabilitation, such as with reconstruction of the wing and rehabilitation of the grounds, is not eligible. Neither is exhibit design and fabrication. The grant is for $185,000 and required the Park to match that amount with Non-Federal funds. The Park was able to meet that goal thanks to a generous contribution from author, historian and philanthropist Barbara Goldsmith and many other private contributors.

All grant funds must be obligated, i.e. a contract with a contractor signed, by September of 2000.

THE PROJECT SCHEDULE
The Park anticipates having a contractor begin restoration of the interior by mid-summer of 2000. Time necessary for completion of the scope of work should be no more than 12-months. For up to date progress reports restoration activities, our M'Clintock Restoration Progress Page.

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