Fort Vancouver Historic Structures Report

Recommendations

a. It is suggested that when archeological excavations are con ducted on the site of the Bachelors' Quarters, particular attention be given to seeking evidence of fireplace or chimney locations. Archeology might also be able to throw light upon certain questions, such as whether the sills at the north end of the building rested on the ground or were raised, and whether the infill material between the ground and the sills was composed of solid timbers or merely boards.

b. It is recommended that the Bachelors' Quarters be reconstructed in accordance with the construction data supplied in the body of this chapter. The 1860 photograph, preferably an enlarged print directly from the original glass negative in the Royal Engineers Library, should be followed religiously in all details except the roof shingles, the windows, and possibly the chimneys. Special attention is called to the following suggestions:

(1) The walls should be constructed of sawed timbers, except possibly for the long sills and plates that may have been hewn. Caulking at joints should be kept to a minimum, with the edges of the infill timbers not beveled.

(2) The south wall should be covered with horizontal, lapped weatherboards similar to those used on the Big House. On the remaining sides of the building the wall timbers were left exposed.

(3) The roof should be covered with hand-split shakes, with about six inches exposed to the weather.

(4) The number and locations of the chimneys will depend upon the results of archeological excavations. If any supporting evidence is found, five chimneys ranged along the east wall are recommended. Evidently there were no fireplaces in the Bachelors Quarters, but archeological excavations may provide evidence to the contrary. The chimneys should be made of reproductions of British bricks .

(5) It is suggested that the 1860 photograph be followed with regard to the number and positions of the west-wall doors. Five or six doors might be placed in the east wall. The doors should have six panels and ten-pane transoms above.

(6) It is recommended that French or casement windows be installed instead of the double-hung ones shown in the 1860 photo graph .

c. The exterior of the Bachelors' Quarters should be unpainted, except for white trim around the doors and windows, white window sash (including that of the transoms), and Spanish brown doors and shutters (if shutters are used on the three southernmost windows on the west wall). The roof gutters and downspouts appear to have been white, though this is not certain. The interior should not be painted.

d. The interior walls should be lined with vertical fir boards, planed, random width, tongued and grooved, with beaded edges. Interior partitions probably were constructed of single thicknesses of similar boards. The same type of boards also formed the ceilings. Floors probably were of unplaned, heavy, tongued and grooved planks.

e. The interior room arrangement will depend largely upon the locations of the chimneys as determined by archeological excavations. When laying out the plan, it should be remembered that the usual living quarters for clerks and subordinate officers consisted of a series of small cubicles opening off a central sitting room. Stoves were sometimes at considerable distances from the chimneys, with which they were connected by long stovepipes that might extend through more than one room. In at least one case (Lower Fort Garry) a stove was placed in a wall opening between two bedrooms. In addition to fourteen bedrooms and bedroom/sitting rooms, the structure should contain a large room for the Bachelors' Hall, a smaller "strangers' room," and a rather small library room. There should be no closets.

f. It is suggested that at least the northern end of the Bachelors' Quarters building, including the Bachelors' Hall, "strangers' room," library, and several bedrooms and bedroom/sitting rooms, be re furnished and employed as a house museum.