HAMPTON
Notes on Hampton Mansion 		NPS Logo

PART VII
ILLUSTRATIONS (continued)
ILLUSTRATION NO. 12. Mansion, First Floor, Drawing Room Ceiling Framings

This is also the floor of the "Ghost Room" which had sagged nine inches. The joists were originally undersized for the large span and began to sag even before the ceiling was lathed and plastered. That may be the explanation for the wedges on the top of each. Note typical leveling of floor boards by shaving each one to fit each joist.

The joists were subsequently jacked back into true level and reinforced with steel channels. A radiant heat ceiling was then installed to warm the room, doing away with the need for the conspicuous old radiators. It was one of the first installations of this type in an American house restoration.

Photo by Sussman-Ochs, 1949

ILLUSTRATION NO. 13. Kitchen during Rehabilitation (Left)

The wall cupboard seen here was removed as being too late in period. Brick stove with two "stew holes" (date unknown) was allowed to remain. Rumford-type oven with iron door has a brass label engraved as follows:

Premium Patent
Bake Oven & Roaster
by
Alfred H. Reip
No. 337 Balt.o Street
Baltimore
I don't know that anyone ever looked up the firm in the city directories; it might be a way of dating the installation. Later floor boards removed showing earlier ones underneath.

Photo by Sussman-Ochs, 1949

ILLUSTRATION NO. 14. Mansion Second Floor Hallway.

The elaborate architectural trim seen here was done early in the construction period. The later plain trim downstairs seems meager by comparison.

HABS photo by Miyamoto, September 1959

ILLUSTRATION NO. 15. Mansion, Second Floor, the "Ghost Room" before Rehabilitation.

General view with Ridgely furnishings still in place. Fireplace has a Victorian coal grate, afterward removed.

Photo by Abbie Rowe, 1948

ILLUSTRATION NO. 16. Mansion, Second Floor, the "Ghost Room" after Rehabilitation.

The architectural elements on the chimney breast are a reflection of the "Palladian" taste that still influenced work in England and America. Evidence for the two-color effect was found in early paint still on the woodwork underneath later coats of colors. The chandelier brought up from downstairs.

HABS photo by Miyamoto, September 1959

ILLUSTRATION NO. 17. Mansion, Second Floor, the "Ghost Room" Fireplace.

The coal grate has been removed. The height of the fireplace opening--and the fact that the firechamber was plastered--suggest that it was intended for a built-in grate or a stove.

Note the square brick or "quarries" which have been lifted out of their bed. Before laying they had been ground to a precise plane--with square corners--to make a remarkably smooth surface, probably for clean sweeping. Each quarry tapers downwards uniformly allowing sand to fill in between.

Photo by Sussman-Ochs, 1949

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Last Updated: 07-Jul-2008