New Garden Historical Commission - Joseph Wilson House

<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#990099" lang=EN-US> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" width="100%" bgcolor="#999999"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><img src="../../lyceum/lyceum.jpg" width="200" height="114"></p> </td> <td align="center"> <h1><font color=black>New Garden Historical Commission</font></h1> <p><a href="../../index.htm" target="_top"><font color=black>Click here</font></a> <font color=black> to return to the home page and links to other articles</font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><tt><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The Joseph Wilson</span></b></tt><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'> House</span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'> </span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'>Intersection of Laurel Heights and Newark Roads</p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'>New Garden Township</p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'>Chester County, Pennsylvania</p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><img width=575 height=431 src="article_files/image001.jpg"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'>Jeroen van den Hurk</p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><span style='color:black'>Center for Historic Architecture and Design</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><span style='color:black'>University</span><span style='color:black'> of Delaware</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><i>Margaret Jones</i></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><i>New Garden Historical Commission</i></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'><i> </i></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'>October 7, 2003</p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><tt><span style='line-height:200%; font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The Joseph Wilson House</span></tt></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'>Situated at the intersection of Laurel Heights and Newark Roads, the Joseph Wilson House faces east. The two-and-a-half story stone building, with an interior gable end chimney stack, reflects a single building phase. Except for a two-and-a-half story twentieth century addition built against the west elevation of the original building block the dwelling has remained virtually unchanged. Due to is small size it raises interesting questions about everyday life for larger households, such as when John Wilson owned the property during the second half of the nineteenth century, and occupied it with his wife and three children, and two boarders. </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><tt><i><span style='line-height: 200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"'> </span></i></tt></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><tt><i><span style='line-height: 200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Gayen Miller's 700 acre Penn Grant of 1712 was, over the years, continually divided into smaller and smaller parcels. The ½-acre lot on the corner of Newark and Laurel Heights Roads is one such parcel. It came from Abner Wilson's 70-acre farm, which lay to the south of Laurel Heights Road. In 1830, Abner Wilson and his wife, Tamer, sold the ½-acre parcel for $10.00 to their son, Joseph. Joseph Wilson, who was a mason by trade, built a small one room stone house. This house first shows up in the tax assessments in 1835.</span></i></tt></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><tt><i><span style='line-height: 200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"'> </span></i></tt></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><tt><span style='line-height:200%; font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Period I </span></tt></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'>The dimensions of the stone dwelling that Joseph Wilson built are relatively small-measuring only 20'5" by 15'5" on the exterior. This could indicate that during this first period there may already have been an addition to the building or a separate kitchen to provide additional space for everyday domestic tasks. The two-and-a-half story gable-roofed stone building faces east. It has an interior gable end chimney against the north gable end. A door and window pierce the east elevation on the first floor. Two small casement windows provide light to the second floor in this elevation. Flat brick arches top these casement windows. Pintels in the window surround of the casement windows indicate the fact that there were originally shutters on these windows. The south gable end has window openings at each of the floor levels; a cellar casement window, six-over-six sash windows on the first and second floors, and a four-light casement window at the attic floor. The door in the east elevation enters into the only space on the first floor. A fireplace and a winder staircase are located against the north gable wall. There is evidence of a crane in the fireplace. The winder stair connects the first floor, the cellar, and the second floor. The ceiling joists on the first floor are small and evenly spaced and show signs of lath and plaster. Stucco, consisting of horsehair and plaster, cover the interior walls. There is a single opening in the west wall, which either led to an earlier lean-to or the backyard. </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=405 height=528 src="article_files/image002.gif"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>First Floor Plan</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=288 height=382 src="article_files/image003.jpg"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>View of north gable-end looking southwest</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'><img width=504 height=377 src="article_files/image004.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>Detail of cornice on east corner of north gable-end</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'><img width=404 height=539 src="article_files/image005.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>View of east elevation looking northwest</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=431 height=324 src="article_files/image006.jpg"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>View of the second floor of the east elevation</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'><img width=492 height=369 src="article_files/image007.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Detail of casement window on second floor of east elevation showing </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>brick arches and pintels for missing exterior shutters.</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=459 height=610 src="article_files/image008.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>View of south gable-end looking northeast</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=404 height=539 src="article_files/image009.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>View of door on east elevation</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=477 height=635 src="article_files/image010.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior first floor: view of fireplace against north gable-end looking northeast</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=459 height=610 src="article_files/image011.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior first floor looking north: view of the winder stair giving access to the </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>second floor.  Door on right leads to winder stair to cellar.  </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=431 height=324 src="article_files/image012.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior first floor: view of ceiling joist and chimney trimmer of north gable-end fireplace</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'>The second floor contains a stair landing and two rooms. A window in the west wall lights the stair landing. The larger of the two rooms measures 9'6" by 12'4" and receives light from one of the small casement windows in the east wall and the sash window in the south gable wall. The second room is 6'4" deep. Because the chimney stack rises through this room it creates and L-shape measuring 7'6" at its widest and only 5'2" at its narrowest part. The second of the two small casement windows lights this room. The ceiling joists on the second floor are relatively small and evenly spaced and have a fine chamfer along the bottom edges. There is evidence for whitewash on the joists. The ceiling boards are wide and have a small decorative bead along one side. There are no signs for heat in either of these rooms. </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=333 height=490 src="article_files/image013.gif"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>Second Floor Plan</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=511 height=681 src="article_files/image014.jpg"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior second floor: view of winder stair against north gable-end</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>giving access to first floor, looking northeast</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=434 height=579 src="article_files/image015.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior second floor: view of door of winder stair giving access to attic floor</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=575 height=431 src="article_files/image016.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior second floor: detail of casement window in east wall of south room</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img width=492 height=369 src="article_files/image017.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Interior second floor: detail of ceiling joists showing chamfer</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'>The winder stair in the northwest corner of the second floor leads to the attic. The floorboards are tongue and groove and nailed to the joists with cut nails. The sawn rafters are small, square, pegged at the top, and numbered with sawn Roman numerals. The rafter pair, which frames the stack, shows signs of whitewash. The top of the chimney stack was replaced with brick at some point and there are signs of soot along the top of the north gable wall, which might indicate a fire.</p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=575 height=767 src="article_files/image018.jpg"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>Interior attic floor: detail of tongue and groove floorboards</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'><img width=575 height=431 src="article_files/image019.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>Interior attic floor: detail of rafters showing sawn carpenter marks</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'> </span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'><img width=508 height=679 src="article_files/image020.jpg"></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>Interior attic floor: view of north gable-end showing stucco and stone</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'>The cellar has a dirt floor and partially hewn and partially left rounded ceiling joists. A solid stone pier against the north gable wall supports the chimney stack. Corbelled bricks provide support for the hearth bed above. A single casement window in the south gable wall provides natural light. </p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><img width=359 height=333 src="article_files/image021.gif"></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in; line-height:200%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:200%'>Cellar Floor Plan</span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><tt><i><span style='line-height: 200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>In 1838, Joseph Wilson sold his ½-acre tract and new house for $300, back to his parents. Then with his wife, Eliza Ann, and 2-year old son, Isaac, he moved west to Hancock County, Illinois. Joseph lived for about two years after the move; his son Isaac was his only child to live to adulthood. </span></i></tt><i><br> <br> <tt><span style='line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Abner and Tamer Wilson, once again owned the ½-acre lot they had carved out of their farm. In 1846, they sold it to John Wilson, a 30-year old laborer, who was not their son although he may have been somehow related. John Wilson, his wife and three children plus two boarders lived in the little stone house. During these years, there was also a shop on the property. Because both the boarders identified themselves as coopers on the 1850 census, it is possible that they manufactured barrels in that shop. </span></tt><br> <br> Forced to satisfy a judgment of $140, John Wilson had to sell his house at sheriff's sale in 1883.<tt><span style='line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New Roman"'> Evan Shortlidge's high bid of $150 enabled him to add the stone house property to his now 63-acre farm. Joseph Wilson's house continued to be part of this farm, and the Shortlidge family owned it until 1920 when Leon Hagerty purchased the property. During the later part of the twentieth century, the farm belonged to the Middleton family. Sometime during this period, the owners doubled the house in size by adding a new section to the west.  Because this addition is not visible from the road, to the passerby, the stone house probably looks much as it did when Joseph Wilson built it in 1835.</span></tt></i></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'>Drawings by Jeroen van den Hurk; surveyed by Jeroen van den Hurk, Jamie Ferguson and Jason Smith; all of the Center for Historic Architecture and Design at the University of Delaware.</p> </div> </body>