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Dutton - Associates
CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY. PLANNING. AND MANAGEMENT
[Transmitted via Email]
March 1, 2024
John L. Knott III I Vice President - Development
Equus Development, L.P.
Equus Capital Partners, Ltd.
RE: Historic Architectural Site Inspection of Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099) in Frederick County,
Virginia
Dear Mr_ Knott:
Dutton + Associates, LLC (D+A) is pleased to provide Equus Development this memo summarizing the
results of an historic architecture site inspection of the Glengary property (VDHR# 034-1099) in Frederick
County, Virginia. The effort serves as a follow-up to the previously conducted Cultural Resource Surrey
and Assessment of Glengaryy (t}DHR# 034-]099) (D+A October 2017), as well as a Historic American
Buildings Survey (NABS) Level III documentation package assembled for the property in October 2019
(HABS No. VA-1526). The historic architecture site inspection performed at this time is intended to satisfy
stipulation 2 of a Proffer regarding the proposed redevelopment of the property that states:
The applicant, working with a qualified professional architectural historian, shall inspect
prior to demolition the non -heated areas of the residential building for the presence of
partially hidden or obscured historical artifacts or material. The applicant shall noti& the
Planning Director of any historic artifacts or material that may be discovered during the
inspection and subsequent demolition of the residential building.
All architectural fieldwork and reporting conducted as part of the investigations conforms to the guidance
specified in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for ArcheoloD, and Historic
Presenyation (Federal Register 48:44716-44742, September 29, 1983), the VDHR Guidelines for
Conducting Historic Resources Survvy in Virginia, rev. 2017; and adhere to the terms of the Proffer. The D+A
Project Manager and architectural historian directing and conducting this effort meet the professional
qualification standards of the Department of the Interior (48 FR 44738-9).
Field Results
An Architectural Historian from D+A made a site visit to the Glengary property on February 21, 2024 in
order to document existing conditions, assess integrity, and identify intact architectural or historical
features. The effort focused on noting features or components that were not visible or accessible at the time
of the previous survey and documentation.
Inspection of the property revealed that the home and outbuildings have been subject to deterioration and
vandalism since last inspected that has substantially diminished the historical integrity and limited the
1115 Crowder Driw • Midlothian, Virginia 23113 .. - • 804.897.1960 .9 • ntiNtii:dutton-associates.coni
Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
potential for any further data (the vandalism was reported to the Frederick County Sherriff s Department
and filed as Case # 20-004549). Inspection from the exterior of the home revealed that it has been
mothballed since it was vacated, with plywood covering of first floor doors and windows. However, it
appears that some panels have been removed and separated and many of the windows beneath have been
broken. Large sections of roofing, including both the sheathing and decking, are also missing from the main
block of the house (Figure 1 through Figure 4).
Figure 1: View of Glengary, front fagade, facing northwest.
Figure 2: View of Glengary, south side, facing north.
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Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
"Aft
Figure 3: View of Glengary, north side and rear, facing southeast.
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Figure 4: Building materials removed from house scattered on lawn, facing north.
Inspection of the interior was further limited by existing conditions and safety concerns. As a result of
vandalism, building debris, including drywall, plaster, lathe, and framing materials with protruding nails
are scattered throughout the floors of the building. Large sections of flooring, including structural joists
have also been removed or destroyed. The removal of these elements, coupled with moisture infiltration
from the missing roof sections have compounded the threat to structural integrity of the building. The
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Glengary (VDFW 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
damage is most pronounced in the front (main) block of the house thereby limiting inspection solely to one
room visible from the rear addition (Figure 5 through Figure 10).
Figure 5: Building debris scattered on floor in rear wing.
Figure 6: View from rear wing into front block showing debris.
Figure 7: Second story floor system removed from rear wing.
Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
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Figure 8: Removed flooring and floor system in front block.
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Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
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Figure 9: Floor system with no flooring in front block.
Figure 10: Second story of front block with floor system removed, mantel removed,
and damage to ceiling.
Results
Because of the existing conditions of the house, little new information could be gleaned at this time. While
previous assessment and documentation of the Glengary home provided an extensive amount of information
regarding its construction and evolution, there remained the potential for further data to be concealed behind
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Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
and within the building envelope, particularly within areas such as the basement and attic that often retain
original materials and reveal later modifications. At this time, the basement and attic were only visible at a
distance and through gaps in the flooring and ceiling created by vandalism. As a result, they offered little
information potential, however, some new information was possible from building materials now exposed.
From the exterior of the building, sections of roof framing and rafters were visible, and closer inspection of
these features revealed that the entire original circa 1850 roof of the building appears to have been replaced
as evidenced by the mill -cut dimensional lumber (Figure 11). It is known that the large front portico was
constructed c.1920 in an effort to add Colonial Revival elements to the building, and it appears that rather
than constructing the new portico and tying it into the original roof, the entire roof system was likely
replaced and rebuilt together.
Figure 11: Detail of twentieth century roofing joists on front (original) block, facing west.
Also from the exterior, inspection of a now -removed hatch on the front porch floor revealed a concealed
basement window within the second bay from the outer corner (Figure 12). Although it was expected that
the c.1920s portico was much larger than any previous porticos or entry stoops that may have originally
been present on the house, the presence of this window confirms that any entry portico would have been no
wider than a single bay aligned with the doorway.
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Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
'1 sit,
Figure 12: Concealed basement window underneath c.1920 porch floor.
The interior of the house also provided some additional information and further evidence of alterations.
Within the original front block of the house, exposed first story floor joists revealed evidence of repair and
reinforcement through sistering and cross -bracing. As there is only one set of nail holes in the older joists
and none in the sistered rafters, this would imply that the floors were likely original and the repairs were
made from the basement (Figure 13). However, closer inspection of the exposed sections of second story
joists reveal mill -sawn dimensional lumber, suggesting that this flooring system was likely completely
rebuilt and/or replaced in the twentieth century. The machine -split lathe and two -coat plaster applied to the
bottom of these joists as first floor ceiling further support a twentieth century date (Figure 14).
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Figure 13: Detail of first story floor joists and repairs in front block.
Glengar_y (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
Figure 14: Detail of saw marks and plasterwork on second story floor joists in front block.
Conclusions
The purposes of this historic architectural site inspection was to satisfy the terms of a stipulation in a proffer
for the redevelopment of the property requiring that non -heated and formerly inaccessible spaces of the
building be inspected for historic details. A variety of information regarding the construction and evolution
of a historic building can often be gleaned from inspection of the framing behind finished wall and ceiling
surfaces, particularly in attics and basements where less modification often occurs over time.
In the case of the Glengary House, the building has been subject to extensive vandalism and deterioration,
resulting in compromised historic and physical integrity, which thereby limited the potential for these
spaces and features to be inspected. Because large sections of flooring have been removed and water from
the damaged roof has resulted in weakened integrity, only select spaces within the interior of the building
were accessible.
Still, the exposed materials and features did permit some limited new information to be gathered, primarily
the understanding that more modification likely occurred to the house in the twentieth century than
originally thought. It appears that not only was the entire roof system rebuilt at the time the front portico
was added, but much of the interior, including entire flooring systems may also have been replaced.
While this data does not ultimately detract from the significance of the building that is derived from a
combination of its physical features and its historical associations, it does illustrate that the building was
not a time capsule, and like many historic homes, is subject to an extensive amount of change overtime as
a result of the changing fashions, occupational needs, and routine maintenance.
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Glengary (VDHR# 034-1099)
Historic Architecture Site Inspection
February 2024
If you have any questions concerning the results of this effort, please do not hesitate to contact me at (804)
897-1960 or rtaylor@dutton-associates.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
DUTTON + ASSOCIATES, LLC
Robert J. Taylor, Jr.
Principal Investigator/Senior Architectural Historian