As one of the only standing tenant residences with an early portion that may date to the World War I era, this structure documents the relationship among the tenants and land owners in terms of life style, wealth, diet and access to scarce resources during this period. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date(s) of erection: Early century 2. Archi tect: Unknown 3. Original and subsequent owners: See Part I of the HABS Survey Form for the John McQueen House 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: Unknown 5. Original plans and construction: None located 6. Alterations and additions: The house grew as a series of rooms. The initial structure was the west section of the double pen main body of the house.
At various points following its enlargement to a double pen structure were added four rooms to the rear (north) and the front porch (south). Historical Context: See Part I of the HABS Form for the John McQueen House, PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: A basic double pen house demonstrating the evolutionary character and use of MCCARY TENANT HOUSE HABS No.AL-888 (Page 2) recycled materials in regional vernacular design. 2, Condition of fabric: Poor to dilapidated B. Description of Exterior: 1. Over-all dimensions: The double pen structure is wide by lS'-O" deep. The entire structure is deep. 2. Foundations: Low brick piers support the hewn wood sills of the main body, while wood piers support the front porch and rear shed rooms. 3.
Walls: The walls are finished with board and batten I'-O" on center, except for the west half of the rear addition where the boards are 8" on center. One of the rear rooms has been sheathed with tar paper. 4. Structural system, framing: In the double pen section the west room is constructed of hewn timbers used both as verticals and diagonal cross bracing. The east room is finished with round timbers and perpendicular bracing at the mid-height of the walls. The rear rooms are basic wood frame and are constructed of salvage materials 5. Porches, stoops, balconies, bulkheads: The front (south) porch is deep and runs the full width of the house. The floor is wood plank averaging 7- in width and is approached by a wood plank stairway in front of each door.
The shed roof is supported by a variety of post types, generally 2" x 4" and 4" x 4". The roof is sheathed with sheet metal and is of a lower pitch than the roof over the main body of the house, 6. Chimneys: External brick chimneys are found at the east and west gable ends of the double pen section. They employ the typical corbelled base, shoulders and caps of the vicinity. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Doors are roughly con- structed of wood planks and are random in size. b. Windows and shutters: Random window types and sizes, the sash having 4 or 6 lights, have been reused around the house. MCCARY TENANT HOUSE HABS N0.AL-P88 (Page 3) 8. Roof: a. Shape, cover ing: The main roof is a gable sheathed with sheet metal.
The front porch and rear additions are shed roofs covered with corrugated sheet metal. b. Cornice, eaves: There is a rough overhang and exposed rafters around the house. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: a. First floor: The basic house is a double pen plan with a full width front porch and rear addition of four rooms. 2. Stairways: None 3. Flooring: The basic flooring is tongue-and- groove wood. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Where finished, the walls and ceilings consist of 11" flush wood planks. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The random size plank doors are set without any surrounds. b. Windows: The various window sash do not have any surrounds. 6. Decorative features and trim: The west room has a rough mantle shelf over the hearth. 7. Hardware: Basic flat door hinges. 8.
Mechanical equipment: a. Heating, air conditioning, ventilation: Two fireplaces. b. Lighting: Basic electric service to the house. c. Plumbing: None D. Site: 1, General setting and orientation: The McCary Tenant House is oriented towards the south with a view of the various pens and a large pond. MCCARY TENANT HOUSE HABS o^L'-*^88 (Page 4) 2. Historic landscape design: None 3. Outbuildings: Numerous and randomly located pens are found to the south of the house. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION See Part III of the HABS Survey Form for the John McQueen House. Prepared by; Michael Entrick, Historical Arch- itect and Philip Thomason, Archi- tectural Historian The Ehrenkrantz Group/Building Con- servation Technology, Inc. August - September PART IV.
PROJECT INFORMATION This recording project was conducted by The Ehrenkrantz Group/ Building Conservation Technology, Inc., of Nashville, Tennessee under contract from Environmental Research and Technology, Inc. for General Electric - Montgomery Project, Burkville, Alabama. Project personnel included Michael Emrick, Project Architect (project coordination, architectural data); James Thompson, Architect (measured drawings and sketch plans); Philip Thomason, project historian; and Barry Starkey, photographer. Agency involvement included the Mobile District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Southeast Regional Office of the National Park Service. HABS NO.AL-888 {Page 5) r-f f-i" , . r -7i' T-2 I tt t-t t-d <f ,' > - ' -2"
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