Savannah Victorian Historic District, 115 East Park Avenue (House), Savannah

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,26-SAV,53Q-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

One of the earliest houses in the Victorian District, this gable-roofed central-hall structure was built prior to the extension of the city limits. PART I, HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Architect; Not known. 3. Original owner: Ann Hopkins and John McGuire. The structure is erected upon Lot 7, Cuthbert Ward, Section 4. 4. Builder: William H. Grady and Barnard Tully, mechanics and plasterers. 5. Alterations and additions: The Sanborn Map of shows a one- story central portico. This has been removed and replaced by a one-story porch that extends across the full width of the front (north) facade. The Sanborn also shows a one-story rear wing which has subsequently been rebuilt as a two-story wing.

On the interior, the rear of the first-floor hall has been divid- ed into two rooms. For background information, see Savannah Victorian Historic District, HABS No. GA-1169. B.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,26-SAV,53Q-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Insurance Maps of Savannah, Georgia, Sanborn Perris Map Co.; New York. Deed Book 4 A 89, Superior Court Record Room, Chatham County Courthouse. Prepared by: Beth Lattimore Reiter Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey August, 115 EAST PARK AVENUE HABS No. GA-1169Q (Page 2} PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: This simple frame house with a four-room, central hall plan represents the work of conservative Savannah builders who copied popular prototypical styles. 2. Condition of fabric: Fair. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: The two-story structure is across its five-bay front by with a 71 deep porch across the front. 2. Foundations: Brick pier. 3.

Wall construction, finish and color: Wide clapboard siding, painted yellow. 4. Structural system, framing: Wood frame construction. 5. Porches: A one-story wooden porch, supported by columns and approach- ed by central concrete steps, extends across the front facade. 6. Chimneys: An exterior brick chimney is built against the west end wall; an interior chimney rises from the east end wall. 7. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The main entry door is surmounted by a six- light transom. The rear door is a sliding glass door, a recent replacement. b. Windows and .shutters: The windows on the front (north) facade are six-over-six-light double-hung sash set into plain frames. The side windows are also six-over-six-light double-hung sash but are smaller than the front.

The rear double-hung sash metal windows are replacements. On the second story of the addition the windows are casements. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: The main block has a gable roof with standing seam tin sheathing. A shed roof covers the rear addition. b. Cornice, eaves: Plain box eaves. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor plans: a. First floor: Central-hall plan two rooms deep. The rear porch has been enclosed, creating a new kitchen and bath. b. Second floor: Central-hall plan, two rooms deep. The back porch addition includes two rooms. 115 EAST PARK AVENUE HABS No. GA-1169Q (Page 3) 2. Stairways: A straight run stairway with a deeply fluted square wooden newel rises opposite the main entrance. 3. Flooring: Hardwood floors throughout. 4.

Wall and ceiling finish: The plaster wall surface has been removed to lath and is being replaced with sheetrock. Ceilings are being covered with a sprayed-on textured finish. A narrow board ceiling is in the first-floor southeast room. 5. Doorways and doors: Four-panel wooden doors set into wide molded door surrounds. A sliding glass door opens from the kitchen into the rear yard. 6. Decorative features and trim: The wooden fireplace mantel of the northwest parlor has a white tile hearth and a plain shelf supported by fluted columns. The frieze is ornamented with an applied carved foliate scroll. The northeast parlor and second-story front rooms have plain wooden mantels with simple pilasters framing rectangular openings and supporting simple friezes and mantel shelves.

A simple plaster ceiling medallion is in the entrance hall. 7. Hardware: Some of the original porcelain door knobs remain. 8. Mechanical equipment: a. Heating: The original wood-burning fireplaces have been con- verted to coal. b. Lighting: Electrical wiring. c. Plumbing: Two baths are being installed D. Site: The house faces north, set back a few feet from the lot line. Prepared by: Beth Lattimore Reiter Project Historian Historic American Buildings Survey August, 115 EAST PARK AVENUE HABS No. GA-1169Q (Page 4) PART III. PROJECT INFORMATION This project was undertaken by the Historic .American Buildings Survey in cooper- ation with the City of Savannah, the Historic Preservation Section of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project.

Inc., and Historic Savannah Foundation. The recording project was completed dur- ing the summer of under the general direction of John Poppeliers, Chief of HABS; Kenneth L. Anderson, Principal Architect; Eric Delony, Project Coordinator, Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project, Inc.; Beth Lattimore Reiter, Project Historian, Savannah Landmark Rehabilitation Project, Inc.; and Susan Dornbusch, Project Supervisor, University of Virginia; with student architects Gregori Ander- son (Howard University), David Fixler (Columbia University), Stephen Lauf (Temple University), and Tamara Peacock (University of Florida), at the HABS Office in Savannah, Georgia. The drawings were edited in the Washington office in September by architects Susan Dornbusch and Gregori Andersen.

The historical and archi- tectural data was reviewed and edited during October-November by staff histo- rian Jan Cigliano. Photographs were taken in September by Walter Smalling, a staff photographer with the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service. The doc- umentation on the historic district will be used in the rehabilitation of the resi- dences and in developing design guidelines for the area.