Thomas Fuller House, 1211 Bay Street, Beaufort

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS SC,7-BEAUF,2-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

features of exceptional interest. PART I. HISIORIQAL INFORMATION A. Original and Subsequent Owners: Thomas Fuller. Later the Ontnnak-Greenwood family. Now Alma Greenwood. B. Date of erection: About C. Notes on known alterations and additions : A tabby stable, formerly on the site, was taken down after c. [Inter- view with Miss Alma Greenwood, August 21, D. Sources of Information; Primary and unpublished sources: Two original monochrome wash renderings made c. and published in Ihe Georgian Period are in the possession of Miss Greenwood. One shows a front elevation and the other a perspective of the side and rear. The former is signed E. E. D. [Eldon E. Deane). The latter snows the stable building which is no longer extant.

Secondary and published sources : South Carolina, in American Guide Series (New York: Oxford University Press, Other data furnished by Mr. and Howard E. Danner, Beaufort, South Carolina. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement 1. Architectural character: A late century town house of tabby construction with notable interior wood paneling and trim, largely in its original state. The plan is an excellent representative or a type found in Beaufort. THOMAS FULLER HOUSE ("TABBY MANSE") HABS No. (Page 2) 2. Condition of fabric: Good throughout. B. Technical Description of Exterior 1. Number of stories, bays, over-all dimensions, layout: Two stories over high basement; 3 x 5 bays; front portion 40 1 x rear portion 52' x 18 1 ; T-shape with portico in front and small rear ell. 2.

Foundations: High, stucco on tabby. J. Wall construction: Tabby, covered with stucco marked off with "courses", warm gray color. One-story rear ell is of frame covered with clapboards. ~anum of pediment is of flush boards. 4. Porches: A double-tiered portico, over a high arcaded basement, is centered on the south front; the basement is wider than the upper stories, supporting an unroofed terrace at each side. At the first story are four stucco Tuscan columns, the central bay being wider than the others; behind them are four eng~ed wooden columns. At the corners of the terrace are low cylindrical stucco posts (perhaps truncated columns) of the same diameter as the Tuscan columns. At the second story are four slender wooden Doric columns, with pilasters at the wall behind them.

There is a pediment. Entablatures and railings are simple, of wood. Floors and ceilings are of narrow boards. 5. Chimneys: Two interior chimneys, stuccoed above the roof, hooded. Two brick chimneys in rear ell. 6. Openings: a. Doorways: Entrance doorway is simple--a rectangular opening between the middle pair of engaged columns. The door has six raised and fielded panels. b. Windows and shutters: Typical windows are double hung; those at ends of the rear portion are triple, with the central opening widest, wood mullions. There is a Palladian window at the stair landing on the north side. Window openings have wood architrave trim on the exterior. There are louvered blinds with wrought- iron strap hinges hung on two pintles driven into the trim. 7. Roof: a.

Shape, covering: Hip roof, with small front pediment, and gables at ends of the rear portion. b. Cornice : Simple molded wooden cornice. THOMAS FuLLER HOUSE ("TABBY MANSE") HABS No. (Page 3) C. Technical Description of Interior 1. Floor plans; first floor: The main body of the house con- sists of a rectangular front portion, and a wider (but shallower) rear portion. Through the central axis runs a hall, which is wider at the rear to accorrnnodate a stair. On either side at the front is a parlor, somewhat deeper than wide; on either side at the rear is a room somewhat wider than deep. Chimneys center on the front parlors, and are thus off center of the rear rooms. There is a front portico and a rear service ell.

Ceiling height is about 11' -6 11 Second floor: There is a central stair hall at the rear, with a rear room at each side. At the front are two rooms, the eastern one extending across the central bay and the two eastern bays; this is the ballroom or drawing room. There is a front portico. 2. Stairways: There is a central flight to the landing, divided flights returning above the landing. Open string, brackets, round handrail, plain balusters of rectangular section. J. Flooring: Boards varying from 5 1/2 11 to 10 1/2 11 in width, of first-growth longleaf yellow pine heartwood. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Front parlors and drawing room are paneled in longleaf yellow pine full height, other rooms are plastered above the paneled wainscoting. Ceil- ings are plastered.

Chimney breasts are paneled full height. woodwork is painted, typical~y. 5. Doorways and doors : Doorway openings have wood architrave trim; doors have panels, raised and fielded on one face, one horizontal panel across the top and four below. Thick- ness is 1 stiles and rails are mortised, tenoned and pegged. Window openings extend to floor, with space below stool paneled; trim is similar to that of doors. 6. Decorative features and trim: Typically, paneled wain- scoting with a high base and molded dado rail. Windows have flush type interior shutters; those of triple windows have sections folding into mullions. The drawing room, two by three bays, has molded paneling full height. The room cornice has dentils and pendant modillions, which are coved.

The fireplace opening is faced with marble and has a stone hearth. The mantel is of wood, with Ionic pilasters having an inverted taper. Moldings of the entablature are ornamented, and relief ornament appears in the c~nter block of the frieze, over pilasters, in the frieze, and:. i:n pilaster panels. Over the mantel is a large crossetted panel. THOMAS FULLER HOUSE ("TABBY MANSE") HABS No. (Page 4) Southwest parlor: The mantel and overmantel are similar to those of the drawing room except that the pilasters are straight. Southeast parlor: This is similar to tne other parlor except that the mantelpiece has Doric pilasters. The paneling in this room is natural finish, the paint having been removed in recent times.

The northeast first-floor room contains a notable mantel with reeded pilasters shaped ~ike a CABRIOLE ~eg, a fluted frieze with an urn in low relief in ti1e center block, and a guttae course in the bed molding of the cornice. The southwest second-floor room contains a mantel with relief ornament in the frieze and center block and orna- mented cornice. Mantels in the rear rooms of the second floor are simple. 7. Hardware: There are a number of cast-iron box locks on doors, some wrought-iron latches of unusual design on second floor; remains of bell-pull. 8. Heating: Fireplace in each major room. D. Site: This house occupies a corner lot in a residential area; blocks are small. It faces south, overlooking the water, and is set well back from the street.

There was formerly a stable, built of tabby, near the northwest corner of the house. Prepared by Harley J. McKee, Architect National Park Service August ~1 ~r~ ~ t , < ; ~ ..; J Addendum to: Thomas Fuller House HABS No. (Tabby Manse) Bay and Harrington Streets Beaufort Beaufort County South Carolina PHOTOGRAPHS Historic American Buildings Survey National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, ADDENDUM TO: HABS No. THOMAS FULLER HOUSE (Tabby Manse) HAt.5 Bay Street Beaufort Beaufort County 7 -f)EAUf1 South Carolina el- PHOTOGRAPHS HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior C St. NW Washington, DC I