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ARLINGTON HOUSE
Historic Structures Report Phase II |
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III. CHRONOLOGY OF HISTORICAL EVENTS 1778-1981
1778
Tract of land on which Arlington is built purchased by John Parke Custis.
1795 October
George Hadfield appointed superintendent for the construction of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
1798 May
George Hadfield dismissed as superintendent for the construction of the Capitol.
1802 (May)
Martha Washington dies at Mount Vernon.
1802 SUMMER
G.W.P. Custis moves into four-room brick cottage on land inherited from J. P. Custis.
1804 13 April
Letter from Cornelia Lee to Mrs. Richard Bland Lee:
The house will be a very handsome building when completed. The room we were in was 24 feet square and 18 high.
1804 July 7
G.W.P. Custis married Mary Lee Fitzhugh.
1805 (Presumed)
Diary of artist William Birch (updated) said to have seen the proposed plan for the entire mansion and noted:
He had built the two wings of his capital house with the hill they stood upon was an ornament of every elegant situation within the City of Washington."
1811 May 7
from The National_Intelligencer:
I was struck on entering the ground of Mr. Custis, at Arlington, on the bank of the Potomac opposite the City of Washington, with several of the most picturesque views. This seat is on a superb mount and his buildings are begun in a stile of superior taste and elegance."
1812-1815
War of 1812; Custis short of building supplies and money.
1817 19 December
Randolph Stucco ("hydrolic cement") test at Arlington House documented by newspaper article of August 19th, 1818.
1818 8 April
Note of G.W.P. Custis to Edward Stabler, druggist: "not being able to command cash at this time from the heavy expense of my building, I enclose my note. . ."
1818 18 April
Receipt of Cornelius McLean to G.W.P. Custis:
200. Received of Mr. Custis. Two Hundred Dollars on an account of his building being Fifteen Hundred & Fifty Dollars in cash up to this date 18th April 1818."
1818 May
Traveler's reference to Arlington House as "Custis' Folly."
1818 10 June
from Alexandria Gazette:
Arlington House, the seat of Mr. Custis . . . was struck by lightning during the storm on Saturday morning. The lightning entered the roof and passed down by a temporary wooden pier, erected to support the unfinished part of the portico, but fortunately without any injury to the building or family."
1818 19 August
from Daily National Intelligencer:
. . One other experiment was made on the [exterior] northwest corner of Arlington House, the seat of G.W.P. Custis, Esq., in the District of Columbia, just before sunset on Saturday, 19th day of December 1817 [test was successful]."
Article concerning the cement stucco of David Moore Randolph.
1818 22 August
from a receipt given by an illegible hand:
"Received by George W. P. Custis, Esq. eighteen dollars which with the sums before received is in full of wages for plastering at Arlington House & of all demands."
1824 December
F. A. Levaseur, visiting Arlington House with Lafayette:
"His [Custis'] house, built according to reduced plans of the temple of Thesus . ."
1826
Hadfield dies, obituary lists "Mr. Custis House" as one of his creations. ("Daily National Intelligencer", Washington, D.C., February 13, 1826.)
William P. Elliot publishes first known picture of the house in the 1826 edition of his Washington Guide.
1830
Francis M. Trollope, travel description published in 1832:
"It is a noble looking place, having a portico of stately white columns. . ."
1831 June 30
Robert E. Lee wedding to Mary Custis.
1837 12 July
Letter from R. E. Lee to his wife:
"Tell Mother [Mrs. G.W.P. Custis] I was going to day [in Baltimore] to see about her pip[es] but on further consideration, I thought she would not be able to compass the matter unless I was there, as they would have to be laid with care, and the joints in lead . . ."
1837 16 October
Letter from R. E. Lee to his wife:
"Arlington must now look beautiful, and you and Mother will be much engaged with your improvements . . ."
c. 1840
Manuscript "Childhood Days at Arlington — Mixed With After Memories" by Elizabeth Gibbon Randolph Calvert written in 1875.
FAMILY PARLOR — "white walls"
"The dining room is divided from this one by three arches, that reach half way to the ceiling and have the spring of each arch filled in with glass set in radial panes. This room has no immediate connection with the outer world; its doors open, one on the main hall — which is crossed at the back of a passage like the top of a T that accommodates two flights of stairs not seen from the front door — the other door from the dining room opening towards the kitchen. Over both doors are arches of glass; . . ."
1851 c. October — November
Letter from Mrs. R. E. Lee to her son,
G.W.C. Lee: "Your Grandfather (G.W.P. Custis) is seized with a spirit of improvement lately—he is making new steps to the Portico (the old [wooden] ones having so decayed as to be unsafe) and intends paving it with octagon brick tiles which are now being burned in one of the vast brick kilns in Washington—then he is going to put a new roof on the stable which is more needful than the other—though all are most desirable . . "
1851 5 December
Letter from Mrs. G.W.P. Custis to her grandson G.W.C. Lee:
". . The portico steps are finished at last, and Charles and Austin are engaged in preparing the floor for the payers who are to lay the tiles as soon as your grandfather can haul them from Washington..."
1852 December 30
Letter from G.W.P. Custis to Benson J. Lossing:
"I have had a capital excellent studio fitted up in the South Wing of this House, with a first rate light . . . also a stove and everything comfortable."
1853 April 23
Mrs. Custis dies at Arlington House.
1855 July 1
Letter from Robert E. Lee to his wife:
"I hope Mr. Heyward has completed the furnace, & that the plasterers have made a satisfactory commencement of their business. Write me all the particulars. I informed you in my last letter that the monument would be shipped on the 30th June, & the mantels on the 1st."
1855 July 9
Letter from Robert E. Lee to his wife:
"It is a comfort to learn the furnace is completed & the men out of the house; but I do not understand how 'the walls in the Hall could have been so broken, as to require being plastered all over.' They could only have opened the strip for the air pipe in the Hall & that they should have restored. They could not give the new the exact Colour of the old plastering and the whole may have to be coloured, but not plastered, unless you wish it hard finished, as it is called, which it is not now."
"As regards the painting of the large room, white is the simplest & cheapest colour, & I think with stained doors will look very well. If well grained in imitation of oak or walnut, (the latter I prefer) it will look richer, though darker, & the room you know wants light."
1855 July 23
From R. E. Lee's Memorandum Book #5:
noted that he sent his wife a check for $240 "to pay for finishing large room at Arlington."
1855 August 20
From R. E. Lee's Memorandum Book #5:
Sent Mary C. Lee a check on the Bank of Commerce of New York to the order of Collin & Co., in payment of furnace for Arlington for $200.
1855 August 20
Letter from R. E. Lee to his wife:
"I am glad you are going to have the bookcases repaired."
1856 18 April
from letter from Blanche Berard to her Mother:
"On the right of the hall opens a room, which a sort of archway divides into two, a larger & smaller apartment."
1856 October 2
Mrs. Lee to Col. R. E. Lee in a letter:
"The stable being pronounced unsafe we have a carpenter here putting on a new roof & I took the opportunity with Fathers sanction to have the partition taken down between the two front dressing rooms & leaving the door that opens into Markie's room as we are much in want of another room, but indeed the poor old place looks very ruinous. . ."
1857 October 10
Mr. Custis dies at Arlington House.
1858 2 October
Letter from Agnes Lee to Rooney Lee:
"Papa is very busy with the workmen, mending and building all of the time. The stable is beginning to approach completion and will be very handsome I think. He is repairing the shed to both wings and rebuilding the 'planks' of brick..." [this quote in its entirety seems to apply only to the stables].
1859 17 October
APPLICATION TO HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Records indicate that the roof of the mansion had been slated in 1858 and that a new gravel roof had been placed on the stables and the wings of the house.
1861
"On entering the house, on the right was the living room and, through folding doors, you caught a glimpse of the dining room beyond." [Evidence for presence of glass doors and filled arches during the Lee Period of Occupancy.]
from As I Recall Them (1936) by George L. Upshur [asked by War Department for his recollections as he was only living person having known Lee at Arlington.]
Note: This recollection was 75 years later when Upshur was 82 years old)
1861
April 22nd — R. E. Lee left Arlington.
May 15th — Mrs. R. E. Lee left Arlington.
1861 24 May
Arlington House occupied by U.S. Army.
1861-1864
Arlington House used as army headquarters.
1864-1868
Arlington House served as office of the Superintendent of the National Cemetery.
1864 11 January
Arlington House sold for taxes and purchased by U.S. Government for $26,800.
1864 17 June
200 acres opened as a National Cemetery; property taken from the Arlington Estate.
1864, June 28 and 29
Andrew Russell photographic survey of Arlington House.
1865 April 8th
"Upstairs in one room we saw the bed room which Washington died and while in the room, the man in charge picked some pebbles from the roofing of the Conservatory and gave me, . . ."
from Contemporary letter written by Emma ______ donated to Arlington House Collection (copy) by Miss Pamela Hawkes in 1981.
1865 29 April
Nearly 5,000 soldiers had been buried in the Arlington National Cemetery since June 1864.
1867 August
Monthly report for the Arl. Nat. Cemetery:
"The main building is in very good condition. The roof of the north wing has been shingled and the woodwork on the inside of the north wing and the woodwork on the inside of the green house, has been painted during the present month; the masonry on the outside of the main building has been whitewashed yellow during the present month."
1868
15,000 Union soldiers had been buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.
1869 September
from monthly report of Arlington National Cemetery:
"Buildings: A new roof has been put on the South Wing of the Mansion and all leaks repaired on Mane (sic) building."
Thompson R. East
Supt.
Supt.
1870 June
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
"The main building has been improved by its having been recently painted. I would recommend the white washing of the masonry of the wood work on the inside of the North Wing of the main building, also the painting of the wood work on the inside of the green house."
Charles Fitchett, Supt.
1870 August
from the Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery
"The main building is in very good condition. The roof of the North Wing has been shingled and the wood work on the inside of the green house has been painted, during the past month. The masonry on the outside of the main building has been whitewashed yellow during the present month."
Charles Fitchett, Supt.
1870 December
Monthly report of the Arlington Nat. Cemetery:
"The main building and two lodges are in condition except that about two dozen window frames are required. The two outhouses near the main building are very old and nearly worthless. I respectfully ask that these buildings may be inspected with a view of ascertaining whether they are worth the cost of repair."
1872 April
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery
"I respectfully recommend that a cistern be built at the south end of the main building...."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1873 May 30
from the National Republican of Washington, D.C.:
"The front of the mansion, which faces the river, received its share of beautifying, and the massive columns have all been repainted..."
1873 15 November
from Letter to Quartermaster General from Wm. Myers:
"Leading water from roof of mansion — house to a new cistern and drainage."
1874
Report of the Inspector of Nat. Cemeteries: Arlington
"The old mansion and the outbuildings have been repaired and are now in good order."
1874 February
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
"The Buildings: Are in good condition with the exception of porches and steps of the main building which need to be repaired."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1874 May
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
"The interior of the main building, especially that part of the house occupied by the Superintendent, needs repairing badly. The plastering has fallen off, the wind and snow beating through the window frames so that it is hardly possible to keep the cold out. New locks should be put on all the doors. There is not a complete lock on any door in the house. The front and back porches should also be replaced by new ones; they are in a very delapidated condition."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1874 August
from the Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
". . . new porches and steps have been erected during the past (sic), also some repairs have been made inside and new locks have been put on all the doors."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
"I would respectfully recommend that a glass roof be put on the old conservatory attached to the main building so as to make it more useful in preserving plants during the winter."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1874 October
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
". . . A glass roof has been put on old conservatory during the past month."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1878 March
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
". . . the roof of the central part of the mansion is in bad condition and should be repaired at an early date. The roof is covered with slate nailed on the old shingled roof, the shingles are badly rotted and consequently the nails fastening the slate have no hold and the slates are blown off at every heavy gale..."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1878 June
from the Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
". . . the roof has just been repaired by relaying the slate and putting on a new sheathing."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1878 July
Monthly cemetery report:
"Mansion in good condition, the part occupied by Superintendent has had new windows put in and is now being white-coated and painted."
1879 August
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
". . .a new shingled roof has been put on the wing parts during the month."
F. Kauffmann, Supt.
1880 December 3
from The New York Times:
"The Arlington Mansion and its surrounding buildings have suffered no changes since Lee went to Richmond in 1861 save such as ceaseless work of decay have wrought. The doors and windows have faded; the pillars have blistered and scaled into ugliness; the narrow, ill-balustrated stairway is worn and battered "
1881 17 May
Memo by M.C. Meigs, Quartermaster General
"The capitals of the front Portico of the mansion at Arlington are of wood & more or less decayed. Where renewed they should be made of Portland cement with sharp sand. 1 cement/3 sand & their profiles should be cemented to resemble those of the Parthenon, which is the accepted canon of Grecian Ionic order".
1882 December
Supreme Court of the United States upholds lower court decision to return Arlington Estate to George Washington Custis Lee.
1883 March 10
U.S. acquires full title to Arlington estate from Lee heirs for $150,000.
1884 May
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
"The old mansion, a part of which is occupied by the Superintendent is in good condition with the exception of some rooms on the second floor where the plastering is breaking away."
1884 June
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
under General Remarks:
"The accumulation of filth, debris and foul rubbish in the cellar under the old Mansion, nearly one hundred cart loads, has been removed and the cellar thoroughly cleansed and white washed."
1884 November
from Monthly Report of Arlington National Cemetery:
"The old mansion has been thoroughly renovated — plastered walls mended and Kalsomined, all inside woodwork painted, and the columns scraped and painted."
E.M. Main, Supt.
1885 May 28
Estimate submitted for:
1. replastering fallen ceiling — 8 sq. yds. ("south room")
2. 2 new windows in south room
3. fitting up 2nd story of Mansion for the Gardener: sink, bath tub, & water closet.
4. slate roof on Main Building
5. slate roof for one outbuilding to match the other previously slated.
1885 September
from a proposal for "Repairs of Improvements" — SPECIFICATIONS:
1. Roofs of wings and outbuildings rebuilt and reslated.
2. Replace sash in two windows in "south" room.
3. Gate on main stairway.
4. A shelf 12' x 12" x 1" on a 1 x 4 strip w/coathooks.
5. Put up a partition with 2 x 4s and double boarded with beaded flooring in the arch between the pantry (presumed excavation) and the rest of house containing the window to be removed from the north side of the connecting room between pantry of north stairhall, the window to become a door.
6. Replace a plaster ceiling.
7. Install a bath tub (6'—0"), water closet, 18" x 30" sink, lay required vitrified pipe in cellar to accommodate sewage. 30 yd. hot water tank.
(Plumbing improvements were for Gardener and believed to have been done on the 2nd floor of house).
1886 May 29
from Harper's Weekly:
"They have painted the old house [Arlington] yellow lately—not a screaming yellow, but a soft, unobtrusive tint that is very consistent with its age. . . ".
1892
from Historic Arlington, by Karl Decker and Angus McSween
"Over the main entrance to the building hangs a sign, 'Superintendent's Office,' and the door on the right that opens from the hallway leads to the apartments occupied by that official. The upper floor of the building and the entire right wing are taken up by the superintendent's apartments, and are not open to the public. The rooms on the left are always open, but they possess very little of interest."
1892 10 January
from the New York Times
"The old yellow mansion of the Lees with its portico of heavy columns stands on the brow of the lofty bluff. . ."
1893
from an unnamed newspaper clipping:
". . . In the old building today, and especially in the dining rooms, are friezes, a little indistinct, but still traceable, which the cemetery people insist are the work of old General Custis (sic)."
1906
Steam heat installed in Arlington House.
1914 January 4
Bathroom in north wing changed. "Present Condition" drawing shows a bathtub against north window, wall and a partition between the two rooms of the bath complex. In the wall between is a small window. There is a 19th century WC shown, referred to as a "cabinate," with a holding tank suspended above on east wall of small room. Toilet seat is on a bench built across the north wall and there is a ledge and vent pipe behind. "Proposed New Condition" drawing shows partition wall w/window removed and door to small room fixed "in a permanent manner." Ledge and vent pipe remain, but WC fixture is new, self-contained unit. In this manner the two small rooms have been combined into one "modern" bathroom. Tub shown in same position; no sink shown on either condition.
[From NCR 2.3—130 (formerly Quartermaster Depot #H—51) kept in Arlington House files]. #530
1920 (?)
Drawing showing north wing & portion of main block as quarters for Cemetery Superintendent. #101 — partition with window across and divides it from flanking room; room divided into small "Living Room" at south end (south of 105/W1) and larger portion as "Dining Room ". No stairs shown. No door at 101/D1 #102 & 103 — Bathroom arrangement as drafted in 1914 drawing; sink as south wall of #102. No door 102/D1. #104 — kitchen, with sink unit in northwest corner and stove (?) before fireplace.
#105—Hall—door indicated at 105/D1.
#106—Bedroom—door indicated at 106/D4/106/D1 swung opposite.
#107—Bedroom.
#108—Parlor—no doors indicated on arches.
#109—Bedroom/#110 stair hall (for occupant upstairs).
No doors indicated where "short" doors now exist.
Drawing probably done to illustrate conditions prior to 1920s restoration.
[from NCP 2.3—91—7 preserved at Arlington House files #305 (seems to be only partial drawing, rest missing).]
1924 March
Photograph in Architectural Forum of east and west facades in an article by G. L. Rodier: Also shows projected plan of "Restored Plan":
North wing was to undergo a major change in these early plans: Rooms 102 & 103 were to be torn out to give an enlarged "Pantry and Serving Room" and all partitions in north wing proper were to be removed giving a huge "Dining Room" with a fireplace on the chimnney breast. 1885 partition under arch in 101 to remain.
1925 4 March
PUBLIC RESOLUTION #74 / 68th Congress
H. J. Res. #264
Act authorizing restoration of Arlington House to appearance immediately prior to the War Between the States.
1929 17 April
Results of a meeting of the Quartermaster Committee:
"It was agreed that an outside heating plant would be constructed adjacent to the public comfort station in the rear of the summer kitchen outbuilding to give heat to the main building and outbuildings. Also that the exterior of the main building was to be reconditioned and repaired without change to its present general appearance, except the addition of a proper type of railing around the roofs of the north and south wings and the substitution of stone steps for the wooden steps around the main portico. With regards to the interior, it was agreed "That the interior [should] be restored and repaired generally, that only temporary partitions be removed; that the arrangement of rooms in the north wing be allowed to remain, as well as the arches in the double parlors north of the main hall; that the large room in the south wing be furnished as the state dining room; that this room and the main drawing room south of the central doorway have new marble mantels [thereby removing the Lee mantels] installed similar to those in the double parlors; that all the modern flooring be removed and the original old floors restored; that an effort be made to discover reported mural decorations under the present paint in main drawing room; that mantels on second floor be replaced with mantels of the Colonial period."
1929 9 September
Heating plant at Arlington House removed from basement room to basement of comfort station; heating system renovated to provide forced hot air to house in general with connectors concealed under windows in north wing (all other radiators removed as part of restoration.)
Also: Nat. Archives drawing #2.3—3
Information from Plan #6608—161.
1929 September 9
Arch in basement connecting areas beneath white parlor and beneath morning room dropped approx. 1'—0" from original height and rebuilt.
from drawing #2.1—80 at National Archives.
1929 September 14
All basement windows replaced during restoration by army.
from drawing #2.3—13 at National Archives
1929 September 17
Installation of present electrical system at the Arlington House.
from drawings 2.3—4 through 2.3—6 at the National Archives, dated 9-17-29.
1929 October 8
Placement of wood balustrade on roofs of north and south wings.
from drawing #2.3—8 at the National Archives dated 10-8-29.
1929 October 10
Replacement of mantel in morning room with wood replica of Adam style (present mantel). Replacement of original marble mantelpiece in Lee bedroom by wood Adam style.
from drawing #2.3—10 at National Archives & 2.3—11
1929 October 14
Army "restoration" of winter kitchen.
from drawing of fireplace crane for winter kitchen at National Archives, dated 10-14-29, #2.3—15.
1929 December 20
Plans to replace original marble white parlor with copies of Woodlawn.
from drawing #2.3—23 at mantels in those at National Archives.
1930
Army restoration of summer kitchen.
from drawings dated 1930 in Nat. Archives, series 2.3.
1931
from report of L. M. Leisenring to the quartermaster general:
Locks on both parts of centerhall doors original. All other door hardware in house replaced by reproductions.
Has pine floor throughout as first floor; second floor original flooring (except centerhall upstairs) which was patched and repaired c. 1930 by old flooring taken from the first floor.
Heating system renovated & concealed.
1933 10 June
Executive Order #6166
Lee Mansion transferred from the War Department to the Department of the Interior.
1933 October (from Specifications)
Arlington House and dependencies painted inside and out.
1938
Plans for renovation (1947) & heating system show that fireplace located under fireplace in family dining room was a working fireplace changed to an arch with the heating duct taking up the space of the flue.
Under west fireplace in space under parlor there was an arch higher than one presently with a flue which was boarded up after inclusion of the heating duct. [from drawing #2.1—75 at the National Archives].
1941
Standpipe fire hose line for protection against air attack, small fires, etc. installed in south wing and southwest corner of main block during this year. Closet in store room presumably did not exist prior to this installation as it appears on no drawings of intended plans governing this matter. (Letter from C. G. Mortimer to W. F. Haiber, Oct. 21, 1940). Information from Arl. House Master Files.
1942 Spring
Interior of Arlington House repainted.
from memo dated August 20, 1942 for Mr. Clark.
1942 9 October
Exterior of mansion repainted.
from memo for Mr. Kelley, signed by John Hetrick.
1949 27 April
Heating system to provide internal air intake from house (rather than exterior); supplemental heating provided by further diffusers in family dining room, white parlor (west fireplace) and conservatory. Two return-air fans added under centerhall, one under morning room.
Information from drawing #NCP 2.3—81
1953 January
from Murray Nelligan's monthly report.
"Early in the month the work of installing the Lee mantels in the drawing room of the Lee mansion was completed."
1961
Wing roofs replaced by simulated wood shingles — parapets removed — to better reproduce conditions as shown in the 1864 photographs.
[from memo sent out by Sutton Jett in Sept. 1960 and letter to Mrs. J. R. Buchley of August 16, 1961 as preserved in Arlington House Master Files].
1964
Much of house re-stuccoed. Repainted in first marbleization since historic period.
1973
House repainted & re-marbleized.
1980—81
Stabilization work carried out in house structural system. House sandblasted and remarbleized. North wing fabric investigated.
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