ARLINGTON HOUSE Historic Structures Report Supplementary Material

This summary is a by-product of George Washington Memorial Parkway Package No. 506. The report presents a summary of the documentary evidence relating to the physical history and architectural evolution of Arlington House, 1802-1933. It should be noted that the evidence presented in this summary is drawn entirely from documentary evidence; none is based on a personal inspection of the physical structure of the mansion.

SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH WING

1. Built in 1802 as a two-story brick house with hipped roof covered with wood shingles. The residence was 40 feet 6 inches long and 24 feet deep. The physical evidence indicates that the north wing house erected in 1802 may not have been built with a view of forming a future wing of Arlington House.

Inside the house is believed to have had a total of five rooms; two equal sized rooms on the second floor, served by a massive central chimney and fireplaces, and three rooms on the first floor.

The walls of the north and southeast rooms of the first story had plaster walls that were perhaps covered with a dark red paint. The walls of the southwest room were covered with a very hard and rough gray plaster, but the paint colors, if any, are unknown.

Some time after the construction of the south wing, the north wing may have been extensively remodeled on exterior in order to resemble the exterior of the south wing, which had been erected in 1803-04. In the remodelling work the north wing is believed to have been reduced in height from a two-story house to a one-story over elevated-basement residence. Existing windows in the north wing also had to be adjusted to the new interior floor levels, which were five feet lower than in the 1802 plan.

Inside, the original floor plans of three rooms on the first floor (which now became the cellar) and two or three rooms on the second floor (which now became the first floor) were apparently retained, but the floor levels of both stories are believed to have been lowered. The 1802 floor level of the second story was probably lowered by five feet to form the new first story.

In 1817-18 the main or center house was erected. The hip roofs on both wings were replaced by gable ones covered with wood shingles. The original south wall of the north wing was removed and a new wall was erected between the main block and the north wing. A door was incorporated into this wall to connect the north wing and the family parlor of the new main block.

At some time the north wing was remodelled so that the first floor had four rooms, namely, the school and sewing room (room 104), the Custis chamber (room 106), the Custis guest chamber (room 107), and the inner hall (north wing) (room 105). Rooms 106 and 107 were located on the east (or front) side of the north wing and opened at their western ends into room 105, a new hall that extended along part of the west side of the north wing. Parapets were added at the edge of the north and south wing roofs.

The cellar was probably also altered at this time to into two rooms. The new north room (BO-2) was the winter kitchen and the new south room (BO-3) was used as a wine cellar according to the children of Selina Gray, interviewed by the War Department.

During the 1811 remodelling, it is believed that a center window was introduced in the east (front) elevation of the basement of the north wing to match the center window created above in the first story.

Either before or after construction of the main block, a one-story over elevated cellar loggia, with brick walls and stone foundations, with open arches was constructed along the entire west (rear) elevation of the north wing. A corresponding open loggia was also constructed along the west elevation of the south wing.

At some unknown date but probably by the mid-1840s, the east and west loggias were enclosed and flankers were added to each to connect the wings to the west halls in the main block. In the north wing the first floor room in the enclosed loggia became the pantry (room 101). The area under 101 in the cellar became the cellar stair hall (BO-1) which provided access to the winter kitchen (BO-2) and the wine cellar (BO-3). In the south wing the enclosed loggia became the conservatory and store room. The enclosing of the loggias is believed to have been completed by the mid-1840s. When the closet intruding into the store room is removed more accurate dating of the enclosure may be found in uncovered physical evidence. It is possible that the loggias were constructed early in this period rather than before the construction of the main block.

Before 1861 a water closet was added as room 103 and a bath with tub became room 102, both located at the north end of the pantry.

In 1858 Col. Robert E. Lee replaced wood shingle roofs of north wing with gravel roofs and probably removed the 1818 roof parapets.

Data drawn from architect Harry Lee Arnest, III, and archeologist John F. Pousson's intensive studies and reports (1980-81) on the physical history of the north wing.

(North elevation drawing is included in Plan No. 21).

SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION HISTORY, SOUTH WING, 1803-1861

1. Built 1803-04, the south wing was a one-story over elevated basement residence with a wood shingle covered hip roof. Three of the walls, those on the east, south and west (rear) elevations, were constructed of brick, while a temporary wall, probably comprised of wood, enclosed the northern end. The house was 40 feet 1 inch long and 24 feet deep, and stood approximately 58 feet 6 inches south of the two-story brick north wing. It has round arched openings. The first story of the south end, and probably also the north end, contained one window. The east or front elevation had three arched windows, and two doors were located in the west or rear facade, one near the southwest corner and the other near the northwest corner. These may have opened out on a two-story wooden porch with roof that extended across the full length of the western elevation. A brick chimney was located in the west exterior wall, between the two doors.

The fact that the south wing appears to have undergone relatively little remodelling from 1804 to 1818, suggests very strongly that George W. P. Custis had an architect's plans in hand that were used to construct the south wing in 1803-04.

Inside the south wing had three rooms. The basement contained one large room (BO-10) which was approximately 26 feet 6-1/2 inches by 21 feet in size. This room had a brick floor and was heated by a fireplace that was centered in the west wall. The southern end of the basement, an area about 10 feet 11 inches by 21 feet, was walled off and not excavated in 1804 (see room 12A and B). This area remained unexcavated from 1804 to 1929. The servants indicated that the dairy was in the cellar of the south wing.

The first floor contained two rooms. The large north room (room 115) was 24 feet 8-3/4 inches by 21 feet in size and was heated by a large fireplace located in the west wall. This room was used as the parlor until 1818. The south room (room 117) was 11 feet 1 inch by 21 feet in size and was apparently heated by a stove that was located in the northwest corner. The pipe of this stove entered a flue hole that had been cut in the northwest corner wall and connected through the north wall with the flue in the fireplace on room 115. The floors of rooms 115 and 117 were comprised of random-width, tongue-and-groove pine of random thickness. Both rooms had 14 foot high ceilings and plastered walls. Room 117 probably served as Mr. Custis' office. A piece of early wall paper was found behind the mantel in room 115 indicating early use of paper in this room.

2. Main or center house built 1817-18 and south wing attached to main house. Hipped roof of south wing altered to gable roof covered with wood shingles. Parapets were added to roof after or before construction of the main block, perhaps as early as 1804.

3. Ca. 1820. One-story brick loggia with stone foundations, with open arches, constructed along the entire western (rear) elevation of the south wing. When loggia was enclosed a flanker constructed at the southwest corner of the main house. A door cut through the south wall of the flanker to provide entrance via a door from the conservatory (room 116) in the loggia to the store room (room 114) in the flanker and from room 114 to the south stair hall (room 113) in the main house.

4. At some unknown date after 1820 but probably c. 1845, the first story of the loggia (room 116) and flanker (room 114) enclosed to provide additional room. Room 114 was used as a hall and store room, and room 116 as a conservatory or greenhouse. In basement under flanker, room BO-9 excavated and finished to provide an outside entrance to the basement room BO-11. The space under Room 116—BO-11, however, was left from ca. 1820 to 1933 as a crawl space and not excavated.

During period 1804-1861, room BO-10 is believed to have been used as a milk and dairy house.

5. Ca. 1818—wooden parapet added to roof of south wing. It was removed ca. 1858, when Col. Robert E. Lee placed a gravel roof on the south wing.

(South Elevation drawing is included in Plan No. 21).

ARLINGTON HOUSE - WORK ON EXTERIOR

CONSTRUCTION HISTORY SUMMARY, MAIN HOUSE, 1818-1861

Built 1817-18. Plan attributed to George Hadfield ca. 1803-04. Construction supervised by carpenter Cornelius McLean, probably of New York City, in 1817-18.

The main or center house was a two-story over-full-basement brick residence approximately 59 feet wide and 40 feet 6 inches deep, with a gable roof that was covered with wood shingles. A pair of large brick chimneys rose from both the end and west sides of the gable roof. The main house, with the north and south wings, fronted to the east for a total of 140 feet. The east or front facade of the main house was dominated by a massive portico about 60 feet wide and 25 feet deep; its pediment was supported by eight massive columns of which six were in the front row. The columns were five feet in diameter at the base, gradually tapering in circumference to the capitals, which were Doric and constructed of wood. The columns, 16 feet in height, were built of brick, covered with stucco resembling stone and like the pediment marked off in blocks to imitate stone construction. This stucco or hydraulic cement, was also applied in 1818 to the north, east and south sides of the main house and two wings were marked off to initiate stone construction. The west or rear elevations of the main house and two wings, however, were not protected with plaster in 1818.

Perhaps to save money, the eight Doric columns were not fluted, the great east portico was provided with wooden rather than stone steps and the portico floor may also have been comprised of sand. Wooden porches also served the rear entrance to the main house and the west entrance of the north wing.

Inside, on the first floor, the house had a center hall plan. The center hall (room 111) extended through the mansion from front to rear; on the left (south was Room 112) a great parlor that Custis left in an unfinished state from 1818 to 1855 because of lack of money, and a south stair hall (room 113) with the main staircase to the second floor. On the right (or north) of the hall were three rooms: a parlor (room 108), a dining room (room 109), and the north stair hall (room 110) with the servant's stair to the second floor. The stairs may have continued to the cellar from both stair halls.

The second floor also had a center hall plan with a total of eight rooms.

There were four bed chambers and four dressing rooms located on each side of the main hall (room 201). The attic of the main house was left unfinished from 1818 to 1933. In 1857 Mrs. R. E. Lee had a door from the upper hall cut through the west wall of the dressing rooms between the front bed chambers from which she had removed the dividing partition. She walled up the door to the boys' chamber and retained the one to Mary and Markie's chamber, creating a small guest chamber. Shallow closets were placed in the east bed chambers.

In 1851 George Washington Parke Custis paved the floor of the east portico with octagonal brick tile and replaced the original wooden steps with new ones also of wood.

In 1855, Col. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee finished off the great parlor (room 112) in the Victorian style and installed two Victorian mantels on the fireplaces in that room. In 1855 they also redecorated Room 115, the old parlor in the south wing, and installed a Victorian mantel in that room. They also had a hot air furnace placed in the cellar, under the center hall, in 1855. Other rooms were also redecorated.

In 1858, Col. Lee had a slate roof placed over the old wood shingle roof of the main house and gravel roofs replaced the wood shingle roofs on the north and south wings. Probably in 1858, he also had the eight brick columns on the east or front portico marbelized.

CHIMNEYS

REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT, 1864 — 1933

1906 Steam heating central system installed in mansion.

1915-20 No record of repair.

1924-28 No repairs made because of impending restoration program.

1929-30 Restoration work:

1929 All flues in all chimneys opened up and cleaned out down to the fireplaces.

1929 Tops of all chimneys closed with slate slabs.

1929 The four large chimneys on the main house were taken down to the second story ceiling level and rebuilt using old brick so far as possible and laid in Portland cement. The rebuilt chimneys had the same dimensions and appearance as the original ones.

1929 Damaged brick in other chimneys repaired or replaced.

(Elevation of west front drawing is included in Plan No. 21 and Plan of First Floor is included in Plan No. 20).

DRAWINGS AND PLANS, MEASURED OF ARLINGTON HOUSE

1. 1906 — First known measured floor plans of basement, first, and second, floors of Arlington House — for steam heating system, see Plan 19. (Shows extant partitioning of the north wing.)

2. 1910 plan of first floor (based on 1906) and plan for installed ladies toilet room in Room 114, see Plan No. 20.

3. 1923 preliminary pencil drawing of first floor of Arlington House (see Plan No. 21) and of elevations of first floor rooms, by Rodier and Kundzin, Architects. For 10 sheets, see Drawings No. 2.3—91 — sheets 1 to 10. NCP.

4. 1924 final inked drawings by Rodier and Kundzin of first and second floor plans, elevations and cross sections of exterior of house and of rooms and fireplaces on first floor of mansion, 15 sheets, undated but completed in March 1924 (see Plan No. 22) — Drawings No. NCP 2.3—92 — sheets 1 to 15.

5. 1930. Measured drawings of basement, first, and second floors in Arlington House by Quartermaster Corps, Plan No. 23. Drawing Nos. 6608—201, 202, and 203, or NCP 2.3 — 31, 32, 33, February 14, 1930.

AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

1929—An automatic fire alarm installed in the basement, first, second, and attic of Arlington House and also of two historic outbuildings at a cost of $1,842.70 — These all connected with Guards Room is new outbuilding with heating plant, etc. Also connected by a wire with a gong in the Fort Myer fire station and by a direct telephone line from the Guards Room to the Fort Myer fire station.

For plans of 1929 alarm system see NCP—2.3—56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, and 63, dated October 8, 22, and 31, 1929, and February 10, 1930.

GLASS, WINDOW AND WINDOWS

1871 About 24 window panes had to be replaced.

1875 New glass put in.

1878 New windows put in north wing quarters of superintendent.

1880 Hail storm damaged window glass on north side of house.

1885 Two new windows put in, probably in room 112.

1896 Glass replaced as result of wind damage.

1904 75 feet of sash cord purchased.

1904 For repair of window blinds. $2.00.

1915-20 No record of work.

1924-28 No repairs made.

1928-30 Restoration program.

1928 New casement sash, frames, and shutters for basement windows.

1928 Repair sash and broken glass.

1929 $2,900.00 allotted to replace all rotten and damaged exterior window sash, doors, and frames.

1929 All exterior window shutters repaired and painted.

GUARD RAILS AND SCREENS FOR ROOMS IN ARLINGTON HOUSE

1929—$1,500.00 allotted for the installation of metal guard rails and screens to all rooms in Arlington House and two historic outbuildings to protect rooms from visitors. These modelled after the system in use at Mount Vernon. Rubber matting also placed on hall floors and stairs to protect restored items from visitors feet.

For plans of guard rails and their locations, see Drawings No. 6608—179 and 200 (or NCP 2.3—17 and 30) dated October 25 and December 13, 1929.

GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS ON THE MANSION

Col. Robert E. Lee informed his fire insurance company on October 17, 1859 that the gutters and downspouts on Arlington House were metal. Civil War photographs, taken in 1864, namely Items no. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, Appendix No. 4, show these roof features in place.

Record of Repair and Improvement, 1865-1933:

1871 Repaired gutters and downspouts.

1873 Repairs made at a cost of $75.70.

1875 Repaired gutters on east (front) portico roof — $10.06.

1876 Repair snow damage to gutters.

1881 All gutters on mansion, about 440 feet, replaced.

1885 Repaired and painted.

1900 $7.00 spent for repair of "tin spouting."

1900 Repair and rehanging tin gutters on the north and northeast sides of mansion. $10.00.

1902 Gutters painted.

1906 All new gutters and downspouts installed for.....$235.00. 489 feet of eight inch gutters and 150 feet of five inch downspouts.

1906 Painted two coats of lead and oil.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 Hangers in first story of south wing, bent—replaced.....$35.00.

1923-28 No repairs made because of impending restoration.

1928-30 Restoration program.

1928 New copper gutters installed.

1928 New copper goosenecks installed.

1928 New copper wire guards at outlets.

1928 New copper downspouts.

1928 Cast iron guard connections installed.

1928 Six inch drain tiles laid to carry off water.

For plan of this work see Drawing No. 6608—1069 (or NCP 2.3 — 38), dated September 21, 1928.

Hardware and Locks

1874 New locks put on most doors in the mansion to replace missing hardware.

1904 Purchase two reversable door locks.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922-1928 No repairs or improvements made to hardware.

1929 $1,600 allotted for renewing hardware throughout the mansion. Replaced all modern locks with replica of "colonial period" Federal hardware.

1929 Only two complete original (pre-1861) locks found in place. These were located on the east and west entrance doors to the main hall, Room 111, in the main house.

1929 One original (pre-1861) door lock stolen from mansion ca. 1864, returned as gift and put on its original door, Door 111, D/3, in the main hall, west end, on the north side, to Room 110.

HEATING SYSTEMS OF ARLINGTON HOUSE

1803-1906 Fireplaces and stoves burning wood and coal.

1855 Brick hot air furnace installed in basement room BO-6, under main hall of main block, and hot air pipes with vents installed in north partition wall of room BO-6 and carried heat to the center hall, room 101, and on up to the second floor upper hall, room 201. Another duct appears to have run south from the furnace into basement room BO-8, where it vented into room 112, the large parlor that was finished in 1855.

1906 A central heating system with cast iron radiators installed in the basement, first and second floors of Arlington House at a cost of $1,736.00. All stoves removed from the house except the kitchen cooking ranges in rooms 104 and 203, in 1906.

For plans of 1906 heating system see Plans No. 2—766, Special, October 1906 and Specifications for work. See Plan No. 19 and for Specifications, Appendix No. 2, in report.

1928 Two coal burning cooking ranges removed from kitchens and replaced by electric ranges in Rooms 104 and 203, in order to lessen the danger from fire.

1929 Electric ranges and 1906 heating system, including boiler and radiators, removed from Arlington House.

1929-30 $12,000 was allotted for the construction of an exterior boiler house and trenches to provide heat for the mansion and historic outbuildings. An additional $4,500 was provided for installing the new heating system in the mansion.

For plans of the new heating system, see Drawings No. 6608—161, 162, and 163 or Drawings No. NCP—2.3 — 1, 2, and 3, dated September 3, 1929. Also Drawing No. 6608—178, November 1, 1929.

(543) Source of information for probable layout of 1855 heating system from Architect Harry Lee Arnest's "Architectural Data Section" HCR—139.

LIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR ARLINGTON MANSION

1803-1914 Candles, kerosene, whale oil, and other bottle fuels.

1914 Electric lights installed in mansion in 1914.

1924 Electrical lines leading from Fort Myer to Arlington House put underground at a cost of $1,690.00.

1928 Electric cooking ranges installed in Room 104 and Room 203, and old coal—wood stoves removed from kitchens in order to lessen the danger from fire.

1929 Improved electrical wiring system, light, and 1928 electric ranges removed from mansion.

1929 1914 electrical wiring system, lights and 1928 electric ranges removed from mansion.

1929-30 A new system of electrical wiring with floor and base plug outlets installed at a cost of $1,500.00.

For plans of the 1929-30 electrical system see Drawings No. 6608 — 164, 166, 167, and 168, dated September 17, 1929—or Drawing No. 2.3—64 — four sheets, for basement, first and second floors, and attic.

LIGHTNING RODS, 1802-1933

Arlington House did not have any lightning rod system during the years 1802 to 1933. The east (front) portico was struck by lightning in June 1818.

1865-1933

1870 Exterior woodwork and exterior plaster walls painted yellow.

1880 Exterior wood and plaster work painted yellow.

1886 Exterior painted yellow.

1886 Exterior yellow.

1889 Exterior yellow.

1899 For exterior painting of woodwork, two coats of lead and oil, yellow—$310.35.

1902 Entire exterior repainted two coats of lead and oil, including woodwork, plaster work, ceiling and columns on east portico—$387.00.

1902 For repair of exterior plaster, $15.00

1906 All exterior woodwork and metal work painted two coats of lead and oil for $225.00.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922-1928 No repair or painting because of the pending restoration.

August 1928-1930. Pointed and repaired exterior stucco work; scraped and painted two coats of lead and oil all exterior walls, cornices, including plaster and wood work.

EAST (FRONT) PORTICO

WOODEN STEPS

East portico, including wooden steps built 1817-18. In 1851 George W. P. Custis replaced what was probably the original wooden steps with a new set of wooden steps. The 1851 steps are visible in the Civil War photos, see items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, taken 1861-64, in appendix no. 4. The old steps are still to be seen in item no. 18, taken about 1871.

1874 Quartermaster Corps rebuilt the old wooden steps on east portico at a cost of $313.50. For 1874 plan see plan 16.

1880 Steps painted.

1886 Steps painted.

1897 Repaired for $9.50 and painted for $20.00.

1899 Scraped, puttied, and painted two coats of lead and oil, $16.00.

1901 Steps paints — $9.80.

1903 New set of wooden steps built at a cost of $247.00.

1915-20 No record of work.

1924-1928 No repairs made because of impending restoration.

1929 Steps painted two coats of lead and oil, also repaired.

1929 Plans to replace the old wooden steps with sandstone steps not carried out from 1929 to 1933, probably because of great cost.

Stone coping installed around perimeter of portier floor.

East Portico Floor

The floor of the east portico from 1818 to 1851 may have been comprised of sand, however, excavation on portier exposed brick floor laid at lower level than present, and may indicate a floor between sand and floor of 1851. George Washington Parke Custis, however, paved the floor with brick in 1851 and this stood without major repairs until 1930.

In 1930 the 1851 brick floor was repaired. Some of the bricks were replaced with bricks that duplicated the originals at a cost of $450.00.

1981 Brick payers reproduced and relaid around column where excavation occurred.

1981 Wooden steps rebuilt and treated with preservative. Stone coping replaced with wood on basis of 1861-1864 photographs.

EAST (FRONT) PORTICO

Eight Massive Doric Unfluted Columns, Brick, With Stucco Surface

Columns constructed 1817-18, ca. 1858 Col. Robert E. Lee marbleized the eight pillars and they stood in the state from 1858 to 1870 and perhaps to 1872.

Quartermaster Corps maintenance, 1865-1933:

1870 Columns perhaps painted.

1872 Columns definitely painted.

1875 Repaired and painted.

1876 Repaired.

1879 Repaired and painted.

1880 Repaired and plaster on the ceiling, which was cracked and falling, was replaced. All painted.

1883 Repaired and painted.

1884 Scrapped and painted.

1886 Painted yellow.

1889 Yellow colored.

1897 Painted at a cost of $125.00.

1889 Scraped and painted two coats of lead and oil, $125.00.

1901 Painted two coats of lead and oil, $65.40.

1902 Two coats on columns and ceiling. Painted lead and oil.

1904 Two coats of lead and oil, $65.00.

1906 Two coats of lead and oil.

1915-20 No record of work.

1924-1928 No repairs or painting done because of impending restoration.

1929-30 Exterior columns scraped and painted two coats of lead and oil.

TWO WESTERN (REAR) PORCHES

Both probably first erected by G.W.P. Custis in 1818 and 1820; One (1818) for the west (or rear) entrance from the main house (via Room 111), and the other ca. 1820 from the west (rear) side of the north wing loggia, in the third bay from the northwest corner.

Both porches were probably originally constructed of wood and then replaced by Custis in wood as they wore out. The wooden porch serving the west entrance of the main house is clearly visible in Signal Corps Photo 165 — 520 (Item No. 17 in Appendix No. 4). There are no known 1864 views of the north wing porch, but it must have resembled the main house west porch.

Quartermaster Corps Maintenance of the Two West Wooden Porches, 1865-1933

1874 Two western or rear porches rebuilt at a cost of $160.00. See Plan No. 16 for copy of the two 1874 plans for the new porches.

1880 Two porches painted.

1885 Extension built leading from the new door created in the north side of the north flanker, in the form of a wooden platform, leading to the historic wooden porch on the west (rear) side of the north wing. The historic porch and door served the cemetery superintendent's quarters which were located in the north wing. The new door and platform served as the entrance to the new apartments established for Gardener David H. Rhodes in 1885 on the second floor of the main house.

1886 Porches painted.

1897 Repaired for $15.00 and painted for $18.00.

1899 Scrapped, puttied, and painted rear porches, $13.00.

1901 Paint was first burned off the two porches, $5.00.

1903 Two west porches, including extension, rebuilt at a cost of $191.00.

1915-20 No record of work.

1923-28 No repairs made due to impending restoration.

1928-29 Rear porches repaired and painted.

(Drawing for wooden steps is included in Plan No. 16).

WORK ON ROOFS

Roofs of north and south wings, wood shingle from 1804 to 1858; these replaced by Col. Robert E. Lee with gravel roofs in 1858. Wooden parapets which had adorned the roofs of the north and south wings since 1818 were also removed from the wings by Lee in 1858.

Roof of the main house was wood shingle from 1818 to 1858. In the latter year, Col. Robert E. Lee placed a slate roof on the main house over the old wood shingle one.

Quartermaster Corps work on the Mansion Roofs, 1865-1933.

1899 Broken slate repaired twice, $35.00.

1901 Repair slate — $20.00.

1901 Repair leaks in roof — $50.00.

1903 $25.00 for putting new slate on.

1904 Repair of broken slate, $12.00.

1905 New snow breakers put on repair of roof, $40.00.

1905 Slate repaired, $35.00.

1908 Roofs of the two wings and of the main house reslated with a new roof at a cost of $1,500.00.

1908 Cornice at the northeast corner of the main house repaired.

1915-20 No record of work.

1923 New snow breakers placed on roof, $40.00.

1924-28 No repair of mansion done due to impending restoration.

1928 Replaced deteriorated woodwork of the cornices.

1928 Copper hips and ridges placed on roofs.

1928 Renewed the flashing at the chimneys.

1928 Replaced broken slate. All roofs, slate, were thoroughly repaired.

1929 Wooden balustrades (perhaps poorly designed after Benson J. Lossing's 1853 drawings of Arlington House) were placed on the roofs of the north and south wings of $3,200. No such adornments on roofs from 1858 to 1861. The restored balustrades were not in the same location as the parapets in the Lossing drawing and not of the same design.

1929 The pediments on the east and west facade of the main house. In 1818 these were apparently stoccoed and marked off to imitate stone. By 1861 stucco was gone and only wood was visible. The pediments were repaired but no effort was made to restucco them during the War Department restoration.

1929 Some cornices were reconstructed and many roof beams and joists were replaced.

1929 The Roof of the Conservatory (Room 116), which was comprised of glass that dated from 1874, was replaced with a new glass roof.

(See Interior Work — room 116 — the Conservatory, for a more detailed history of the glass roof of that room from 1897 to 1933).

SCREENS FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS
1865 — 1933

1915-20 No record of work.

1924-28 No repairs because of impending restoration program.

SHADES, WINDOWS

MATS, DOOR

Two Cocoa Door Mats, 22" x 36" purchased to replace two old ones $3.50

SEWER LINES, EXTERIOR

1837 Bathtub installed in Room 102 and water closet in Room 103, north wing. Waste from these carried off by lead pipes, but location of drain not known.

Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery used the north wing of the mansion as his quarters from 1864 to 1929. In 1871 a public privy was constructed for visitors and probably about this time the drainage from the bathtub and water closet in rooms 102 and 103 was connected with the vault of the public latrine. If not in 1871, then it was certainly done in 1885, when a second set of bathtub and water closets were installed in room 202 on the second floor of the main house for the use of Gardener David H. Rhodes. The layout of the two sewer lines serving these facilities is shown on plan no. 18 (1896).

In the 1885 work adding the room 202 facilities, 68 feet of 6" vitrified pipe were laid from the basement of the mansion and carried out to the northwest to drain into the public latrine vault.

1896 A new sewerline 75 feet long of 4" E.H.C.I. soil pipe was laid to replace the 1885 line at a cost of $181.10. See plan 18 (1896) for location of new line.

1929-30. Old sewer lines apparently left in ground. Plumbing removed from rooms 110, 104, 103, 202, and 203 in Mansion, but left water closet and sink in room 202.

TELEPHONES

First telephone installed December 11, 1906—located in Room 117, South Wing, in the Office of the Cemetery Superintendent.

1924. The overhead telephone lines, running from Fort Myer to Arlington House, were put underground.

WATER SYSTEMS OF THE MANSIONS

1802-1933 A well located near the northwest corner of the main house, to the west (rear) of the mansion. (See Plan No. 18—1896).

1837 Perhaps a water closet was installed in room 103, north wing.

1837 Bathtub installed in room 102, north wing.

1873 New cistern, to hold rainwater collected from roofs of mansion, constructed near the northwest corner of the main building. This is capable of holding 350 barrels of water.

1874 Neat wooden well houses built over both the cistern and old well. A pump placed on well, replacing old buckets and rope.

1881 Brick water tower constructed to the west of the mansion. (See Plan 18).

1885 Watercloset and bathtub installed in Room 202 on second floor of main house, also kitchen sink in Room 203. Also a kitchen sink in Room 104 since ca. 1870. Waste from two apartments, second floor and north wing first floor, carried by pipes to the vault of the public latrine that was located to the northwest of the mansion (see Plan No. 18—1896).

1907 New water system for fire protection, with hydrants, carrying water from Fort Myers to Arlington House installed for $3,426.00. This carried water into the mansion by means of 4-inch water pipe on the west side.

1912 Old 1881 brick water two demolished.

For plans showing water system for fire protection, see Map No. 5 (1904) and Map No. 6 (1907).

INTERIOR WORK IN ARLINGTON HOUSE: GENERAL

INTERIOR DOORS

1929 Interior doors repaired.

FLOORING:

1929—First Floor:

Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

Second Floor Rooms.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Rubber matting put on restored floors and stairs to protect them from the feet of visitors.

1929 $4,600 allotted to renew deteriorated floor joists and rafters, and to repair old flooring and lay reconstructed flooring.

INTERIOR HARDWARE

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of colonial period hardware.

Most locks in mansion in 1929 dated from 1874 or later. $1,600 allotted in 1929 for renewing hardware.

INTERIOR WORK - 1929 - GENERAL

Mantels and Fireplaces

1929 $2,200.00 alloted to rebuild fireplace hearths and to restore marble mantels.

"Original" (pre-1861) mantels reported to be in Arlington House in 1929:

Total of 12 mantels in 1929.

The depth and width of the two fireplaces in room 112 were to be increased to "restore them to their original dimensions" in 1929.

(1) This mantel thrown out in 1929, no measured drawing or record of original.

(2) This marble mantel "lost" in 1929. There is, however, a measured drawing of this mantel.

INTERIOR WORK - GENERAL

MILL WORK

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

INTERIOR PAINTING

1929 Walls ceiling, and trim painted.

INTERIOR PLASTER WORK

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

STAIRS

1929 $600.00 allotted to repair interior stairs.

GENERAL RECORD OF WORK ON INTERIOR OF NORTH WING BY QUARTERMASTER CORPS 1864-1933

1870 Wood work painted.

1878 New windows put in.

1878 Walls white coated and painted.

1882 Rooms had plaster repaired, walls and ceilings Kalsomined and painted.

1899 Walls and ceilings kalsomined and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil — $90.00.

1899 Two rooms in north wing painted after being "smoked up" by a bad chimney — $18.00.

1900 Painting kitchen (Room 104) and painting in Superintendent's Quarters 2 coats of lead and oil — $38.30.

1902 Painting walls, ceilings, and all woodwork two coats of lead and oil — $272.00.

1905 Walls and ceilings painted and scraped — $200.00.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead — $130.00.

1914 Electric lights installed.

No record of work for years 1915-1920.

1921 All rooms in Superintendent's Quarters, except one, painted.

1922 The room, a hall not painted in 1921, was painted at a cost of $32.00.

1923-28 No interior repairs or painting done because of impending decisions to be made on restoring the mansion.

1929-31 Complete repair, painting and replacing of missing original features under the restoration program being conducted by the Quartermaster Corps.

See individual rooms sheets for details of this 1929-31 work.

(Preliminary Drawing of First Floor is in Plan No. 19 and Steam Heating for Lee Mansion drawing is included in Plan No. 17).

Rooms 101, 102, and 103 were added to the west side of the North Wing as a brick loggia or porch on stone foundations about 1818. The arched openings of the porch were enclosed c. 1845 to form additional rooms.

A bathtub was installed in Room 102. Bath and water closet were in place before 1861.

From 1865 to 1929 Room 102 was a part of the quarters of the cemetery superintendent.

At some unknown date, but probably around 1871 and prior to 1896 (See Plan No. 18) the sewer line serving Room 102 drained into the vault of the public latrine to the northwest of the mansion.

1870 Woodwork probably painted in room.

1878 Walls probably white coated and painted.

1882 Walls and ceiling probably painted.

1899 Walls and ceilings scraped, Kalsomined and woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1899 New flooring, comprised of 1-1/4" Georgia pine, laid in Rooms 102 and 103 at cost of $11.00.

1899 New bathtub and bowl put in Room 102 at a cost of $78.00—Old ones had worn out.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted, woodwork also given two coats of lead and oil.

1905 Walls and ceilings scraped and painted.

1906 One radiator, steam heat installed in Room 102.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work (see plan 21). During this period room 101 had been subdivided by means of an east-west partition wall into room 10 (or room 101A—a living room) and room no. 11 (or room 101B — a dining room). The stiarway to the cellar, located along the east wall of room 101 from at least as early as 1906, had been removed.

1921 Walls of Room 102 papered and ceiling and woodwork painted.

1924-28 No repairs or improvements to Room 102 during these years.

Restoration Work of 1929-30:

1929 All old plumbing removed from Room 102 in 1929.

1929 Demolished partition wall separating Rooms 102 and 103 rebuilt on historic alignment.

1929 New water closet and sink installed in Room 102 for use of the mansion guards and staff.

1929 Original pine flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced in similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Rooms 101, 102, and 103 were added to the west side of the North Wing as a brick loggia or porch on stone foundations perhaps about 1820. The arched openings of the porch were enclosed after a number of years perhaps by 1837 in order to form additional rooms.

Mrs. George Washington Parke Custis may have installed a water closet in this room in 1837. The room appears to have served as a toilet until 1929.

From 1865 to 1929 Room 103 was a part of the quarters of the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery.

At some unknown date, but probably around 1871 and prior to 1896 (see Plan No. 18), the water closet in Room 103 drained into the vault of the public latrine that was located to the northwest of the mansion.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls probably white-coated and painted.

1882 Walls and ceiling probably painted.

1899 Walls and ceiling scraped. Kalsomined and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1899 New flooring, comprised of 1-1/4" Georgia pine, laid in Rooms 102 and 103 at a cost of $11.00.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted, woodwork also given two coats of lead and oil.

1905 Walls and ceiling scraped and painted.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1913 A new water closet installed at a cost of $85.00.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-1920 No record of work. A comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923) reveals that during the years 1915-1920 the original entrance to Room 103, located in its south side and opening into Room 101, was walled shut and a new entrance was cut in the former west wall to open directly into Room 102—the bathroom. Room 102 and 103 thus formed one room, No. 12, on the 1923 floor plan.

1921 Walls of Room 103 papered in 1921 and ceiling and woodwork painted.

1924-1928 No repairs or improvements made to Room 103.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 All old plumbing removed from Room 103.

1929 Historic partition wall between Rooms 102 and 103 reconstructed on original alignment.

1929 Original south entrance door to Room 103 from Room 101 restored.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Room 104 located in original portion of North Wing that was erected in 1802, but the present size and plan of Room 104 perhaps dates from interior remodelling of the north wing floor plan that may have been done in 1818 or later.

Prior to 1861, the female slaves of Arlington Estate, working under the supervision of the Custis-Lee women, made clothes for the slaves and the Custis-Lee families. On Sundays, Room 104 also served as Sunday school room for the children of the slaves. When members of the family were tutored at Arlington this was their school room.

From ca. 1865 to 1929 Room 104 was a part of the quarters of the cemetery superintendent and Room 104 was the kitchen for his apartment.

Ca. 1867, the following kitchen equipment had been placed in room 104:

One iron cooking range, one upright hot water boiler, heated by the range, and one sink.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls probably white-coated and painted.

1882 Walls and ceiling probably painted.

1899 One upright boiler for range installed to replace old worn out one — $14.00.

1898 New kitchen sink with drip board and lead trap installed to replace the old sink. Cost $18.00.

1900 Kitchen painted two coats of lead and oil.

1902 Room walls and ceilings painted, woodwork also given two coats of lead and oil.

1904 Upright boiler for range repaired — $2.50.

1905 Walls and ceiling painted.

1905 Repairs to kitchen sink made — $2.00.

1906 Steam heat, one radiator installed in kitchen.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of paint.

1908 30 gal. range boiler installed, cost $12.00.

1914 Electric lights installed.

No record of work for years 1915 to 1920. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923), however, reveals that a door that had lead from the south wall of the kitchen, near the eastern end, into Room 106 — a Dining Room, in 1906, had been walled shut by 1923. In 1923 Room 106 was being used as a bedroom.

1921 Kitchen painted.

1923-1928 No. repairs because of pending restoration.

1929 An electric range installed to replace the old coal stove in order to reduce the danger from fire.

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 Kitchen electric range, sink, boiler and all plumbing removed from room.

Room 104 served as the temporary office of the superintendent of the cemetery from July 1929 until January 16, 1932, when the new lodge and office of the superintendent was completed.

1929 The original (pre-1861) wooden mantel on the fireplace in this room was removed, cleaned, repaired, and put back in its original location. The fireplace was also repaired.

1929 Grating was also installed in this fireplace to provide heat for Room 104.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Room 105 is located within the original construction of the north wing in 1802; however, its present plan as a hall perhaps dates from 1802 remodelling of the north wing that may have been done in 1818 or later. Room 105 was then laid out to provide access, as inner hall, to the north wing rooms that lay to the east of the hall.

Apparently served as an inner hall until 1929. From 1865 to 1929, Room 105 was a part of the apartment of the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls white coated and painted.

1882 Plaster repaired, walls and ceilings Kalsomined and painted.

1889 Walls and ceilings scrapped and Kalsomined, woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted. All woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1905 Walls and ceilings painted.

1914 Electric light installed. When steam heat installed in 1906, no radiator put in Room 105.

1915-20 No record of work done. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923) indicates that floor plan of Room 105 was not changed during this period. It was still being used as a hall in 1923.

1921 Walls papered and woodwork painted.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to Room 105 during this period.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by pine flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Room 106 is located within the 1802 original construction of the north wing but its present plan, size and shape dates only from the remodelling of the interior of the north wing that may have been done in 1818.

By 1845 room 106 is believed to have been the bedroom of Mr. and Mrs. George W.P. Custis. From 1865 to 1929, room 106 formed a part of the apartment of the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery. At least as early as 1902 it was being used as the dining room. By 1923, room 106 was serving as a bedroom.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls white-coated and painted.

1882 Plaster repaired, walls and ceilings Kalsomined and painted.

1889 Walls and ceilings scraped and Kalsomined, woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1902 Repaired plaster falling off ceilings in Supt.'s dining room — $4.00.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted. Woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1905 Walls and ceilings painted.

1906 Fireplace bricked up in room 106 so a stove could be used $3.00 cost.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of paint.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923) shows, however, that during this period the use of Room 106 was changed from that of a dining room to a bedroom. For that reason, a former door located in the north wall near the east corner, that led into the kitchen (Room 104) in 1906 had been walled shut by 1923.

1923 Walls papered and woodwork and ceiling painted.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1924 Measured drawing made of mantel, wooden, Adam-Style, in Room 106.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 Original wood removed from fireplace, cleaned, repaired, and put back in its original position. Fireplace repaired and opened up.

1929 Grating was installed in the fireplace to bring heat into the room.

1929 Old steam heat and 1906 radiator removed from room.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

1929 Plan No. 23, 1930, suggests that the door in the northeast corner closet was reopened into Room 104 as shown in the 1906 plan.

(Detail of Wooden Mantel in room 106 drawing is included in Plan No. 21).

Room 107 is located within the original 1802 construction of the north wing, but its present size and shape appears to perhaps date from the remodelling of the interior of the north wing that may have been done in 1818 or later.

By 1845 it is believed that Mr. and Mrs. George W.P. Custis were using Room 107 as a bedroom for their grandchildren.

From 1865 to 1929 the room was a part of the apartment of the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery; the plans for 1906 and 1923 indicate that Room 107 was being used as a bedroom during those years.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls probably white coated and painted.

1882 Walls and ceiling probably painted.

1899 Walls and ceiling scraped. Kalsomined and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted, woodwork also given two coats of lead and oil.

1905 Walls and ceiling scraped and painted.

1906 One radiator new steam heating system installed in Room 107.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923), however, indicate that no change had been made in the floor plan of this room.

1921 Walls of room papered and ceiling and woodwork painted.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made in Room 107.

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 Heating system of 1906 removed.

1929 Electrical system of 1914 removed.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired and replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Located in Main House, Room Completed in 1817-18. Use by Custis-Lee families as parlor, 1818-1861.

1845, described as parlor with high ceilings and white walls, and carved marble mantel on fireplace. Room 108 described as separated from Room 109 to west by a wall with "three arches that reach half way to the ceiling and have the spring of each arch filled with glass set in radial planes."

1855 May have had lath removed from arch ways and door removed from center arch to join to room 109, the family dining room.

1856 Arch separation of room indicates arches are present but open.

From 1865 to 1929, Room 108 located within the quarters of the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery. The room was serving as a parlor both in 1906 and in 1923.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls probably white coated and painted.

1882 Walls and ceiling probably painted.

1899 Walls and ceiling scraped. Kalsomined and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted, woodwork also given two coats of lead and oil.

1905 Walls and ceiling painted.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one radiator placed in Room 108.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of paint.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923), however, indicate that no change had been made in the floor plan of this room.

1921 Walls papered and ceiling and woodwork painted.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made in Room 108.

1924 Measured drawing made of marble mantel and elevations of Room 108.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 1906 radiator and heating system removed.

1929 A grate was installed in the fireplace to bring heat to the room from the new heating system.

1929 Marble fireplace mantel removed, cleaned, repaired and put back in its original location. Fireplace also repaired.

1929 Three arches between Rooms 108 and 109 repaired but not changes made in design or existing conditions.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

(Mantel in room 108 drawing is included in Plan No. 21)

Completed in 1817-18

Used by the Custis-Lee families from 1818 to 1861 as a dining room. Room described in 1845 as having white walls and ceiling. Room 109 was described as being separated from Room 108 to the east by a wall with "three arches that reach half way to the ceiling and have the spring of each arch filled with glass set in radial planes." From 1865 to 1929, Room 109 formed a part of the apartments of the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery. In 1906 it was being used as a parlor and in 1923 it was being utilized as a bedroom.

1855 Used with Family Parlor as "our old parlours are now our dining rooms" indicates open arches. (Agnes Lee Journal, p. 72).

1856 "A room, which a sort of archway divides . . ." one room with archway division from family parlor, (Berard, p. 151).

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls white coated and painted.

1889 Walls and ceilings scraped and Kalsomined, woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead. Cost—$55.00.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted. All woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1905 Walls and ceilings painted.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one radiator placed in Room 109.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork work given two coats of paint.

1914 Electric light installed.

1915-1920 No record of work. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923), however, suggests that no change had been made in the floor plan of Room 109 during these years.

1921 Walls papered and ceiling and woodwork painted.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to Room 109.

1924 Measured drawings made of walls and marble mantel of this room.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1906 radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 A grate was installed in the fireplace to bring heat to this room. New heating system installed.

1929 Marble fireplace mantel removed, cleaned, repaired, and put back in its original location.

1929 Three arches to east, between Rooms 108 and 109, repaired but not changed in design.

1929-30 Restoration work:

1929 A grate for improving the circulation of heat was installed in a door to Room 109.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of federal period hardware.

(Mantel in Room 109 drawing is included in Plan No. 21).

Built 1817-18:

Northwest hall contained Servant's stairway from the first to second floor, apparently, from 1818 to 1861.

From 1865 to 1885, Room 110 was a part of the cemetery superintendent's apartments and was not open to the public.

From 1885 to 1929, the hall and stairs then served as the entrance to Gardener David H. Rhodes' quarters, which occupied the entire second floor of the main house. During this period the stairs from Room 110 to the basement may have been closed off.

1870 Woodwork probably painted.

1878 Walls white coated and painted.

1882 Plaster repaired, walls and ceilings Kalsomined and painted.

1885 Hall and stairs became entranceway to gardener's quarters on second floor.

1898 Painting treads of steps in rear of mansion—$6.00. (This may apply to the interior stairs rather than the exterior rear porches).

1900 Painting treads of steps — Cost $9.10.

1899 Room 110 perhaps had its walls and ceilings scraped and Kalsomined and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1902 Walls and ceilings painted, woodwork also given two coats of lead and oil.

1905 Walls and ceiling scraped and painted.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one radiator placed in Room 110.

1908 Walls papered and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work. Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923), however, indicate that no charge had been made in the floor plan of this room.

1921 Walls of room papered and ceiling and woodwork painted.

1923-28 No repair or improvements made to Room 110.

1929 Stairs ordered to be opened from cellar to second floor.

1929 About $500 spent to repair stairs in house. Treads then covered with rubber matting to protect them from feet of visitors.

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware. Original lock returned and placed on door to center hall at south end of North Stair Hall (D111/D3).

GENERAL RECORD OF WORK ON INTERIOR "PUBLIC SECTION" OF ARLINGTON HOUSE BY THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS, 1865-1929

"Public Section" was the rooms in the main house and south wing, namely Room Nos. 111 to 117, that were usually open to cemetery visitors.

1869 Floor of Center Hall to office (Room 115) Morning room shored up on the west side.

1871 Six rooms white washed.

1873 By 1873 a register of soldiers buried in the cemetery was kept for the use of visitors in the superintendent's office (Room 117).

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced; some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1874 A glass roof installed in the "old conservatory", Room 116, South Wing.

1878 Storm damages conservatory roof and glass replaced.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1892 Public rooms "as always open, but they possess very little of interest."

1896 Storm damage requires some replacing of window glass.

1902 Painting walls, ceilings and all wood work complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing — Cost $272.00.

December 11, 1906. Telephone installed in Supt.'s office, Room 117.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1924 Measured drawings made of mantels and walls in Rooms 112 (white parlor) and 115 (morning room).

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration underway on the public rooms.

Constructed 1817-18: Used as the main hall of the mansion by the Custis-Lee families from 1818 to 1861.

Used as the main hall of the mansion and open to visitors by Arlington National Military Cemetery, Quartermaster Corps, from 1865 to 1933.

Room was empty from 1865 to 1897. In the latter year the Quartermaster Corps placed two bronze markers containing brief histories of Arlington Estate and Cemetery in the main hall for visitor viewing.

In 1855 installation of brick hot air furnace in the basement under Center Hall, hot air pipes were introduced into the brick partition walls of the main hall. This work required a rebuilding and replastering of the sections of the wall where the pipes were installed and then the entire hall walls and ceilings were painted.

1871 Six rooms in mansion white washed, probably in section open to public.

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced, some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1892 Public rooms "are always open, but they possess very little of interest."

1897 Bronze signs with brief histories of estate and cemetery placed in hall.

1901 Exterior and interior of east and west entrance doors to main hall painted, cost $8.00.

1901 Patch of plaster defaced by dampness of hall painted, $5.00.

1902 Painting walls, ceilings and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing, cost $272.00.

1903 Repaired east and west entrance doors to main hall, $6.00.

1906 Steam heating system installed and two radiators placed in Room 111.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1924 Measured drawings made of murals on walls at west (rear) end of main hall, also of doors.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to Room 111.

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 1906 heating system and two radiators removed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 Two bronze markers in hall removed to permit the walls underneath to be "refilled."

1929 Locks on the east and west entrance doors examined in 1929 and reported to be only two original locks found in place in mansion.

1929 Plans to clean and restore the George W. P. Custis murals on the walls at the west end of the main hall, after careful consideration, were apparently abandoned and no work was done on the painting. This was based on recommendations of the Fine Arts Commission. No work done 1930-31 and probably not in 1931-32.

1929 An original lock taken from the mansion ca. 1865 was returned as a gift and restored in what was believed to be its original location on the door north stair hall (Room 110) located in the north wall near the west end of center hall (Room 111). (111D/3) (1)

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

(1) On Door 111 D/3—"The Gift of Charles L. Frank."

Constructed 1817-18.

This room, the largest in the mansion, stood in an unfinished state with only lathing covering its unplastered brick walls and unfinished fireplaces from 1818 to 1855. During this period the room was filled with old outdated furniture and dark shades on the two windows were usually drawn so that visitors could not see the interior of this room on hot days some times used for dining.

In 1855, Col. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee finished the room in the Victorian style. Walls and ceiling were plastered and painted white. Two matching marble Victorian mantels were purchased from New York City and placed on the fireplaces in this room. The doors were stained and grained in imitation of walnut.

White Parlor (Room 112) served as the main parlor of the Lee family from 1855 to 1861.

White parlor (room 112), from 1865 to 1929, was one of the "Public Rooms" open to visitors and contained little or no furniture until after the Spanish-American War. "An Honor Roll of Soldiers Who Served in the Spanish-American War," mounted on a marble pedestal was then erected in Room 112. The great weight of this exhibit was supported by a "brick foundation including a footing," located under Room 112 in Basement Room BO-8, that apparently rose from the cellar floor to floor level of Room 112. These removed in 1929 restoration work.

1871 Six rooms whitewashed, probably in the "public section."

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced, some window glass, sash and frames placed.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1885 Two new windows were installed In the "South Room" (either Room 112, or perhaps Room 115), at estimated cost of $22.00.

1885 About eight square yards of a falling plaster ceiling in this room (or Room 115) was repaired.

1892 Public rooms "are always open, but they possess very little of interest."

1902 Painting walls, ceilings and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing — Cost $272.00.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to Room 112.

1924 Measured drawings made of elevations and Victorian mantels of Room 112.

1906 Steam heating system installed and two radiators placed in Room 112.

Restoration, 1929-30:

1929 1906 heating system and radiators removed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 Spanish-American War Roll of Honor removed from room.

1929 Grates installed in both fireplaces in order to provide heat from the new heating system for the rooms.

1929 Two Victorian marble mantels removed, repaired, cleaned and put back in original locations; two fireplaces also repaired. 1929-30.

1929 East door opening from center hall (Room 111) into white parlor (Room 112) repaired and altered to match west door from center hall (Room 111) to white parlor (Room 112).

1929 Flat grating inserted into a door to Room 112 for heat circulation purposes.

1929 Weight of the partition wall on the second floor above, between Rooms 206 and 207, had caused a sagging of nearly five inches in the ceiling of Room 112 and also cracks in the ceiling of 112. This was corrected in 1929 by introducing a truss in the partition wall which eliminated the sag and the cracks in the ceiling were repointed.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

1931-32 Two "Colonial period" marble mantels carved in London at cost of $1,000 received and two 1855 Victorian marble mantels taken down, stored in basement, and replaced by reproduction mantels in White parlor (Room 112) in early 1932.

1931-32 White Parlor (Room 112) restored as "State Reception Room," and furnished in the late 18th and early 19th Century furniture c. 1810. Window treatment includes furnishings only; no changes were made to hardware or mouldings. This was done at urging of Fine Arts Commission to restore house to Custis period. Fortunately the 1855 wooden trim was left in place. Firm evidence of the 1861 appearance and use of this room as well as documentation of R.E. Lee's purchase of the ornately carved 1855 mantels was inaccessable to the War Department in the then restricted Lee family papers.

Built 1817-18

This was the main stair hall from the first to the second floor for the Custis-Lee families from 1818 to 1861; stairs to cellar possibly still in use.

From 1865 to 1929, south stair hall (Room 113) was in the public section which was open to visitors. The stairway, however, appears to have been closed off in 1885, when apartments for the Gardener David H.

Rhodes were established on the second floor of the main house, and not reopened for public use until March 1930.

1871 Six rooms, probably in the public section, were whitewashed.

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced; some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1885 A picket or baluster gate, about three feet high, with a lock, was installed on the main staircase in south stair hall (Room 113) and these stairs closed off to use by the general public from 1885 to 1930.

1892 Public rooms are always open.

1902 Painting walls, ceilings and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing — Cost $272.00.

1906 Steam heat system installed but no radiator was placed in Room 113.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1924 Measure drawings and elevations made of the main stairs in Room 113.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration underway on the public rooms.

1929 1906 heating system removed.

1929 1914 electric wiring removed.

SOUTH STAIR HALL ROOM 113 FLOOR FIRST-MAIN HOUSE

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 Stair in mansion repaired at a cost of about $500.00.

1929 Gates of 1885 removed from the main staircase.

1929 Rubber matting placed on steps to protect them from the feet of visitors.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

A comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 21 (1923) and also 22 (1924) indicates that between those dates, and probably in 1915-20, a closet of some type was removed from the southern third of Room 113. As its northern east-west partition wall and door intersection a window in the west outer wall, its seems possible that this closet was created after 1865.

(Elevations of hall included in Plan No. 21).

Store room (Room 114), the southern flanker, and conservatory (room 116), were added to the west (rear) side of the South Wing as a brick loggia on a stone foundation before or after construction of main block. The arched openings of this porch and flanker were open for sometime. But at some undetermined date, probably by c. 1845, these open structures had been enclosed with windows in order to create additional room.

Use under the Custis-Lee family — Room 114 probably functioned as store room.

From 1865 to 1929, Room 114 was a part of the "public section" and hence open to visitors.

1871 Six rooms, probably in the public section, were whitewashed.

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced; some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1902 Painted walls, ceilings and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing — Cost $272.00.

1906 Steam heating plant installed and one radiator placed in Room 114.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1910 (See Plan No. 20 — 1910) A public toilet for ladles, with three water closets and a sink was installed in store room (Room 114). Cost—$391.50.

1910 As a part of the above project, the doorway leading from Room 114 south into conservatory (Room 116) was closed up and the original door stored in the basement of the mansion.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1922 The room, although still equipped with its plumbing, was no longer being used as a public toilet, but apparently was serving on the "Office File Room."

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration underway on the public rooms.

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 Three water closets and sink dating from 1910 removed from Room 114.

1929 Old door to Room 114, facing Room 116, removed in 1910, found in basement, doorway opened and old door restored to its original location.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceilings and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

1929 1906 heating system removed.

This room was described ca. 1845 as a former old parlor with white plaster walls, a marble mantel, and ornamental moulding on the ceiling. It was the parlor of Arlington House from 1804 to 1818, when the main house was completed. By 1845 George W. P. Custis occasionally used morning room (Room 115) as a studio in which to paint.

In 1855 Col. and Mrs. Robert E. Lee redecorated morning room (Room 115) for use as Mrs. Lee's "Morning Room". They purchased a Victorian styled marble mantel from New York City and installed it on the fireplace in morning room (Room 115), thus replacing whatever mantel had been in morning room (Room 115).

Morning room (Room 115) served as Mrs. Lee's morning room and parlor from 1855 to 1861.

1862 Mrs. Whipple gathered Mrs. Lee's furniture into this room to preserve it.

From 1865 to 1929 Room 115 was in the public section of the mansion open to visitors during this entire period.

Following the Spanish-American War, Room 115 contained "Records of the U.S. Maine victims."

1869 Floor of Room 115 shored up on the west side.

1871 Six rooms, probably in the public section, whitewashed.

1873 By this date, and probably as early as 1869, a register of soldiers buried in Arlington National Cemetery was kept for the use of visitors in the Superintendent's Office, office and study, (Room 117), or morning room (Room 115).

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced; some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1892 Public rooms "are always open, but they possess very little of interest."

1902 Painting walls, ceilings and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing. Cost $272.00.

1906 Steam heating system installed and two radiators placed in Room 115.

1899 Laying new floor in front room of Public Room (either Room 115 or 112) of Georgia pine, 1 and 14 inch. Cost $72.00.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1924 Measured drawings and elevations made of walls and 1855 Victorian mantel in morning room (Room 115).

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to Room 115.

1929-30 Restoration work in progress.

1929 Grate installed in fireplace to provide heat to room from new heating system.

1929 1906 heating system and two radiators removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 1855 marble Victorian mantel removed from fireplace, placed in storage; this replaced by reproduction "Colonial period" mantel constructed of white pine. Wooden mantel put up in 1930. Original Lee mantel then lost.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of colonial period hardware.

1930-32 Room 115 then "restored" and furnished as a "State Dinner Room" in a style and period that never existed in Arlington House (ca. 1810). This room served as parlor. Meals were often served in parlors; dining rooms were new in the late 18th century-early 19th century. The first room documented as a designated dining room at Arlington House was the family dining room completed with the main block c. 1818.

(Sketch with Room 115 included in Plan No. 18).

Room 116 and Room 114 were added to the west side of the 1803-04 South Wing as a brick loggia on stone foundations. The arched opening of this porch (116) was open for sometime. But at some undetermined date and probably before 1845, these open structures were enclosed with windows added and flanker constructed to give access to main block and provide additional space.

The Custis-Lee families used Room 116 as a conservatory, greenhouse or camellia house from the time of its enclosure, until 1861.

The Arlington National Cemetery Staff used Room 116 as a conservatory or greenhouse for plants from 1864 to 1929. The room was located in what was known as the public section and was therefore open to visitors from 1864 to 1929.

1871 Six rooms whitewashed, which may include the public sector rooms.

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced; some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1874 A glass roof installed in the "old conservatory," Room 116, South Wing.

1878 Storm damages conservatory roof and glass replaced.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1892 Public rooms "are always open, but they possess very little of interest."

1896 $111.00 spent for repair of conservatory. This included $40.00 for painting; $15.00 for new sash bars; $10.00 for new sill; $18.00 for new plates; $22.00 for new facia; and $6.00 for new stud (?).

1901 Painting conservatory door, $1.00.

1902 Painting walls, ceilings, and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing — Cost $272.00.

1906 Sash in roof reglazed.

1906 Steam heating system installed but no radiators put in Room 116.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1910 Public toilet for ladies installed in Room 114. Old doorway leading from Room 116 into Room 114 closed up and original door removed and put in storage in basement.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-1920 No record of work.

1921 Room may have been painted in 1921.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration underway on the public rooms.

1929 Glass roof of Room 116 replaced.

New bench and two shelves made but plan not changed.

1929 Old doorway leading from 116 into Room 114 reopened and original door removed from storage and returned to original position. Room 116 had a brick floor in 1929.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built in 1803-04

Room 117 used by George W. P. Custis as his office and during the 1840's and 50's also as his studio for painting revolutionary war pictures; also, office of Col. Robert E. Lee, 1857-1861. Room heated by a stove during these years.

From 1865 to 1929 Room 117 served as the office of the superintendent of Arlington National Military Cemetery and was located in the "public section" of the mansion that was open to visitors.

1864 Interior shutters in place at windows.

1871 Six rooms, probably located in the public section, were whitewashed.

1873 By this date and probably as early as 1869, a register of soldiers buried in Arlington Cemetery was the use of visitors was kept in the Superintendent's Office, Room 117.

1874 Most of missing locks in mansion replaced; some window glass, sash and frames replaced.

1874 Plaster repaired and painted.

1883 Minor plaster repairs may have been made in the public section.

1884 All public rooms had their plaster walls mended and Kalsomined, and their woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1892 Public rooms "are always open, but they possess very little of interest."

1902 Painting walls, ceilings and all woodwork complete as far as heretofore been painted in public portion of mansion, two coats of lead and oil, South Wing — Cost $272.00.

1902 One pair of screen doors placed on entrance of office — $18.00.

1902 Two wire screen windows placed on windows of office — $6.00.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one cast iron radiator placed in Room 117.

1906 December 11, first telephone installed in mansion. This located in Superintendent's roll top desk in Room 117 — Cost $87.00.

1908 Walls, ceilings and woodwork of public rooms painted, $195.00. Plaster repaired, 2 coats of lead and oil.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 Rooms all papered and painted.

1924 Measured drawings made of mantels and walls in Rooms 112 and 115.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration underway on the public rooms.

Restoration Work, 1929-30.

1929 1906 radiator removed from room.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed from room.

1929 Original pine board flooring, tongued and grooved, of random width and thickness, replaced by reconstructed pine board flooring of random width.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

GENERAL RECORD OF WORK ON THE INTERIOR OF THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE MAIN HOUSE BY THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS, 1864-1933

Second floor rooms constructed 1817-18 and used as bed chambers and dressing rooms from 1818 to 1861.

From 1865 to 1885, second floor rooms may have been used in part by the Superintendent of the Arlington National Cemetery as part of his quarters, which were chiefly located on the first floor in Rooms 101 to 110. Second floor rooms from 1865 to 1885 were quite likely vacant and unused during this period.

In 1885, however, the entire second floor of the main house was made into quarters for Gardener David H. Rhodes, who resided in these apartments from 1885 to 1929.

1885 Second floor walls, ceilings, and woodwork painted except in Room 206 where the walls were papered, and in Room 204, where no work was done.

1892 All second floor rooms except Rooms 204 and 206 were painted.

1899 All second floor rooms except Rooms 204 and 206 were painted two coats of lead and oil. Rooms 204 and 206 papered. Cost $100.00.

1903 Quarters given two coats of lead and oil. Cost $138.00.

1906 Steam heating system installed and seven cast iron radiators placed in rooms on second floor.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1906 heating system and radiators removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

(Second floor plans are included in Plan No. 19 and Plan No. 20).

Built 1817-18:

Used by Custis-Lee families as main stair hall to second floor from 1818 to 1861. Landing Room was used as walk-in storage closet. May have been used as chamber when needed.

In 1885 when second floor converted into apartments for Gardener David H. Rhodes, main stairs blocked off at first floor level from general use by the installation of a gate.

1885 Walls, ceiling and woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1892 Room painted.

1899 Room painted.

1903 Room painted two coats of oil and lead.

1906 Steam heating system installed but no radiator was placed in this room.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been painted or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 Stairs in mansion repaired at a cost of $500.00 and rubber matting placed on treads to protect steps from feet of visitors. 1885 gate removed from main stairs and these opened to second floor.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built 1817-18:

Used by Custis-Lee families as a summer sitting room and a main center hall on second floor from 1818-1861.

From 1885 to 1929 a part of the quarters of Gardener David H. Rhodes, used in 1906 as a hall and in 1922 as a hall and living room. 1885 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1892 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1899 Walls, ceiling and woodwork given two coats of lead and oil.

1903 Walls, ceiling and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1906 Steam heating installed and one cast iron radiator placed in hall.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 Brick walls of second floor main hall rebuilt and replastered at an approximate cost of $850.00.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

1929 Rubber matting laid along walkways in hall to protect restored floor from feet of visitors.

Built 1817-18

Room 202 is believed to have been used as a playroom for the Lee children, also as Sunday school room for slave children, and as a dressing room.

From 1885 to 1929 Room 202 was a part of the apartments of Gardener David H. Rhodes. From 1885 to 1929 the northern portion of Room 202 served as the bathroom and toilet room of this apartment.

1885 Installed a six foot 10 oz. bathtub and one Stuber patent self-acting water closet with tank in Room 202. These were connected with the mansion's existing water supply by 3/4" gal. iron service pipe to basement of mansion. About 68 feet of 6" vitrified pipe, laid in a trench, then carried the waste from the cellar to the vault of the public latrine which was located to the northwest of the house. The tub and tank were encased in wood and this was given three coats of oil.

1885 15 feet of 2" gal. pipe with a cap served as a ventilator, carried up from the room to the roof.

1885 Walls, ceiling and woodwork painted.

1892 Walls, ceiling and woodwork painted.

1898 Leaks in bathroom repaired — Cost $5.00. Bathtub leaked.

1898 New emanuel bathtub, 5 feet 6 inches installed and other improvements made in bathroom equipment — Cost $45.00.

1899 Walls, ceiling and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1901 New seat put on water closet — $4.00.

1903 Walls, ceiling and woodwork given two coats of lead and oil.

1906 Steam heating installed and one cast iron radiator placed in bathroom.

1906 See Plan No. 19 (1906), which shows that the bath and toilet were installed in the portion of Room 202 north of the entrance from Room 203.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms of the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

A comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. (1924) suggests that Room 202 as a bathroom had been enlarged in the period 1915-20 by removing the east-west partition wall then placed on the south side of Room 202 just south of the window in the west wall, thus closing off a former passageway south of the servants stairs and the main hall (Room 201).

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 1915-20 southern partition wall removed and access restored south to main hall (Room 201) and servant's stairs to first floor.

1929 Water closet, bathtub, and all plumbing removed from Room 202.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built 1817-18:

Used by Custis-Lee families as a chamber from 1818 to 1861. Believed to have been the chamber of Agnes, Annie, and Mildred Lee, ca. 1855-1861.

From 1885 to 1929 Room 203 served as the kitchen to the quarters of Gardener David H. Rhodes.

1885 Made into a kitchen for Rhodes. One gal. iron 18" by 30" sink installed and connected with existing water system by 3/4" gal. iron service pipe to basement. From here about 68 feet of 6" vitrified pipe, laid in trenches, carried the waste from the cellar to the vault of a public latrine located to the northwest of the mansion. Sink was enclosed underneath with matched and beaded stuff, with a door with hinges and catch. This woodwork was given three coats of oil.

1885 One iron kitchen range set up and also set up one 30 gal. hot water tank which was connected with the range, sink and the bathtub in Room 202.

1885 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork of Room 203 painted.

1892 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1899 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1903 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one cast iron radiator placed in room.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1919 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1928 Electric range installed to replace the kitchen coal range in order to reduce the danger from fire.

1929 Electric range removed.

1929 Sink, boiler, and all plumbing removed from Room 203.

1929-30 Restoration work:

1929 The original (pre-1861) marble mantel in Room 203 was removed, cleaned, repaired, and put back into its original position. Fireplace repaired — it may have been widened and its depth increased to obtain what were believed to be its "original dimensions."

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of colonial period hardware.

Built 1817-18

Used by the Custis-Lee families from 1818 to 1861 as a bed chamber. Believed to be the chamber of Mary Lee and Martha (Markie) Williams, a cousin, ca. 1861.

Room 204 served also as a bedroom in the apartment of Gardener David H. Rhodes from 1885 to 1929.

1885 For some reason, the walls, ceiling, and woodwork in this room were not painted in 1885.

1892 Room was again not painted in 1892.

1899 Walls papered and ceiling and woodwork given two coats of paint.

1903 Walls, ceilings, and woodwork given two coats of lead and oil.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one radiator placed in Room 204.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

A comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 22 (1924) seems to indicate that a closet located on the northeast (right) side of the fireplace in 1906 had been removed by 1924. As this closet reappears on Plan No. 23 (1930), the feature may simply have been omitted by error on the 1924 plan.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1906 electrical wiring removed.

1929 The original (pre-1861) marble mantel in this room removed, cleaned, repaired, and put back in its original position. Fireplace repaired. Fireplace may have been widened and deepened to restore its "original dimensions."

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built 1817-18

From 1818 to 1857 this small room was apparently subdivided by means of an east-west partition wall in the center of the room into two small dressing rooms that served the occupants of chambers (Room 204 and 206). Doors located in the north and south walls of Room 205 opened directly into Room 204 on the north and Room 206 on the south. In 1857 Mrs. Robert E. Lee had the partition wall taken down to make Room 205 into an additional chamber. The door leading from Room 205 to Room 204 was retained; the door from Room 205 to Room 206 was walled shut and a new door cut from Room 205 into the upper hall.

Room used October 1857 to 1861 as a chamber. From 1885 to 1929 Room 205 served as a bedroom in Gardener David H. Rhodes' quarters.

1885 Walls, ceiling and, woodwork of room painted.

1892 Walls, ceiling and, woodwork painted.

1899 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork given two coats of lead and oil.

1903 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork given two coats of paint.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one cast iron radiator placed in room.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1922 Room used as hall and storage room.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

1929 South doorway from Room 205 to 206 reopened, thus restoring pre-1857 door to room, but original east-west partition wall was not reconstructed and may not have been known. Letter documenting this change was in restricted Lee family papers at this time.

Built in 1817-18

Used by the Custis-Lee families as a chamber from 1818 to 1861. Believed to have been the chamber of Col. Robert E. Lee's three sons—Custis, Robert, and William Henry Fitzhugh (or Rooney).

From 1885 to 1929 Lee boys' chamber (Room 206) served as the parlor to Gardener David H. Rhodes' quarters.

1885 Walls papered and ceiling and woodwork painted for use as parlor.

1892 Walls not papered or ceiling or woodwork painted in 1892.

1899 Walls papered and ceiling and woodwork given two coats of oil and lead.

1903 Ceiling and woodwork painted two coats of oil and lead.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one cast-iron radiator placed in room.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 The weight of the partition wall between Rooms 206 and 207 had caused nearly five inches of sagging in the ceiling of Room 112 below and also cracks in the partition wall and ceilings of 112, 206, and 207. This situation corrected by introducing a truss into the partition wall and then repairing the cracks in the wall and ceilings.

1929 The original (pre-1861) marble mantel in Room 206 removed, cleaned, repaired, and put back in its original position. Fireplace repaired. Fireplace may have been widened and deepened to restore its "original dimensions."

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornice repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling, and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built 1817-18:

Room 207 was used by the Custis-Lee families from 1818 to 1861 as a chamber. Room 207 is believed to have been the chamber of Col. Robert E. Lee and his wife Mary, and also her chamber before their marriage in 1831.

From 1885 to 1929 Room 207 was utilized by Gardener David H. Rhodes as a "sitting room" in his quarters.

1885 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1892 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1899 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1903 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted two coats of lead and oil.

1906 Steam heating installed and one cast iron radiator placed in Room 207.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration work.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 The weight of the partition wall between Rooms 207 and 206 had caused nearly five inches of sagging in the ceiling of Room 112 below and also cracks in the partition wall and ceilings of Rooms 112, 206 and 207. This sagging situation corrected by the introduction of truss in the wall and the repair of cracks in the wall and ceilings.

1929 The original (pre-1861) marble mantel in Room 207 removed and disposed of; this replaced by reproduction, "Colonial period" (or Adam style) mantel not related to appearance of marble mantel. This loss was very serious as no measured drawings made of historic mantel. Reproduction mantel of white pine.

1929 Fireplace repaired and reproduction mantel set in place. Fireplace may have been widened and deepened to restore "original dimensions."

1929-30 Restoration Work:

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceiling, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built 1817-18

Room 208 was used by the Custis-Lee families from 1818 to 1861 as a small dressing room or closet. Tradition identifies this as the room in which six of the seven Lee children were born. Here Col. R. E. Lee kept his important papers.

The room was a part of the quarters from Gardener David H. Rhodes from 1885 to 1929. In 1906 he was using Room 208 as a bedroom and in 1922 as an office.

1885 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1892 Walls, ceiling, and woodwork painted.

1899 Walls, ceiling and walls given two coats of lead and oil.

1903 Walls, ceiling and woodwork given two coats of lead and oil.

1906 Steam heating system installed and one cast-iron radiator placed in room.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1921 It was reported that the rooms on the second floor had not been papered or painted for a number of years.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to second floor rooms.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 1906 heating system and radiator removed.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 Original flooring of tongued and grooved pine boards, of random width and thickness, cleaned and repaired with original flooring from the first floor of the mansion.

1929 Original mill work repair or replaced with similar work.

1929 Plaster walls, ceilings, and cornices repaired or replaced with similar work.

1929 Walls, ceiling and trim painted.

1929 Interior doors repaired.

1929 Modern hardware removed and replaced by replicas of Federal period hardware.

Built 1818-1819. Garret not finished by Custis-Lee families, 1818-61. Apparently used for some storage and possible sleeping area for young men when the house was crowded. Civil War soldiers' names written scratched into wood near door.

1864 1929—Garret not finished by Quartermaster Corps.

1922 Report describes garret as "unfinished and has no floor."

Extant flooring over about 1/6 of area appears to date to c. 1818.

1928-30 Restoration work:

Garret was thoroughly cleaned out of all articles found there. All old dirt cleaned out from top of lath and plaster work. No painting was done in the garret and only absolutely essential changes were made in the old framework of the garret.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed in garret in 1929-30.

This room is located between second floor and garret off the main south stair case. It appears to be part of 1818 construction and is believed to have been used for storage and possibly for over-flow guest room. Original pinning of beams observable here as well as early lath and plaster.

GENERAL RECORD OF WORK ON THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF ARLINGTON HOUSE BY THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS, 1864-1933

Basement of North Wing built 1802.

Basement of South Wing built 1803-04.

Basement of Main House built 1817-18.

Basement of the loggia on the north and south wings, on west side, built before or after main block 1814-1818.

1884 "Nearly 100 cart loads of filth, debris and foul rubbish in the cellar of the old mansion were removed and the cellar thoroughly cleaned and whitewashed." Debris believed to have been dumped in ravine south and west of house.

1896 Sewer system serving water closets (two), sinks, and bath tubs in mansion, rebuilt. This ran from northwest corner of mansion to vault of public latrine located to northwest of house. Cost $181.10. See Plan No. 18. System probably installed in 1870, 1885.

1897 $13.00 spent for painting lattice work on three cellar doors on west side of mansion.

1899 New frame put in a cellar window for $4.00.

1900 Foundation of mansion repaired where soft brick had fallen out, cost $5.10.

1901 Painting three rear cellar doors and latticework — $4.00.

1901 New sill put in for door in cellar — $3.00.

1902 Repair of plaster on ceiling of cellar (under north wing) now falling in Superintendent's quarters — $18.00.

1902 Plastering ceilings in cellar (BO-2 and 3) and cellar halls (BO-1) underneath Superintendent's quarters (in north wing)—for stripping, lathing, and plastering — $78.00.

1903 For new sash in cellar windows, $6.50.

1904 For purchase of wire screen for cellar windows, $5.00.

1905 For repair of water pipe burst from cold in cellar, $6.00.

1906 Central steam heating system installed in mansion at a cost of $1,735.00. New boiler on concrete pad built in Room BO-05 and a door was cut from the boiler room, BO-5, to the new Coal Room, which was located in BO-3, under the north wing.

1907 New water system for fire protection built and two hydrants constructed near house and water pipes carried into mansion.

1914 Electric lights installed in Arlington House.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 "Report on use: Kitchen No. 1, which is used for laundry, two boiler rooms, No. 5 and 11. The remaining portions of cellar are used for storage and fuel [Coal in Room BO-3] and greenhouse supplies. Space No. 12 [under the South Wing] is not excavated."

1923-1928 No repairs or improvements made to cellar.

1928-30 Restoration Work:

1928 New doors and door frame built for cellar entrance doors, reconstructed the existing doors.

1929 New casement sash and all old iron bars replaced on the 11 cellar windows. New casement sash frames and shutters.

1929 Many of the old brick in the basement walls and chimneys had to be replaced.

1929 The brick walls of Room 6, under Main Hall—Room 111, may have been "refilled".

1929 The brick foundation with footing in BO-8, constructed to support the heavy Roll of Honor for the Spanish American War, exhibited in Room 112, was removed, including its footings, and the cellar floor levelled and repair.

1929 All plumbing removed from BO-2, the Winter Kitchen.

1929 Original (pre-1861) wooden mantel in BO-2, removed from fireplace, cleaned, repair, and put back in its original location. Fireplace repaired. (No wooden mantel now in BO-2) (A wooden lintel is embedded in brick above rebuilt fire box opening).

1929 1906 heating system, boiler, and radiators removed from mansion.

1929 1914 electrical wiring system removed from mansion.

1929 Brick floors built in BO-1, BO-2, and BO-3.

1929 Concrete floors, built 1915-20, removed from south half of BO-2 (the north half of this room had a brick floor in 1928), from all of BO-3, the Coal Room.

1929 A new electrical system of floor plugs and outlets was installed throughout the mansion.

"

1929-30 Room BO-2 restored as the "winter kitchen".

1929-30 Room BO-3 restored as wine cellar.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

Stone wall foundations of loggias on west side of room built before or after 1817-18.

Room completed when the loggias were enclosed before 1845.

Hall with stairs to first floor, north wing. Present location and style of stairs may date from enclosure of loggia. Before enclosure of loggia steps to first floor doors may have originated in this area.

1902 Repair of plaster on ceiling of basement (under north wing) now falling in Superintendent's quarters — $18.00.

1902 Plastering ceiling in cellar (BO-2 and 3) and cellar halls (BO-1) underneath Superintendent's quarters (in north wing)—for stripping, lathing and plastering — $78.00.

1929-30 Brick floor built in BO-1.

1896 A sewer line constructed in 1896, replacing one dating from about

1871, may exist under the floor in Room BO-1 see Plan No. 18 (1896).

This line served the water closet and bathtub located in Room 202, second floor apartment of Gardener David H. Rhodes, established in 1885.

1929 Two new cellar entrance doors and frames built, copying the existing ones, and put in place.

1929 Brick and stone foundation walls repaired.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 1906 steam heating system removed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 All plumbing removed from Room 103 above; the plumbing altered for Room 102 above.

In North wing, built 1802. Present room plan, however, does not date from this period.

Winter kitchen used by the Custis-Lee families, 1818-61. The slaves stated that it was designated as "the wash room" in 1861. Believed to have contained early cook stove in 1818-1861. Believed to have contained early cook stove in 1818-1861. Stairs to first floor may have originated in this room before construction of extant stairs in cellar stair hall.

From 1865 to 1929, Room BO-2 was apparently used as a laundry room by the Superintendent of Arlington Cemetery and from 1885 to 1929, perhaps also by Gardener David H. Rhodes who had quarters on the second floor of the main house.

1896 Sewer system serving water closets (two), sinks, and bath tubs in mansion, rebuilt. This ran from northwest corner of mansion to vault of public latrine located to northwest of house. Cost $181.10. See Plan No. 18. System probably installed in 1870, 1885.

1902 Repair of plaster on ceiling of cellar (under north wing) now falling in Superintendent's quarters — $18.00.

1902 Plastering ceilings in cellar (BO-2 and 3) and cellar halls (BO-1) underneath Superintendent's quarters (in north wing) — for stripping, lathing, and plastering — $78.00.

1922 Report - Room No. 1, kitchen, used for a laundry.

1914 Electric lights installed in Arlington House.

1915-20 No record of work.

Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan No. 2.3—4, suggests that the north half of Room BO-2 was bricked and the south half covered with concrete during the years 1915-20.

1923-1928 No repairs or improvements made to cellar.

1928-30 Restoration Work:

1929 Brick foundations repaired.

1929 All plumbing removed from BO-2, the winter kitchen.

1929 Original (pre-1861) wooden mantel in BO-2, removed from fireplace, cleaned, repaired, and put back in its original location. Fireplace repaired. Reconstructed fireplace crane installed.

1929 1906 heating system, boiler, and radiators removed from mansion.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed from mansion.

1929 Concrete flooring covering south half of BO-2 removed and replaced with a brick floor.

1929 A new electrical system of floor plugs and outlets was installed throughout the mansion. New heating system installed.

1929-30 Room BO-2 restored as the "winter kitchen".

Located in North Wing, built 1802. Present room plan, however, only dated from ca. 1818.

Apparently used by the Custis-Lee families, 1818-1861, as a wine cellar. Unexplained remains indicate stove or fire place in south west corner.

1902 Repair of plaster on ceiling of basement (under north wing) now falling in Superintendent's quarters — $18.00.

1902 Plastering ceiling in cellar (BO-2 and 3) and cellar halls (BO-1) underneath Superintendent's quarters (in north wing) — for stripping, lathing, and plastering — $78.00.

1906 Central steam heating system installed in mansion at a cost of $1,735.00. New boiler on concrete pad built in Room BO-05 and a door was cut from the boiler room, BO-5, to the new Coal Room, which was located in BO-3, under the north wing.

1914 Electric lights installed in Arlington House.

1915-20 No record of work.

Comparison of Plan No. 19 (1906) with Plan 2.3—4 (1929) indicates that a concrete floor has been constructed in Room BO-3—"The Coal Room," perhaps between 1915 and 1920.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to basement of mansion.

1929 1906 steam heating system removed from mansion..

1929 Concrete floor removed from Room BO-3.

1929 Brick floor installed. "The brick platform, of which there are traces in the present floor, should be restored."

1929-30 Room BO-3 restored as wine cellar.

1929 Brick foundations repaired.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 New heating system installed.

Room BO-4

Built in 1817-18

Flight of north staircase contained here once and provided access to cellar of north wing; however, stairs were removed at an unknown date.

Plumbing from the bathroom and water closet in Room 202, second floor apartment of Gardener David H. Rhodes, established in 1885, probably came down and ran under this floor from 1885 to 1896. A new sewer line was building in 1896, see Plan No. 18 (1896).

1907 New water system for fire protection built and two hydrants constructed near house and water pipes carried into mansion.

New system entered the west side of the mansion and the end of the pipe line may have been located in Room BO-4 (See Map No. 6—1907) for location of new water system.

1884 Room cleaned out and walls and ceiling white washed.

1929 Brick foundation walls repaired.

1929 1906 steam heating system removed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

Room built 1817-18 — Some physical remains of fireplace from historic period (1818-1861) may indicate use.

1884 Cellar cleaned out and white washed.

1906 Central steam heating system installed in mansion at a cost of $1,735.00. New boiler on concrete pad built in Room BO-05 and a door was cut from the boiler room, BO-5, to the new Coal Room, which was located in BO-3, under the north wing.

For location of boiler in northwest corner of Room BO-5 see Plan No. 19 (1906); this also show site of new door to coal room in north wall.

1914 Electric lights installed in Arlington House.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 Report on use of rooms indicates that BO-5 is being used as a "Boiler Room."

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to basement.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 1906 boiler and its concrete platform removed from Room BO-5.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 New automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 Brick foundations repaired.

Room built 1817-18

In 1855 Col. Robert E. Lee had a brick hot air furnace constructed in Room BO-6, which was located against the north partition wall and near the center of that wall. (For location of furnace, see Plan No. 23 (1930). This sytem involved placing hot air pipes with vents in some of the brick partition walls above BO-6 in the center hall (Room 111). The 1855 system functioned from 1855 to 1861 and perhaps later. Iron coal stoves were used during the cold season from 1865 to 1906, to heat first and second floor rooms in the mansion. A stove was in the Lee chamber before 1861 and perhaps in rooms where undated stove pipe holes exist. These stoves were taken down and stored in the basement during the warm months. In 1906 a central steam heating sytem with boiler and coast iron radiators installed in mansion, thus ending use of coal stoves.

1844 Room cleaned out and white washed.

1907 New water system for fire protection built and two hydrants constructed near house and water pipes carried into mansion.

(For location of lines, see Map No. 6—1907). These lines entered the basement on the west side and some of the piping may have been located in the west end of Room BO-6.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 Report on use of rooms indicates the Room BO-6 is not being used for anything other than the storage of greenhouse supplies, etc.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to room.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 Remains of 1855 hot air furnace left untouched.

1929 Brick partition walls, north and south sides, may have been "filled in."

1929 Brick foundation walls repaired.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 1906 heating system removed.

1929 New heating system installed.

Note: Above ground remain of 1855 furnace moved to B08 where they now are located. This probably done in 1929.

Room Built 1817-18 — Access from cellar to main house.

1884 Room cleaned out and white washed.

Probably used for storage of greenhouse supplies by Quartermaster corps.

1906 Central steam heating system installed in mansion at a cost of $1,735.00. New boiler on concrete pad built in Room BO-05 and a door was cut from the boiler room, BO-5, to the new Coal Room, which was located in BO-3, under the north wing.

1907 New water system for fire protection built and two hydrants constructed near house and water pipes carried into mansion.

1914 Electric lights installed in Arlington House.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 Report indicates Room BO-7 being used only for storage purposes.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to basement.

1928-30 Restoration Work:

1929 1906 heating system, boiler and radiators removed from mansion.

1929 1914 electrical wiring system removed from mansion.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 Brick foundation walls repaired.

The date when the stairs were removed is not known.

Room Built 1817-18 (At this time it is unknown if there was ever a fireplace in this room)

1884 Room cleaned out and white washed.

Used as storage area for greenhouse supplies, etc.

After Spanish-American War a very heavy Roll of Honor of soldiers serving in that war was installed for visitor viewing in Room 112 above. In order to help support the great weight of this exhibit a brick column with footings was constructed in the center of Room BO-8. This column rose from the earth floor of Room BO-8 to the ceiling of the room, under the Roll of Honor.

1906 Central steam heating system installed in mansion at a cost of $1,735.00. New boiler on concrete pad built in Room BO-05 and a door was cut from the boiler room, BO-5, to the new Coal Room, which was located in BO-3, under the north wing.

1914 Electric lights installed in mansion.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 A report indicates Room BO-8 being used only for storage purposes.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration work:

1929 1906 heating system removed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 1914 wiring system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 Brick foundation walls repaired.

1929 The brick foundation with footing in BO-8, constructed to support the heavy Roll of Honor for the Spanish-American War, exhibited in Room 112, was removed, including its footings, and the cellar floor levelled and repair.

For location of brick pier supporting exhibit, see Plan No. 16 (1906).

1929-1933 Used by War Department for storage of historic furnace and marble mantels, etc.

Room built under the southern flanker and southern loggia, at time of enclosure of loggia, before 1845.

1884 Room cleaned out and whitewashed.

1906 Steam heating system installed in mansion.

1910 Plumbing for a public toilet for ladies, three water closets and sink installed in Room No. 114 above. Some of the pipes probably in Room BO-9.

1914 Electric lights installed in mansion.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 Report indicates area only being used for storage, such as greenhouse supplies.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made to room.

1929-30 restoration work.

1929 New door and door frame, copied from existing ones, built and placed on this basement entrance.

1929 All plumbing removed from Room 110 and BO-9.

1929 Brick foundations repaired.

1929 1914 electrical wiring removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 1906 heating system removed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

Room Built 1803-04 and formed the one large original room in the basement of the South Wing.

According to the former slaves, Room BO-10 served as the milk and dairy house for the plantation from ca. 1850 to 1861. Milk from the farm was bought up here and stored in the center of the room in a deep and dry well. Butter was also churned here.

In 1981 Archeologist John F. Pousson found the original brick floor, built in 1803-04, still in place.

From 1865 to 1929, the Quartermaster Corps apparently used Room BO-10 as a storage area for such items as greenhouse supplies. Room BO-10, is described as a "boiler room." A steam heating system, mentioned in a 1922 report on the use of rooms in the cellar, had been installed in Room 11 (See Plan No. 16 (1906), and some latter portion or boiler may have been added in Room BO-10 (The 1906 plan shows a hot water tank located in adjacent Room BO-9).

1884 Room cleaned out and whitewashed.

1906 New steam heating system installed.

1914 Electric lights installed.

1915-20 No record of work.

1922 Described as being used as boiler room.

1923-28 No repairs or improvements made.

1929-30 Restoration Work.

1929 1914 wiring system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 1906 heating system removed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 Brick foundations repaired.

1929-30 Room not restored or furnished, or opened to visitors.

1929 One of two windows on this room, that in the east (front) wall restored with shutters, iron bars, etc. That in the west wall, opening under the Loggia, Room No. 116, apparently left untouched.

No evidence of a fireplace has yet been found in this room.

See Plan No. 19 (1906) and Plan 23 (1930).

1929 Atmo Automatic Fire Alarm Company Drawing No. 747 or NCP 2.3—56, dated October 8, 1929, indicates that alarm station was sent through the window in the west wall of Room BO-10 to a point in Room 11, under Room 116, the Conservatory above.

1922 In 1922 report on use of rooms in basement, it was reported that "Space No. 12 (probably our Room No. 12) is not excavated".

1923—28 No repairs or improvements made to Room 12.

1929 30 Restoration Work.

1929 1914 electrical system removed.

1929 New electrical system installed.

1929 1906 steam heating system removed.

1929 New heating system installed.

1929 Automatic fire alarm system installed.

1929 Brick foundations repaired.

1929 Electrical plans for cellar, Drawing No. 6608—164, or NCP 2.3—4 dated September 17, 1929, indicates that a small door was to be cut in the south wall of Room BO-11 and a crawl space excavated under or in Room BO-12A, apparently to permit the installation of a lighting outlet. No entrance had yet been cut into Room 12B.

1929 Automatic Fire Alarm Co. Drawing 747 (or NCP 2.3—56), October 8, 1929 indicates that a station was to be built in Room 12A and a second one from 12A pushed through the west wall into 12B.

1929 Plans for the new heating system, Drawings No. 6608—161 and 162 (or NCP—2.3—1 and 2), dated September 9, 1929, indicate that a hole was to be cut from the south wall of Room BO-11 and a small portion of space in Room 12B was to be excavated in under to install a heating duct and vent for the floor of Room No. 117.

Rooms 12A and 12B thus appear to have been undisturbed soil from 1804 until the fall of 1929.

(Basement Plan drawing is included in Plan No. 17).