University of Virginia Library

Exterior Railings

With the fall season approaching, Board of Visitors secretary Nicholas P. W. Trist informed
Brockenbrough that he had overlooked reporting to him resolutions passed by the visitors
earlier in the summer that directed the proctor to "cause a neat iron railing to be placed on
the right & left of the Rotunda & adjacent to the same, so as to exclude access for the
purpose of walking over the gymnasia."[781] "With regard to the iron railing," Trist wrote, "I
would suggest the propriety of conferring with the executive committee, before you place it.
Dr Emmet, wishes such a portion only of the gymnasium terrace cut off, as would Shorten
the walk by the width of his portico."[782] On 7 October the proctor inquired of John
Hartwell Cocke whether the railings were "intended to be of wrought or cast iron? and how
near to the Portico?"[783] After Brockenbrough mentioned the subject again in another letter,
Cocke replied that the railings were designed "to prevent too near an approach to the
Pavilions contiguous to the terraces of the Rotunda—so as to intrude upon the privacy of the
Professors families inhabiting them—if Cast iron railing is cheapest, that ought to be
preferr'd as to its position I do not recollect whether it was decided to place it nearest to the
Rotunda or the Pavilions—but this difficulty will be solved probably by the record in Mr.
Trists possession."[784] The question of where to place the railings remained unresolved
until November, when, after Brockenbrough brought up the subject once again,[785] Cocke
directed him to place them on the Rotunda terrace "as near to the Pavilions as will be
consistent with the object for which they are to be erected viz. to secure the privacy of these
Buildings."[786]