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Chapter 9
The Building Campaign of 1824
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Brickwork at the Rotunda
Meanwhile, other building projects besides roof construction were carried into effect at the
Rotunda. In early May Brockenbrough informed Jefferson that the "Portico of the Rotunda
& Platform of the back Steps" would take at least 1,350 square feet of marble flagging,
1,150 for the portico, 160 for the platform, and 40 for breakage,[632] and Jefferson placed an
order for 1,400 marble squares two weeks later from Thomas Appleton in Leghorn.
Jefferson informed Appleton that he was anxious to receive the marble bases and capitals
that he had ordered the previous fall so that the workmen could "get up our columns this
season . . . that the columns may have time to settle before their Capitels are put on
them."[633] Brockenbrough then sought from Dinsmore & Neilson an estimate of the
amount of lead needed for (in Dinsmore's words) the "leaves of the Modellions &c 300 ft
superficial @ 5 lbs to the foot," which the proctor then ordered, along with two casks of
nails and two coils of rope, from Brockenbrough & Harvie in Richmond.[634] In May the
proctor also tried to arrange the brickmaking for the upcoming two building seasons. He
requested John Hartwell Cocke to lend his slave brickmaker, Charles, to the university for
three months in order to make 2 or 300,000 bricks for the "next year [1825] if they should
be wanting for any buildings about the University."[635] A few days later, however, Cocke
sent the proctor word that "my engagements with Charles will not admit of my sparing him
this Season."[636] Brockenbrough then contracted with John M. Perry to make about
300,000 "hard well shaped bricks such a portion of which shall be Column bricks as many
as may be required for the Rotunda shaped agreeable to a mould to be furnished and such a
portion of paving bricks as may be wanting for the Rotunda & Gymnasia, and which shall
be smoth well shaped bricks." Perry also agreed to "take the wood purchased of Jesse Lewis
& what ever other wood the proctor may have on hand for the burning of Bricks at One
Dollar per cord on the ground where cut or two Dollars delivered at the kiln near the
University; the said Perry is to pay at the rate of [blank] cents per thousand for the clay that
was dug by the labourers of the University." Brockenbrough, acting for the University,
promised to pay Perry $4.50 per thousand bricks and to let Perry have "the use of the yard,
shelters, clamps &c attached to the Brick yard for the making of the Said bricks but no other
bricks are to be made or carried from said yard or grounds for any other purposed. the Said
Shelters, yards, clamps &c to be returned in good order."[637]
632. Brockenbrough to TJ, 3 May 1824, DLC:TJ; see also Brockenbrough's undated
Memorandum of Marble Flagging for the Rotunda, in ViU:PP.
633. TJ to Appleton, 17 May, ViU:TJ; see also O'Neal, Jefferson's Buildings at the
University of Virginia: The Rotunda, 30-31, and O'Neal, "Michele and Giacomo Raggi at the
University of Virginia, Magazine of Albemarle County History, 18:30-31. Appleton wrote to
TJ on 28 July to inform him that he had ordered the marble squares and that the bases "are
now Satisfactorily progressing under the Direction of my Sculptor and will be compleated in
October--[Giamoco] Raggi overlooks Some part of the work; but hitherto, he Can labour but
little, from the misfortune he Suffer'd in fracturing the clavicule.--The bases, and the
Squares, Shall be Shipp'd by the first vessel, after their Arrival here, and I hope and beleive,
you will receive them in the course of December; and as the Capitals cannot be finish'd until
february, it is probable you will received them, before May" (DLC:TJ). Raggi's injury and
the resulting delay in receiving the bases at the university meant that the columns could not
be set until the following year (see TJ to Appleton, and Appleton to TJ, both 8 October
1824, in DLC:TJ). The marble paving squares and bases were shipped to Boston on board
the ship Caroline in April 1825, and the capitals were shipped to Boston on board the brig
Tamworth in June (see Appleton to TJ, 13 April, 4-12 May, 22 June, 12 July 1825, in
DLC:TJ, TJ to Brockenbrough, 23, 24 July, 30 August 1825, in ViU:PP, TJ to Appleton, 10
August 1825, in ViU:TJ, Appleton's accounts for marble columns, 4 May 1825, in ViU:TJ,
22 June 1825, DLC:TJ, and 12 July 1825, in ViU:TJ; see also O'Neal, Jefferson's Buildings
at the University of Virginia: The Rotunda, 35, 36, 38).
634. Dinsmore & Neilson, Memorandum, 19 May 1824, ViU:PP; see also Brockenbrough &
Harvie to Brockenbrough, 24 May, 1 July 1824, and Brockenbrough & Harvie's Account
No. 1, 4 December 1824, inclosed in Thomas Brockenbrough to Brockenbrough, 4
December 1824, all in ViU:PP. "Colo. Harvies Nail Factory" and "J. B. Harvie's Nail Book"
are mentioned in Brockenbrough & Harvie to Brockenbrough, 24 May, and 4 December
1824, respectively, in ViU:PP, and on 13 May 1825 Brockenbrough & Harvie informed the
proctor that "Mr Harvie has declined making Nails for the present, owing to the high price
of Iron" (ViU:PP).
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Chapter 9
The Building Campaign of 1824
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |