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Chapter 3
The Building Campaign of 1819, Part 1
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Philadelphians Arrive
Ware returned to Philadelphia, arriving back on 10 June, and found his men "prepairing with
all expetction for to come to Virginia." In addition, since talking to Jefferson, he had
rounded up some stonecutters who would be "glad to be imployerd" at their trade for $1.50
per day.[242] Abiah Thorn, who in 1820 entered into a brickwork partnership with John M.
Perry, came to the university as a result of Ware's new inquiries in Philadelphia.[243] Ware
and his men, ready to leave Philadelphia several days ahead of the vessel that carried them
south,[244] made it to Richmond by Sunday 11 July.[245] Once at the university the
Philadelphians immediately set to work. At Brockenbrough's insistence Ware involved
himself in the stonework and quickly saw the need for an "Experienced Qurry man." By 22
July Ware's men had "made A few 1,000 Bricks my 2 tempers not able to work one not well
& nurseing of him,"[246] and by the 26th they had made 12,000, although Ware complained
that "for the want of rain the floor are in bad order & clay raw & grean."[247] By the 30th,
however, Ware had experienced his first insurrection, losing some of his "hands" because of
an alleged shortage of fresh beef. "I hope however he will regain them," said Alexander
Garrett, "they would be a great loss to the institution, as Ware carries on his work in a very
superior stile to any others at the University."[248]
242. Ware to Brockenbrough, 11 and 22 June 1819, ViU:PP. One stone carver, Joseph H.
Smith, wrote Brockenbrough on 12 June saying he was "ready to engage" as either a
foreman, "working occasionally myself," or by contract, "at the regular prices of Stone
Cutting" (ViU:PP).
243. See Samuel Griscom to Brockenbrough, 19 June 1819, ViU:PP. Also, on 5 June
Jefferson advised Brockenbrough not to omit the Philadelphia newspapers if he advertized
for stonecutters, "they are the cheapest, and generally the most steady & correct workmen in
the US" (ViU:PP). Abiah Thorn worked with Albemarle County contractor John M. Perry
on Pavilion VIII, Hotel B, and fourteen dormitories on the east range, nos. 10-13 and 14-23.
In the spring of 1823 Thorn formed a partnership with Nathaniel Chamberlain and the firm
contracted for the Rotunda's brickwork. See Lay, "Charlottesville's Architectural Legacy,
Magazine of Albemarle County History, 46:43, and Lay, "Jefferson's Master Builders,"
University of Virginia Alumni News, 80 (October 1991), 16-19. Thorn received $364.25 in
payments for brickwork at the university in his own name between 23 March 1820 and 30
September 1823; the firm of Perry & Thorn received $7,489.52 between 9 April 1821 and
22 August 1821; and from 14 May 1823 to 30 September 1824 the firm of Thorn and Chamberlain
received $3,692.46 for brickwork (ViU:PP, Ledger 1).
244. See Ware to Brockenbrough, 22 June 1819, ViU:PP. In that letter Ware told the proctor
that "if you could forward the buildings thats already up I would be verry glad otherwise we
Shall not have nor A place to lay our heads & I wish to keep all of the Men to gether upon
the premisis & away from the Town" (ViU:PP). Jefferson informed Brockenbrough on 29
June that John Perry "promised to have dormitories for the master workmen and Cellars
ready for the others which was my promise" (ViU:PP; see also O'Neal, "Workmen at the
University of Virginia," Magazine of Albemarle County History, 17:35).
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Chapter 3
The Building Campaign of 1819, Part 1
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |