 |
Chapter 4
The Building Campaign of 1819, Part 2
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Board of Visitors Meeting
Jefferson returned from Bedford in time to ascertain first hand the state of affairs at the
university in preparation for the Board of Visitors meeting on Monday 4 October. The
board's first action was to ratify the actions taken by the committee of superintendence six
months earlier. Next, it instructed the proctor to make an estimate of the amount of money
needed to build the last three pavilions and their dormitories. The board also authorized the
proctor to take the necessary measures to procure for the "two Italian artists" some "proper
Stone or marble" since all the local stone proved incapable of "being wrought into Capitels
for the Columns" of the pavilions. At the meeting the visitors effectively looked ahead
beyond the curtailment of the present building season to the ensuing one, for winter was
closing in fast and the contractors were set to sit it out as best they could. After a final
October surge, progress in building would be slow and at best steady for the next four or
five months.
At their meeting the visitors, as required by law, approved the draft of its annual report to
the president and directors of the Literary Fund, "embracing a full account of the
disbursements, the funds on hand, and a general statement of the condition of the Sd.
University." An inventory of the property formerly owned by the Central College appended
to the report showed that one pavilion and 15 dormitories "have been as nearly finished as is
deemed expedient until wanted for occupation," and one other pavilion was scheduled to be
completed during the winter. Five other pavilions "more or less advanced" and about 20
additional dormitories "in progress," the inventory showed, will "probably have their walls
completed and covered in during the present season, but will not be otherwise finished but in
the course of another . . . for two seasons being generally requisite for the accomplishment
of good buildings, the one for their walls and covering, the other for inner finishings."[352]
Six weeks later the interior work on the second-mentioned pavilion, "far the best of the
whole," had progressed so as to guarantee its completion in the coming winter but its garden
still was not inclosed, and "as it is to be done with brick, there may be a doubt whether the
season is not too far advanced to risk it."[353] (The pavilion was "finished except plaistering
and painting" at winter's end.)[354] On the first of December, when Jefferson finally sent the
report to the Literary Fund, he could add in his cover letter that "the walls of the 7. pavilions
and 37. dormitories then in progression, have been compleated; and their roofs are in
forwardness to be put up in due time. their inner and outer finishings will be the work of the
ensuing year."[355] Two of the Corinthian shafts were scheduled to be in place by then, along
and with 6 of the Doric on Pavilion IV and VIII or X of the Tuscan.[356]
352. Minutes of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, 4 October 1819,
PPAmP:UVA Minutes.
353. TJ to Thomas Cooper, 19 November 1819, ViU:TJ. In a postscript Jefferson added that
"the Pavilion, besides a large lecturing room, has 4. good rooms for family accomodation.
one of them below, large enough for you study & library; a drawing room & 2 bedrooms
above. kitchen & servant's rooms below. the adjacent dormitories (14. f. square) can be used
for your apparatus & laboratory."
|
Chapter 4
The Building Campaign of 1819, Part 2
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |