University of Virginia Library

Carpenters' Dispute

The visitors barely had departed from their October session when Brockenbrough
discovered that he had created some confusion by letting out part of the work that the
committee of superintendence intended for John Neilson to George W. Spooner, Jr., who had
served as the proctor's faithful agent at the university during the months that Brockenbrough
remained in Richmond. (Spooner, the principal carpenter at Hotels C and E and dormitories
14-23 and 24-28 on the east range, served as proctor himself in 1845-1846 and supervised
the construction of Robert Mill's Rotunda Annex in 1853.)[357] Brockenbrough had set
Spooner to work "making the window frames and a part of the work of the first floor" of
Pavilion IX before he learned that the committee had reserved the building for Neilson.
When the proctor realized the potential conflict, he set aside the unallotted portion of the
pavilion's work for Neilson, who was advised of the situation and immediately left Bremo
for the university site to "make the necessary arrangements for the job."[358] Spooner, it
turned out, already had collected the materials needed for both the cellar and first floor,
"except the first floor of Joists," and started to make not only the window frames but interior
doors.

When knowledge of Spooner's progress surfaced it put Nelson "in a very cerly mood" and
the proctor in an especially awkward predicament. "I am certainly desirous that Mr Nelson
should have the Pavilion," Brockenbrough informed Jefferson on 12 October, "but having
made this previous engagement . . . I feel myself bound to let him go with it that far." Since
Nelson "is not disposed to hear any thing I have to say on the subject," the proctor pressed
Jefferson to find a compromise, especially since Spooner's work would not interfere with the
part left for Nelson. "If you think I must discard this young man notwithstanding the
expence & trouble he has been at to provide materials & prepare the work, I will do so,"
Brockenbrough said, "otherwise I shall let him go with the part engaged to him."[359]
Jefferson, quite ill with "the dry hard belly ake attended with a great portion of wind,"[360]
and hence unable to intervene in the dispute, forwarded the proctor's request to the other
member of the committee of superintendence with the instruction that he "decide upon the
business of this letter himself."[361]

When confronted with the situation Cocke insisted that the contract with Spooner "should be
faithfully complied with," but at the same time he thought it might be modified in such a
manner consistent with Spooner's "expectations & interest, and will enable us to fulfil the
assurance which both Mr. J & myself have always given Mr. N—that he shou'd find
employment at the University as soon as his existing engagements wou'd admit of his
undertaking."[362] Cocke recently had employed both Neilson and Spooner in the building
of his Palladian mansion Bremo and presumably knew the temperament of each man well
enough to effect a reconciliation of interests. The compromise that Cocke suggested for the
workmen gave to Spooner the "Sash frames, & joists, of 2d. Story & the roof & Sheeting"
and to Neilson the "making the Sashes the external Cornice and the whole of the inside
work and the use of a part of the workshop now in the occupancy of Spooner at an equitable
rent.—This seems to me to be yeilding to Mr. Spooner as much as he will be giving up to
Mr. N."[363] Spooner's progress was such that the proposal had to be modified somewhat in
early November,[364] and it was December before the pavilion was ready for Nelson's part
of the work to begin.[365]