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Since the house was originally restored in changed the name to the Catherine Orr
1928, new technologies and techniques have House to reflect her nearly five decades of
emerged to help us better understand this residence in the building. For now, we
and many other buildings. One such tech- continue to investigate the building and
nology, dendrochronology, or the study of uncover more architectural features that
tree-ring data, can help us date the building, help us understand the evolution of the
often to the season the trees were felled. building and of 18th century Williamsburg
Using a drill with a small coring bit, scientists in general.
take samples of the timbers. These core
samples are then analyzed to reveal not only Doors in the Architectural
how old the tree was, but by using sample
data from known locations in tandem with Collection
climate records also provides the year it was We have all heard about the importance
felled. While we have solid dates for many of making a great first impression and doors
buildings in the Historic Area, this one in your home play a large part in that
continues to elude us due to the fast-growing Ongoing architectural investigations in the sentiment. While the main function of the
poplar timbers used in the early construction Catherine Orr House door is to maintain privacy and safety inside
of the building. We are hopeful that more the room or house when it is closed, it also
testing and perhaps creating a dedicated database for Williamsburg in illustrates the status level of the various spaces.
the future will help resolve some of the issues we are encountering. An interior door from the Cogar Shop, an 18th-century King &
We also work with our colleagues in the conservation department Queen County, Virginia house that was moved to Williamsburg’s
and the Materials Analysis Lab on paint studies to help determine the Historic Area in 1947, is a perfect example. The raised panels and
finishes and paint colors of the early house. Because certain pigments faux-graining on both sides of the door represent higher-status
and formulations have known dates of introduction, we are able to decorative detailing that was used in 18th and 19th century
narrow down certain paint layers, much like in archaeological Williamsburg. Having such detailing on both sides meant that the door
investigations. For instance, zinc was not used in paint until 1845 so connected two higher-status spaces.
any layers that have zinc in them must post-date that time period. One An 18th-century interior door from Wetherburn’s Tavern on Duke
interesting and unusual discovery has been the finding of orpiment, an of Gloucester Street has raised panels on one side and flat panels on the
arsenic sulfide compound used to make a yellow paint. This pigment is other. While the raised panel side faced into a public space, the flat
highly toxic and very smelly, so finding it in house paint was quite panels faced into a secondary space (most likely a closet).
unexpected. We continue to work with conservators as we uncover new A ca. 1752 exterior door from the Thomas Everard Kitchen near
areas with potential early paint finish. Colonial Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace perfectly illustrates the
Along with the scientific materials difference between higher status and
analysis, how do we as architectural lower status spaces and buildings.
historians go about studying a While the Cogar and Wetherburn’s
building? First, we look at previous doors were designed to impress, the
scholarly works and reports, and then outbuilding’s heavy board and batten
deep dive into the documents like door with large iron hinges was
historic photographs, drawings, simply meant to fill an opening and
insurance policies, probate inventories, hide the workspace inside.
and other primary sources, but nothing All the objects mentioned are on
compares to hands-on physical inves- view in the exhibit, Restoring
tigations. In many cases, this means Williamsburg, at the DeWitt Wallace
more invasive methods of investiga- Decorative Arts Museum, one
tion. At the Orr House, we’ve started of the Art Museums of Colonial
to remove plaster in small investiga- Williamsburg. The exhibit is
tion units to better study the timber designed to take the viewer on a
frame. Like most of the early Left: Cogar Shop Door, ca. 1750s, AF-7.12A.1. visual journey from the start of the
restorations, all the historic plaster Middle: Wetherburn’s Door, ca. 1750s, AF-9.31.1. Restoration in the 1920s to today.
was removed when the building was Right: Thomas Everard Kitchen Door, ca. 1752, AF-29.9.1. It highlights the Foundation’s
restored. This, while now known as a architectural collections, explaining
devastating loss as plaster provides many clues such as wall finishes and how they began and focusing on how they guided the early restoration
wallpaper, is actually a benefit to us as it means we can remove modern architects and designers, and how they continue to guide our preserva-
plaster without worry that we are destroying the historic fabric. tion work today.
We’ve long puzzled over the framing at the Orr House. Once
investigation units were cut into the plaster, we were able to thoroughly
investigate the timber frame construction of the building. What we Colonial Williamsburg operates the world’s largest living history museum,
found was intriguing and had a profound impact on how we will interpret preserving Virginia’s 18th-century capital as a fully functioning city. Fun,
the house in the future. As we delved in deeper into our investigation, engaging experiences transport guests back in time and highlight the
we found more hints that the building might be older than previously relevance of America’s founding era to contemporary life. The Colonial
thought. This was realized when we began looking at the roof framing Williamsburg experience includes more than 600 restored or reconstructed
at the eaves and found evidence for a construction technique we’ve only buildings, historic trade shops, renowned museums of decorative arts and
seen in the oldest homes in the Tidewater. While not the proverbial folk art, extensive educational outreach programs for students and teachers,
“home run” we are always chasing, all signs point to the building being lodging, culinary options from historic taverns to casual or elegant dining,
much earlier than thought–perhaps as early as the 1710s. the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club featuring 45 holes designed by Robert
While this is no smoking gun, we believe we are on the right track Trent Jones Sr. and his son Rees Jones, a full-service spa and fitness center
to coaxing the Orr House into giving up her secrets. So where do we go managed by Trilogy Spa, pools, retail stores and gardens. The Colonial
from here? Our first step has been to rename the building. Following Williamsburg Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization;
Colonial Williamsburg tradition, its new name reflects the 18th century philanthropic support and revenue from admissions, products, and
resident who lived in or owned the house the longest. Since we now operations sustain its educational programs and preservation initiatives.
believe the house is much earlier than once considered, we have Visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.org for more information.

20 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles