The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Creator: Hubbard, Robert James,
1830-1904
Title: Bills for renovation of Mayrant house
Dates: 1891-1897, bulk date: 1891
Call No.: Col. 824
Acc. No.: 08x13
Quantity: 40 items
Location: 34 J 5
BIOGRAPHICAL
STATEMENT
Robert James Hubbard was the son of Thomas Hill and
Phebe Hubbard (her maiden name was Hubbard).
He was born on March 31, 1830, in Utica, New York. On September 30, 1863, he married Anna Foster
Burr (1837-1884) in Cazenovia, N.Y. He
died on December 18, 1904, in Cazenovia. He and his wife had two children, William Burr
(died young) and Robert Frederick (1876-1949).
Robert J. Hubbard worked at the brokerage firm of
Southworth and Litchfield in New York City, and later became treasurer of the
New York Mail Steamship Company, but little else was discovered about his
professional life. He moved to Cazenovia
in 1875, where he became noted for his charitable and religious work. He was president of the village in 1879;
established Chittanango Falls Park; was
a vestryman of his church; and was a member of the New York Geographical
Society, the American Historical Society, and other organizations. He promoted the public library of Cazenovia,
which still houses souvenirs from a tour of Egypt undertaken by him and his son
in 1894.
William M. Burr (1831-1916) was a brother of Anna
Burr Hubbard. Their parents were
Catherine Ten Eyck (1798-1865)) and William Moohlar Burr (1794-1869). In the 1880 census, the younger William Burr
was listed as a farmer; in the 1900 census, he was listed as a capitalist. He married Emily Ketcham Wilkinson, and they
had several children.
The Mayrant house purchased by Hubbard in Columbia,
South Carolina, may have belonged at one time to Robert P. Mayrant, who lived
at the corner of Senate and Bull Streets in 1859. George Walker Waring (1864-1943) of Columbia
was the owner of George W. Waring & Co., a lumber and building supplies
business. Waring was also a building
contractor and an architect.
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
A collection of letters, sketches, and bills
documenting work on the old Mayrant house, on Bull St. in Columbia, South
Carolina. The home had evidently been
purchased by William M. Burr and Robert J. Hubbard, both of Cazenovia, New
York, around 1891. They hired George W.
Waring of Columbia to coordinate the renovations, which were to include adding
gas fixtures, bathrooms, new basement floors, painting, papering the walls, and
adding new doorways. Hubbard wrote that
“[t]he house is an old fashioned one. We
do not care to modernize it, but to make it comfortable & convenient.” The gas fixture dealer reported that the old
gas lines had to be replaced; the plumber gave details of what he would supply
and the costs involved. There are bills
for shingles, lumber (plus doors, balusters, rails, flooring, mantels, and
other wooden building supplies), hardware (locks, knobs, hooks, nails, etc.),
bricks, door bells, and window shades, plus bills for shipping. Floors were stained and 306 single rolls of
wallpaper and borders were hung. A
statement prepared by Waring in December 1891 indicates how much was paid each
supplier or workman.
Much of the furniture and house hold goods, such as
an ironing table, tea kettle, sauce pans, bedding, and various kinds of
brushes, was purchased from John Wanamaker of Philadelphia. Furniture included cherry cane rockers, an
oak sideboard and dining table, and wicker sofa, chairs, and rocker. Additional items were purchased in
Columbia. Some of the bills have
illustrated billheads.
ORGANIZATION
The items are in chronological order.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from Stephen Resnick.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Burr, William M. (William
Moohlar), 1831-1916.
Waring,
George W. (George Walker), 1864-1943.
Topics:
Building materials - Prices -
19th century.
Dwellings - Maintenance and repair - South Carolina -
Columbia.
Dwellings - Remodeling - South Carolina - Columbia.
Furniture - Prices - 19th century.
Architecture, Domestic - Designs and plans - South
Carolina - Columbia.
Gas light fixtures.
Hardware - Prices - 19th century.
House furnishings - Prices - 19th century.
Plumbing fixtures.
Columbia (S. C.) - Buildings, structures, etc.
Invoices.
Billheads.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 34 J 5
All accession numbers begin with 08x13.
Folder 1 of 1:
.1a sketch of floor plan of house, with front
steps, front porch, a center hall with two rooms on each side and a stairwell;
across the back of the house are more rooms (one labeled pantry), and a back
porch; with the exception of the pantry, none of the rooms are labeled, but
doors and windows are noted, as are fireplaces and closets; sizes of rooms are
given
.1b numerical calculations
.1c sketch of a floor plan, perhaps second
floor as a porch is shown; with note “basement about same, … brick & cement
floor – broken”; the page is torn but the remnant of another note reads
“mantels – 2 tile hearths, 1 grate”
.1d notes about various spaces in the house,
such as “garret reached only by scuttle,” “space can be enclosed for kitchen,”
“roof of wing can be raised…,” etc.
.1e typed sheet: Memoranda, with notes about
basement, first, and second floors, and general; first flor notes concern
adding shelves in various places (a W.C. is mentioned); second floor notes are
about a bathroom; general notes concern new doors; hand-written notes concern
stair risers for front piazza and more information about the butler’s pantry
.2a envelope addressed to G. W. Waring,
Columbia, S.C., from R. J. Hubbard
.2b-d letter, Hubbard, Cazenovia, to Waring, July
6, 1891: he and Mr. Burr have reviewed plans and make suggestions for
alterations; “The house is an old fashioned one. We do not care to modernize it, but to make
it comfortable & convenient.” Requests estimate for cost and time it would
take to do the work.
From the notes,
it is clear that the kitchen was to be in the basement, with a dumb waiter to
first floor, and a water closet for the servants. On the first floor, doors are to be cut into
closets so that the two rooms on each side of the center hall have passages
between them; one set of rooms is to be front parlor and library. The rear building is to house the dining room,
dumb waiter, and a water closet. A
bathroom is to be added to second floor; also, the roof above the dining room
was to be raised so rooms (including a bathroom) for servants could be added to
second floor level. The walls were to be
papered (indicates what patterns and colors he wants). Electric bells were to be added to some
rooms, and a speaking tube between second floor and kitchen. Gas lighting is to be added to all
rooms. A cesspool is needed for the
bathrooms and water closets, unless there is a sewer pipe in the street. The brick and iron fence is to be left alone
for the present. Also gives instructions
about paint colors and fireplaces.
.3a-d letter from Hubbard, Cazenovia, Aug. 4,
1891, to Waring, Columbia: encloses plans of the Bull Street house, with
changes marked in color.
He then gives directions
for what is to be done on each floor, starting with the basement (where the
kitchen was to be). On the second floor,
would like to have two entrances to the bathroom, if possible. Also notes where he wants gas lights,
electric bells, and a speaking tube.
Asks other questions about the house, and asks for estimate of
costs.
On back of .3a: rough sketch – rectangle with a curve drawn inside it;
On
back of .3d: notes answering some of the questions asked in the letter (no
cornices, stairs have been painted, etc.)
.4 letter
from R. E. Plumer, Columbia, Aug. 14, 1891, to George Waring: quotes price
($90) for installing new gas pipes in the Mayrant house; the old pipe is too
small and in too poor condition to be safe to use;
Printed
and illustrated letterhead: plumber, steam and gas fitter, and dealer in gas
fixtures, pumps, &c.; illustrated with a gasolier
.5 bill
from G.E. Steadman, Columbia, Sept. 2, 1891, to Geo. W. Waring: probably for
lumber;
Printed
billhead: dealer in building material, yellow pine doors, sash and blinds,
&c.
.6 letter
from A. D. Palmer, no place, Sept. 10, 1891, to Geo. Waring: estimate and
specifications for plumbing work on Mayrant house; gives prices for water
closets with iron tanks and walnut seats, washstands, copper bath tubs, a galvanized boiler and
stand, sinks, steel range, cast iron soil pipe, and various fittings. Also specifies such materials as marble tops,
nickel-plated basin, plug, and chain, etc.
.7 bill
from R.D. Senn & Co., Columbia, to Geo. W. Waring, Sept. 17, 1891: for
heart shingles and drayage;
Printed
billhead
.8 bill
from R. E. Plumer, Columbia, Sept. 20, 1891, to George Waring: for gas fittin
in the Mayrant house;
Printed
and illustrated billhead: steam and gas fitter; illustrated with a gasolier and
a windmill
.9 bill
from J.B. Shannon & Sons, Philadelphia, Penn., Sept. 30, 1891: for front
door lock, bronze knobs, escutcheons, hooks, N.Y. Safety Dumb Elevator, etc.;
Printed
and illustrated billhead: manufacturers and dealers in hardware, cutlery and
tools; illustrated with a lock and key; on yellow paper
.10a-b bill
from F.W. Wing, Columbia, Oct. 1, 1891, to Mayrant House, Geo. W. Waring: for
box and pulley frames, doors, casings, top and bottom rails, balusters, a
newel, boards, etc.;
Printed
billhead: planning mill and door, sash and blind factory
.11 shipping
receipt: the Wilmington, Columbia & Augusta Rail Road shipped two barrels
of hardware from Philadelphia to Geo. W. Waring, Oct. 5-6, [1891];
Printed
form
.12 shipping
receipt: the Wilmington, Columbia & Augusta Rail Road shipped six bundles
of wallpaper from New York to G. W. Waring, Oct. 8-9, 1891;
Printed
form
.13 typed
letter from J.B. Johnson, The Peerless Brick Co., Philadelphia, Oct. 13, 1891,
to Geo. W. Waring, Columbia: gives price for plain red pressed front brick,
plus estimated freight charges; recommends using Clyde Line to ship from
Philadelphia to Charleston, then by rail to Columbia;
Printed
and illustrated letterhead: showing view of factory, which was on Old York Road
and Nicetown Lane
.14 bill
from Fowles Lumber Co., Columbia, Oct. 15, 1891, to Waring: for feet of different
kinds of lumber
.15 bill
of lading for goods shipped on Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific
Railway Co. (Cincinnati Southern Railway), Oct. 17, 1891: shipping floor tile
on behalf of Innes and Co., to G. W. Waring;
Printed
form
.16 shipping
receipt: the Richmond & Danville Railroad Co. shipped a box of tile to
Waring, Oct. 26, 1891
.17a-d bill
from F.W. Wing, Columbia, Oct. 28, 1891, to Mayrant House, Geo. W. Waring: for
casings and nosings for frames, balusters, steps, boards, posts, jambs, blinds,
four box columns, door stops, transom bar, flooring, top and bottom rails and
caps,, table legs, brackets, pickets, a fancy mantel, a dresser top, a double
door, repairs to blinds, etc.;
Printed
billhead: planning mill and door, sash and blind factory
.18 bill
from Mrs. Susan Johnson, Columbia, Oct. 23, 1891, to Waring for B & H [Burr
and Hubbard]: for 960 of Philadelphia pressed bricks, at four cents each
.19 bill
from Plumer, Grew & Co., Columbia, Oct. 1891, to Waring: for 400 firebricks
at two cents each
.20 bill
from G. A. Guiguard [?], no place, no date, to Waring for B & H [Burr and
Hubbard]: for 400 hard bricks for basement hearths, &c. (75 cents per 100)
.21 bill
from Geo. A. shields, Columbia, Oct. 1891, to Waring for B & H [Burr and
Hubbard], for D.W. and castings
.22 bill
from W. H. Stack, Columbia, Oct. 1891, to Waring for B & H [Burr and
Hubbard]: to framing lumber
.23 bill
from Dial Hardware Co., Columbia, Nov. 1891, to Waring for B & H [Burr and
Hubbard]: for keg of nails
.24 bill
from W.R. Cathcart, Columbia, Nov. 1891, to Waring; for door bells and speaking
tube (fixtures and installation);
Printed
billhead: electrical contractor, [etc.]
.25 bill
from David Jones, Columbia, Nov. 1891, to
Waring for Mr. Burr, Mayrant House; for window shades and tacks and
papers;
Printed
and illustrated billhead: dealer in carpets, shades, mattings, linoleums,
chenille and lace curtains, poles etc., and house furnishing goods; illustrated
with a Gold Medal carpet sweeper
.26 bill
from John Wanamaker, Philadelphia, Nov. 3, 1891, to W. M. burr, Columbia; for house
furnishings, including ironing table, kitchen wares, various kinds of brushes
(dust, silver, scrub, floor), brass polish, three chamber suites (one in oak,
one in birch, and one in 16th century style), various kinds of
chairs (including Morris, rocking, and easy chairs), dining room furniture
(sideboard, table, chairs), wicker furniture (sofa, chairs, table, stool),
hallstand, desk, various kinds of tables (mahogany, library, folding), spring
beds, mattresses, pillows, bolsters, iron bedsteads, chamber sets, rolls of
matting, blankets, spreads, rugs, etc.;
Printed
billhead: importer, manufacturer and dealer in dry goods and outfittings
.27 bill
from F.W. Wing, Columbia, Nov. 11, 1891, to Mayrant House, Geo. W. Waring: for
lumber, , nosing, posts, pickets, turned legs for table, etc.
Printed
billhead: planning mill and door, sash and blind factory
.28a-b bill
from Charles Newnham, Sept.-Nov. 1891, to Waring for Mr. Burr; for painting
house, scraping walls and hanging paper, staining floors, changing mantels and
baseboards, painting lattice on back, lights of glass, mouding, etc.
Two
bills are the same, but one is marked paid
.29 bill
from Fowles Lumber Co., Columbia, Nov. 21, 1891, to Waring, Mayrant House: for
feet of lumber
.30 bill
from C.O. Brown & Bro., Columbia, Dec. 8, 1891, to Waring; for laths[?],
plaster, whitewash brushes, pounds of calsom, lamp black, sash, doors, sash
weights and cord, plate glass;
Printed
and illustrated billhead: dealers in sash, blinds, doors, paints, oils, glass
and lime, builders’ hardware, etc.; illustrated with stair railing, door,
window sash, box of window panes, , shutter, bracket, newel post, and an item
labeled “hot bed sash”
.31 bill
from Lorick and Lowrance, Columbia, Dec. 9, 1891, to Waring for Burr &
Hubbard; for cord, broom, brushes, bucket, hoe, nails, sandpaper, hinges,
screws, locks, buckles, b. fasts; rings, escutcheons, latches, hooks, rope;
Printed
billhead: importers and dealers in choice groceries, hardware, cutlery,
&c., &c. [also seeds and house painting supplies]
.32 bill
from M.H. Berry, Columbia, Dec. 10, 1891, to W. M. burr: for bureaus, wash
stands, leaf and round tables, chairs, kitchen safe [pie safe, not a vault],
small oak table, desk;
Printed
and illustrated billhead: furniture, chairs, mattresses, undertaking, bodies
embalmed, burial robes, etc.;
illustrated with picture of the Berry store
.33 letter,
Waring, Columbia, Dec. 18, 1891, to Wm. M. Burr: got plumber to reduce his
bill; thinks the plumber’s measurements are right; encloses expense statement
and all estimates and bills, except plumbers [these items are probably most of
the collection, although as received, it is no longer possible to know what was
sent with this letter and what was sent separately]; hopes that Burr and
Hubbard will be pleased with work, even though costs are higher than expected;
plumber wants his bill paid soon
.34 letter,
A. D. Palmer, Columbia, Dec. 22, 1891, to “Friend Geo.” [Waring]: needs to be
paid so he can pay another bill
.35 letter
from Geo. W. Waring, Columbia, Dec. 22, 1891, to Wm. M. Burr: encloses letter
from plumber [see .34 above]; Waring can’t pay him because he has no money
.36 bill
from John C. dial Hardware Co., Columbia, Oct. 2, [no year], to Waring for the
Burr House: for nails;
Printed
and illustrated billhead: hardware and cutlery, … carriage building and
trimming materials, agricultural implements, circular saws, paints, oils, …
window glass; illustrated with an anvil, and with a variety of tools laid on a
circular saw blade
.37 bill
from D. Devere, Dec. 1891, to G. W. Waring; for feet of lumber [probably]
.38 receipted
bill from A. D. Palmer, noted as paid Dec. 22, 1891, to Geo. Waring; for water
closets, washstands, boiler, sinks, cocks bibbs and stops, cast iron and lead
soil pipes, galvanized and iron elbows, earthen pipe, solder, brass coupling
for tank, hot air collars, conductors, a bath tub, and other plumbing
materials;
.39a-c typed
“Statement of materials furnished at Old Mayrant House for Messrs Burr & Hubbard,
by Geo. W. Waring, agent”: a summary of the bills from various workmen and
stores, including a planning mill, lumber yard, gas fitter, electrician,
painter and paper hanger, and plumber; and suppliers of bricks, shingles,
shades, nails, mortar, castings; and other goods and services; added to the
bill is Waring’s charge for general supervision, charges for labor, and
additional charges for materials; Waring notes that he was paid on Dec. 23,
1891
.40
letter,
John M. Daniels, agent of The United Gas Improvement Company, for Columbia Gas
Light Company, Columbia, April 17, 1897, to Wm. Burr, Columbia: encloses a
check received from Mr. Gonzales[?] for a radiator;
Printed
letterhead: Office of The United Gas Improvement Company, for Columbia Gas Light
Company;
Letter
is badly torn, and some of it is missing