The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

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