Recommendations for the Conservation of the Thomas James Store

Although the Thomas James Store is in relatively good condition for its age, there are a number of issues that must be addressed to prevent any further deterioration of building materials. The following recommendations are based upon observations from a site visit by Matthew Webster, conservator of architecture, and Dr. Carl Lounsbury, senior architectural historian, both of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. These recommendations are for steps to be taken over the next several years to stabilize and conserve the historic fabric of the store.

Drainage

The first and most important step in conserving the Thomas James Store is to improve water drainage on the building's property. Currently, the store sits in a low-lying area with concrete on three sides, which serve to channel rainwater toward the store's foundation. The store has roof gutters on the east and west facades that simply pour water down the sides of the building, adding to the pool of standing water around the foundation. The moisture at the base of the building is wicked up through the brick piers of the foundation, and into the wooden sills and studs of the frame. Some rot has already occurred in the wooden components, and further damage will occur if drainage is not improved. Excess moisture also puts the building at risk for insect, including termite, infestation and damage. In addition to protecting the building's frame, controlling moisture will prolong the life of the historic bricks and mortar that compose the foundation.

To facilitate adequate drainage, it has been recommended to MCHS that shallow trenches be created under the east and west eaves of the building, each connecting to a trench running west to Main Street. A lip should be created on the expanse of blacktop behind Mathews Electronics to the south of the building, which will guide rainwater into one of the trenches to also be carried out to Main Street. I also recommend that an improved gutter system be installed on the building, with downspouts that channel water from the roof into the trenches below. This will reduce the incidence of water flowing down the side of the building, or splashing back from the trench onto the foundation.

A licensed engineer has offered to donate drawings of the proposed drainage solution. To enact this solution, permission will be needed from Mathews County Visitor and Information Center and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Morgan, as the improvements will be undertaken on their properties. In addition, a title search was ordered by the County Administrator on February 25, 2009 to determine the ownership of the easement along Maple Avenue; permission to install the trenches will also be needed from the owner of this easement, the Potomac Supply Corporation. The estimated cost of this project is as yet undetermined.

A drain on all four sides of the building was installed in 2009, courtesy of local member John J. Digges.

Structural Stabilization

Several structural problems were noted during Webster and Lounsbury's inspection of the Thomas James Store. First, when the north wall chimney was removed, presumably when the building was relocated, the gap left in the north sill had to be patched with a piece of replacement timber. Both the original sill and the insert are now loose. The sill has also suffered from damp rot, which extends to the corners of the north wall. In addition, some of the vertical studs on the north wall have separated from the patched sill, resulting in an unstable wall. Some of the floor joists have separated from the east sill, particularly in the northeast corner of the building. Finally, the foundation has deteriorated, particularly on the north side of the building. At least one of the piers has settled, and many of the bricks and concrete blocks are loose and can be manipulated by hand, indicating severe mortar deterioration.

Henry Schlenk, a local contractor who is familiar with historic buildings and materials, also inspected the James Store and offered solutions to these structural problems. To stabilize the north wall, Schlenk suggested that the brick and concrete block foundation be removed on the north side so that concrete footings can be poured beneath the foundation. A new brick foundation wall would then be laid atop the footings by a mason. It is desirable that the original foundation brick be used to build the new foundation, and that the original mortar mixture be copied as closely as possible. Where the original brick is too deteriorated for reuse, historic brick of a similar color and texture should be used. The new brick foundation would be topped with a moisture barrier, such as a copper sheet, to avoid moisture wicking into the wooden sills through the foundation in the future. A strong salt-treated beam would sit atop the moisture barrier, and the sills would rest atop the beam. Any loose studs would be reattached to the sills using metal brackets for stability. The floor joists in the northeast corner of the building could be reattached similarly.

If severe damp rot is found on any of the building's original wood components, it should be repaired or patched if at all possible, such as with epoxy or dutchmen, rather than being replaced in whole. Should any wood components need to be replaced, local timber from the same or a similar species of tree would be most desirable to closely match the original historic fabric of the building.

Schlenk provided a rough cost estimate for the above stabilization treatments, with the warning that the actual cost could vary quite a bit once work begins and it becomes clear exactly what must be done or replaced for the most secure stabilization. His estimate for stabilizing the north wall is $2000-$3000, plus an additional $600 to remove the floorboards and stabilize the joists in the northeast corner.

See Preservation 2010 Report below.

Salt Infestation

The ceiling boards of the retail room were at one time soaked in brine solution, as the attic of the store appears to have been used to hang cured meat. This has created a salt outgrowth on both the top surface of the boards (the floor of the attic, where it is particularly thick), and the bottom surface (the ceiling above the ground floor, particularly on the south end of the building). The salt could expedite deterioration of the wood, and should be carefully removed when the interior of the building is cleaned. To do so, both the top and bottom of the ceiling boards will need to be brushed and vacuumed. Henry Schlenk estimated that this process would cost approximately $600.

Exterior Siding

The exterior weatherboard siding on the Thomas James Store is deteriorating in places, most noticeably on the north wall of the building. Some of the wood has been softened by damp rot, causing sagging, cracking, and general weakness. The weatherboards must be repaired or pieced together where possible, with some lengths needing full replacement. Henry Schlenk's cost estimate for repairing and replacing the siding on the north wall alone is $1600 plus the cost of any replacement lumber. Once the weatherboard siding has been repaired, it is recommended that the building's exterior paint be touched up as necessary rather than being stripped and repainted.

See Preservation 2010 Report below.

Other Recommendations

Matthew Webster and Carl Lounsbury made several other recommendations for the conservation of the Thomas James Store. All original ironwork in the building, such as hinges, latches, and staples, should be treated to avoid any further corrosion. The eastern double doors, each being held by only one remaining unbroken hinge, should be removed to relieve the stress on that hinge. The broken hinges should be repaired if possible before the doors are rehung. The exterior door on the west wing must be repaired so that it can be effectively locked; an estimate from Henry Schlenk priced this adjustment at $75-$100. Given that it is currently indeterminate whether there is any active insect infestation, any areas that appear affected should be treated with borate injections.