Brand - Kennedy House Architectural Description 124-128 Constitution Street Lexington, Kentucky Relocated 1983 112-114 Constitution Street Lexington, Kentucky
AUTHOR
Angelene J Hoffert
December 2010
The Brand-Kennedy House is a 4 bay double pile, two-and-a-half story residence. The structure is a two unit town house with wood cladding over a timber frame in-filled with brick nogging, a technique known as half-timbered, and a gabled roof with two interior chimneys centered within each unit. The structure was built in 18131 by James W Brand and Mathew Kennedy at 124 & 128 Constitution Street in the city of Lexington, Kentucky. Brand and Kennedy located the residence between the streets of Mulberry and Walnut Streets, to be named Limestone Street and Martin L King Boulevard, respectively, on the southeast side of Constitution Street. The residence was later moved, by the Bluegrass Trust for Historic Preservation in Lexington,2 up Constitution Street, to a location northeast of the original site, yet still situated on the southeast side to what is now numbered lots of 112 & 114 Constitution Street for the sake of preservation and restoration of the residence. Green space is abundant on the street, as the residences are set back at varying depths and are placed on larger lots. The Constitution Street District, a National Historic District3, is a neighborhood located north of the commercial center of Lexington and was a part of the original layout of the town of Lexington. Constitution Street was founded by the Brand and Kennedy in the early parts of their ownership of out-lot #10. Upon building the two unit town house, the street was created as a private drive to allow for further residential construction. In the mid-1800's, Kennedy and the Brand estate administrators sold Constitution Street to the City of Lexington for a nominal sum.4 Few residences were built around the same time as the Brand-Kennedy Home; most residences on the street were built in the mid-19th century, with some late 19th and early 20th century infill. The architectural styles of the district varied to include Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Eastlake, lateRichardsonian and Neo-Classical. Exterior The front faรงade, facing northeast, is comprised of mirrored two-bay town house units. The foundation is partially exposed with a coarsed stone facade. Balanced on each unit are wooden louvers over the single-hung basement windows, giving the appearance of ventilation to the lower space. Each townhouse contains a six-panel metal door, with transom windows, placed at the core and six-over six double-hung windows to the exterior for balance. Each entrance door has a four step concrete capped stair, with a coarsed stone body seen at profile. No railings adorn the stairs. The main body of the structure is covered with horizontal wood cladding in a beaded bevel profile. The cladding is painted in a pale yellow tone, accented with an olive-green toned paint finish on the window and door trim, sill plate, eaves, and vertical wood corner caps. Additional contrast is added to the faรงade, with each exterior door painted in a red tone. This color scheme of the cladding and trim continues around all facades of the 1
Fayette County Clerks Office: Deed Book 6 pp 629. Mastin, Bettye Lee. "A Moving Story." Lexington Herald Leader. 3 NPS, US Department of Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, National Register for Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form. Constitution Street Historic District Nomination, Lexington Kentucky. 10 Feb 1982. 4 NPS, US Department of Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, National Register for Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form. Constitution Street Historic District Nomination, Lexington Kentucky. 10 Feb 1982. 2
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
2
structure. The second story of the front faรงade contains four equally spaced six-over-six double-hung windows, horizontally aligned and centered on the first story entry doors and window punctures. A slight overhang protrudes from the gable roof with boxed eaves. Modern asphalt composite shingles cover the roof. Each townhouse unit has a centrally located brick chimney with a drip course. 1 The northwest and southeast gable ends2 are identical and symmetrically balanced. Two six-over-six double-hung windows adorn the first and second stories, equally spaced across the side gable elevations. The upper half-story also contains two smaller six-pane double-hung windows spaced closer to each other and create a contrast in alignment to first and second story windows. These smaller half-story windows are equally spaced between the roof lines of the gable. The horizontal wood cladding continues, without break, through the gable. The rear elevation,3 facing southwest, is also comprised of the two defined town house units. Although each unit is not balanced individually, they mirror each other to create symmetry in the overall elevation. Each unit contains a metal six-panel door at the core and a single six-over-six double-hung window located closer to the edge of the end gables. The second story of each unit has a four-pane casement window over the door, not aligned vertically or horizontally to either first story punctures. This casement window in located within the interior stairwell. Although the foundation appears to be of coarsed stone, possibly from the original foundation, it is actually a facade to the concrete masonry units (CMU)4 that line the interior of the full basement. The basement extends the full width and length of the structure; the basement is partitioned, without communications, between the town house units. The ceiling of the basement reveals the structural joists of timbers left in the round with hewn top edges,5 cut through the diameter to create a level surface on which to place the floor boards. Bark can still be seen on the joists. Windows appear to have been restored during restoration,6 possibly in the mid 1980s. The six-oversix double-hung windows have a wood frame, painted in the main yellow/cream color, with wood trim. The sill of the window is composed of a single wood board, while the head and jamb have additional casing with a ovolo profile. The ovolo profile of the casing matches at the trim at the door punctures. Although all windows have the same pane formation and are double-hung, the windows vary in size. The first story windows are elongated in comparison to the second story windows. Width is maintained, but height varies. The half-story windows are smaller yet in width and height. Metal gutters and downspouts are located at the eaves and down each corner of the structures front and rear elevations.7 The downspouts are painted to match the overall color of the residence and gutters are painted to match the eaves. The color scheme helps provide some transparency to the drainage system when viewing the structure from a distance.
1
Photo F: Close-up Central Chimney with Drip Course, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. Photo D: Gable End Elevation, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. Photo H: Rear Elevation, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 4 Photo G: Close-up Foundation and Front Steps, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 5 Photo R: Half-Round supports in basement view, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 6 Photo E: Side Gable Close-up Window, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 7 Photo G: Close-up Foundation and Front Steps, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 2 3
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
3
Photo: Hoffert, Angelene. Front Elevation, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Interior The main entrance opens to the living space of the residence. Moving horizontally and straight through the space you are taken to the second room, equal in proportion to first room, now a kitchen and dining room. The six to eight inch wood floor planks in a natural finish are original to the residence.1 A central chimney opens to both first story rooms. The chimney was disassembled and reassembled at the time the structure was moved;2 only the mantle in the kitchen is original to the 1813 residence on the first story.3 The stairwell is located to the rear of the structure, in what is now the kitchen/dining room. The original semi-circular stair case has been removed and replaced with a L-shaped stair case. Ghosting from the original stair layout can still be seen on the wood floor boards.4 The stairs to the full basement are located under the main staircase. Only two top rungs and directional transition stair, viewed at the second floor, are original to the original staircase and residence.5 Additions and changes to the stair case can be clearly seen at this location. 6
1
Photo J: Ghosting from original staircase, first story wood-flooring, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. Oral Interviews with Martin Ginocchio, 2010. 3 Photo K: Rear room first story, original mantel and restored chimney, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 4 Photo J: Ghosting from original staircase, first story wood-flooring, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 5 Photo N: Original stair treads leading to first story, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 6 Photo L: Second story Staircase transition additions, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. 2
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
4
The second floor, which has been updated by the current owners to include a bathroom located in the rear room and a master bedroom in the front, with a small hallway connecting the two located in the original closet space of the front room. Each room has a fireplace from the central chimney. The bathroom mantle, which is in the rear room, is also original to the structure. In the closet/hallway transition space of the second floor, the timber frame with down bracing and brick nogging, is visible through a plexi-glass window.1 In the hall of the second floor a centrally located narrow stair, original, leads to the final half story.2 The story is the full width and length of the structure and wraps around the chimney. Sloped ceilings delineate the roof line and half story.
1 2
Photo P: Close-up view of timber frame and brick nogging, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information. Photo M: Second floor original staircase leading to half-story, Brand-Kennedy House. Refer to section Supplementary Information.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
5
Changes Through Time When the two-unit town house was built, the layout of the main structure was the same as the above described interior. At some point in the history of the town house, an elle was added to each portion of the town house. The changes in the lot and the buildings contained on it can be seen through the Sanborn maps of Lexington.
1861 Sanborn1 - Through examination of said map, the following information can be gathered: the town house structure is visible with an elle on the 24 or northwest portion of the town house. No other changes, additions are visible through said map.
1886 Sanborn2 - This edition of the map shows the addition of an elle on the 28 or southeast portion of the town house, which is a two-story frame structure and frame one story dog-trot connection between the main structure and what appears to be a detached kitchen structure. A side entry has also been constructed in frame. This map also shows the elle addition to 24 (shown as 26 on above map) which is a two story brick structure with a one-story dog-trot connecting the structures together. By comparing to later Sanborn Maps of Lexington, it appears the rear building on the lot may be a carriage house or another type of outbuilding.
1901 Sanborn3 - Confirms the information stated from review of the 1886 Sanborn Map with the addition of a small structure located on the 24, or northwest, portion of the townhouse.
1
1861 Sanborn Map, refer to section Supplementary Information. 1886 Sanborn Map, refer to section Supplementary Information. 3 1901 Sanborn Map, refer to section Supplementary Information. 2
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
6
1907 Sanborn1 - Confirms past reviews of the Sanborn Maps with the addition of a wood frame porch structure on the 24, or northwest, portion of the townhouse. This addition could show the change of this portion to a two-unit apartment complex. The elle addition on this portion is also now shown as a wood structure; it is unknown if there was a change to the addition or a misrepresentation in the map. No outbuildings are shown on either lot. As noted throughout the text, both units of the town house were converted to an apartment structure in the late nineteenth century; very few remnants of this change are visible in the structure as it stands today. The ghosting, noted on the first story floor boards, shows the change to the stair location at the time of the apartment conversion. The only documentation of this change is seen through a photograph, visualizing the change in the location of the door to each unit to accommodate the apartments.2
1 2
1907 Sanborn Map, refer to section Supplementary Information. Photo A, 112-114 Constitution Street showing front facade and southwest side, looking southeast.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
7
Staples, C.R. The History of Pioneer Lexington, 1779-1806. Lexington, Kentucky: 1939, reprinted by Lexington-Fayette County Historic Commission, 1973.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
8
1861 Lexington Kentucky Map.
Enlargement Constitution Street. 1861 Lexington Kentucky Map.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
9
Lexington, Kentucky. (1 map on 23 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] "May 1886." New York : Sanborn Map and Pub. Co.
Enlargement Constitution Street, Lexington, Kentucky. (1 map on 23 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] "May 1886." New York : Sanborn Map and Pub. Co..
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
10
Lexington, Kentucky. (1 map on 26 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] "Dec. 1890." New York : Sanborn Map and Pub. Co. Source: Kentuckian Sanborn Maps
Enlargement Constitution Street. Lexington, Kentucky. (1 map on 26 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] "Dec. 1890." New York : Sanborn Map and Pub. Co. Source: Kentuckian Sanborn Maps
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
11
Insurance maps of Lexington, Kentucky. (1 map on 38 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] "October 1901." New York : Sanborn-Perris Map Co.
Enlargement Constitution Street. Insurance maps of Lexington, Kentucky. (1 map on 38 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] "October 1901." New York : Sanborn-Perris Map Co.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
12
Insurance maps of Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. (1 map on 89 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] Sheet. 40. "1907." New York : Sanborn Map Co.
Enlargement Sheet 40 Constitution Street. Insurance maps of Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. (1 map on 89 sheets : col. ; sheets 64 x 54 cm. Scale [ca. 1:50] Sheet. 40. "1907." New York : Sanborn Map Co.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
13
LOT LOCATIONS AND SIZES
Figure A: Kennedy 27,000 SF Lot including northwest portion (124 Constitution Street).
Figure B: Brand 17,000 SF Lot including southwest portion (128 Constitution Street).
Figure C: Northeast portion, 42 FT wide by 100 FT deep lot. (124 Constitution Street).
Figure D: Southwest portion, 75 FT wide by 100 FT deep lot.. (128 Constitution Street).
Figure E: Southwest portion, 40 FT wide by 100 FT deep lot. (128 Constitution Street).
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
14
Photo A 124-128 Constitution Street showing front facade and west side, looking southeast. Kerr, Bettie Lee. Historic Commission. Photo 6 of 17. September 1980.
Photo B Matthew Kennedy House, 216 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
15
Photo C Front and End Gable Perspective Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo D Gable End Elevation, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
16
Photo E Side Gable, Close-up Window, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo F Close-Up Central Chimney with Drip Course, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
17
Photo G Close-up Foundation and Front Steps, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo H Rear Elevation, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
18
Photo J Ghosting of original staircase, first story wood flooring, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo K Rear Room first story, original mantle and restored chimney, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
19
Photo L Second Story Staircase transition additions, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo M Second Floor original staircase leading to half story, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
20
Photo N Original Stair treads leading to first story, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo P Close-up view of timber frames and brick nogging, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
21
Photo Q Sill plate, with bark on half round support truss, Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
Photo R Half-round supports in basement view., Brand-Kennedy House, 112-114 Constitution Street. 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
22
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
23