Morven Park’s mansion is an excellent example of a building’s evolution from the mid-18th until the late 19th centuries. Its preservation has been the focus of the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Inc. since 2001.
Built in stages over more than 100 years, Morven Park started as a simple field stone farmhouse in the mid-18th century, and grew to become the grand mansion that it is today through the course of several construction phases. The primary purpose of the closure of the mansion at Morven Park for the last several years has been the preservation of the house in order to protect it and the collection it contains within its walls. Repairs made by Governor and Mrs. Davis, and by the Swann family that preceded them at Morven Park, were fine for a residence of the period, but were no longer sufficient for a modern house museum.
The historic preservation of Morven Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register, began in 2001 by engaging the professional services of Tidewater Preservation, Inc. of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Exterior work, including replacing stucco, repairing woodwork, re-pointing brick, stonework, and stabilizing foundations, secured the “envelope” and the base of the structure. Initial work began when destruction caused by water passing under and through the foundation was detected. Along with damage to the stone foundation, Tidewater Preservation, Inc. also found problems with rotting floor joists, peeling plaster, and other major issues. A new drainage system has been put in place to channel underground water away from the structure. The extensive work on the foundation was the cover story for Foundation Drilling magazine’s December/January issue. [See link to the article.]
Currently, duct work is being installed for the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a state-of-the-art geothermal system that will use 71 wells dug in the front lawn of the mansion. Once in place, the new system will complete the efforts to provide a stable environment for the priceless artifacts within the house, and for the structure itself. Work also is progressing on the installation of a high-fog mist fire suppression system, and new electrical service is being established. Although visitors will not notice most of the work that has been done, these changes will help to preserve the mansion and collections for future generations.
The next steps in the process are re-plastering the rooms in the mansion and replacing the floor boards.
Morven Park Staff anticipates re-opening several rooms on the first floor of the mansion in the spring of 2009. Conservation of furniture and other artifacts in the collection, as well as the restoration of Marguerite Davis’ beloved boxwood gardens, are planned for the future.
Collections Conservation:
The extensive interior furnishing collection at Morven Park includes several 17th century Brabant tapestries. In 2008, three of these tapestries were sent to Textile Conservation Services for cleaning and stabilization. The tapestries have been a highlight of tours at Morven Park since the mansion was opened to the public in the 1960s. The current treatment of cleaning, stitching tears, and re-lining the tapestries will ensure that they may be enjoyed by our visitors for many more years to come. These photos show the work in progress.
DID YOU KNOW ?
As First Lady of Virginia, Marguerite Davis served as President of the Women’s Munitions Reserve, filling bags with gunpowder to be sent to troops overseas in World War I.
MORE HISTORY >>>
