Gettysburg Daily

William Patterson House Stabilization Update: Foundation Nears Completion



The meticulous work on the foundation of the William Patterson House is nearing completion. This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.

When we visited the William Patterson House in February, the foundation had been enclosed so that mortar work could be completed in a warmer environment. In today’s post we show that most of the foundation work is complete. We’ll show shots from most of the directions from outside and then inside the structure.



We’ll begin our walk around the house from the south. The Taneytown Road is on the right (west) of the house. This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The house was originally a one story structure built in 1796. This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



Notice the brickwork instead of stones on the northeast corner of the house. This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The south wall. This view was taken from the facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The basement steps in the south wall. This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A view from the northeast corner. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The stone foundation on the east wall has yet to be completed. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The foundation had been enclosed for almost six weeks so that the workers could complete the foundation in some warmth. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The basement wall is approximately seven feet tall. This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The largest stone that we saw in the foundation is located in this southwest corner. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The kitchen area on the east side needs a lot of work. The Pennsylvania State Memorial is in the right background. This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The far (west) wall is actually an inner wall. It is not as thick as the outer walls on the right and left sides. This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



We are assuming that these stones were taken from the surrounding fields. This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The view from the southeast not only shows the Pennsylvania State Memorial, but the newly exposed National Park Service Maintenance Area. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The tanks shown here were in the structure before the reconstruction. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The tanks are just to help with climate control. The building will not be a residence, and will not be on display for visitors. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The William Patterson House served as a field hospital on July 1, 1863, was abandoned the next two days of the battle, and became a field hospital again following the battle. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A view from the south. The Taneytown Road is on the left. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The left or west side of the south wall. Notice how far the inner west basement wall is from the outer west wall (not yet completed) by the Taneytown Road. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



We’ll now approach the south wall by the basement steps. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A view of the masonry work around the basement entrance. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A view of the north wall. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The tanks were previously near the west wall. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



Could be a little water problem where the water heater will be installed. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A view from the southwest. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The outer foundation of the western wall will be of cement. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A closer view from the southwest. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



Again the northeast corner is completely constructed of brick. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A closer view of this northeast corner. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A view from the west. This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The east wall. This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



A ground view of the main section of the east wall. This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



We’ll now begin to move in from the northwest. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The yet to be completed outer west wall. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



We’re moving in for our final look. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The orange buckets are filled with sand. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.



The intersection of the east wall on the left and the south wall on the right. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 3:10 PM on Saturday, April 4, 2009.

Related Posts:

Taneytown Road Battlefield Rehabilitation on July 18, 2008.
William Patterson House Stabilization on August 11, 2008.
Cemetery Ridge Rehabilitation Shows Subtleties of Terrain on September 2, 2008.
Tree Cutting on East Side of Cemetery Ridge Covers a Large Area on October 15, 2008.
William Patterson Tree Cutting Update on October 17, 2008.
William Patterson Field Earthworks on October 29, 2008.
Confederate Earthworks on Seminary Ridge on October 30, 2008.
William Patterson Farm Tree Cutting Update on November 9, 2008.
William Patterson Field Earthworks 1890s Photo on November 20, 2008.
William Patterson Farm Update and Patterson Field Panorama #4 on December 12, 2008.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Rich Bellamy:  Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross Part 2 on January 5, 2009.
William Patterson House Deconstruction on January 18, 2009.
William Patterson House Stabilization: Reconstruction Methods Impressive on January 28, 2009.
William Patterson House Stabilization Update: Foundation Enclosed on February 22, 2009.