Physical History and Condition Assessment: Sudley Post Office (Thornberry House) [90% DRAFT SUBMISSION]
Architrave P.C. Architects. 2000. Physical History and Condition Assessment: Sudley Post Office (Thornberry House) [90% DRAFT SUBMISSION]. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Washington, D.C.
The scope of work for this project stated that the goal of the NPS for the building and site is to preserve the Sudley Post Office through stabilization. It is historically significant as one of only three buildings still standing in the NPS-owned Manassas National Battlefield Park that existed during the battles of First and Second Manassas. The first section of the structure, originally the residence of wheelwright John Thornberry and his family, is believed to have appeared on the site in the 1840s. Physical evidence clearly shows that all three sections of this building were constructed of individual members and assemblies from other structures. It was common practice in the 19th century to relocate structures. The house was used as a hospital for Union troops during First Manassas. The Thornberry family had fled and when they returned they found desolation, their household goods taken, and apparently never recovered from the loss, selling the property in 1871. The structure is also potentially significant as a rare surviving example of an additive vernacular building. Between June of 1999 and December 2000, the project team reviewed previous historical and archeological work done on the site and visited the structure numerous times to document and examine it. They also studied related sources on heavy timber construction, vernacular building traditions, the Civil War, and First and Second Manassas. Specific objectives by the National Park Service for this building and site include providing catastrophic loss protection insurance through the development of Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documents, structural stability for NPS and other workers who must enter or otherwise work in the building and for the structure itself. A long-term goal of the NPS was to use the building, including public access to the first floor. This Historic Structure Report presents alternatives for treatment and cost estimates for each.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Architrave P.C. Architects
- Date of Issue
- 2000-01-03
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- MANA , NCR
- Keywords
- Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Manassas, Civil War, field hospital, relocated structure, Thornberry House, vernacular building, wheelwright