Who’s Working on the Market House?

Webcams can be marvelous things. Through the lens of a webcam, Colonial Williamsburg’s “virtual visitors” kept up with daily progress as the Coffeehouse and Armoury reconstructions took shape. With its constantly updated stream of images, this simple piece of technology has generated more questions from blog readers than the content of the blog itself, making it an invaluable “conversation starter.”

But occasionally we find ourselves at a lull in the action, and this too is captured by the webcam. Those who have checked for recent progress on the Market House reconstruction may have noticed that the project appears to be on hold….but appearances can be deceiving. The action has simply shifted into various shops and work yards for the duration of the winter. For those of you just joining the story, here is quick summary of what’s happened at the Market House so far, what’s presently happening (and where), and a suggestion as to what lies ahead.

Market House reconstruction began last summer with some of the necessary, but less photogenic, tasks: erecting a construction compound to receive and store materials, and installing a drainage system along Duke of Gloucester Street. During the summer and early fall, our brick masons laid foundations for the Scale House, a small freestanding structure in which the 18^th-century town’s weights and measures (scales, steelyards, weights, and dry and liquid measures) were secured. Archaeologists discovered traces of such a building just to the east of the Market House location. Also in the fall, the northern part of the site was graded to prepare for laying extensive brick paving in front of the Market House, providing a level surface for outdoor stalls. This paving came as a bit of a surprise. Not recorded, its presence was discovered during a 2013 archaeological excavation. Well into the fall, our Historic Trades Brick-makers were busy turning out and firing roughly 52,000 unanticipated bricks. To date, much of the action visible on the webcam has followed the installation of this brick paving.

Then, in early December, all activity seemed to grind to a halt. Or did it? A quick turn through the Historic Area reveals a number of sites where Market House reconstruction continues humming along. At Great Hopes Plantation (now closed for the season), Garland Wood reports that Historic Trades carpenters are building the frame for the Scale House (above), and sawing framing members for the Market House. Closer to town, the joiners have been working on Market House furnishings, including 8 large counters, or baker’s stalls (left). Also underway: construction of window frames and sashes for the Scale House.

The first of these, constructed by Mr. Howlett, is (in the image at right), being weighed to calculate the necessary sash weights. Unfamiliar with this sort of scale? It’s a steelyard, made for the Market House by Chris Henkels in the blacksmith shop, and pressed into early service. Blacksmiths will also be making hooks, the clapper and hanging hardware for the Market House bell, and of course, nails by the sack full. On a recent Friday morning, nails were being bundled for eventual transport to the site.

In March, as the weather begins to moderate, webcam watchers will see on-site activity resume on Market Square. The Scale House will be constructed on top of foundations laid last year, and brickwork for the Market House foundation will begin. Later in the season, above-grade construction of the Market House will take center stage, followed by the installation of Market place booths, and Market House furnishing. The project is anticipated to extend through the fall of 2015. While a precise timetable is difficult to project, we will alert readers to major, upcoming events. And as always, continue checking the webcam and this blog for all the latest on this latest reconstruction project.