THE CONSERVATION OF BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED WITH PORTLAND, CONNECTICUT BROWNSTONE
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Date
2005
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Program
MA in Historic Preservation
Citation of Original Publication
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To view a complete copy of this thesis please contact Goucher College Special Collections & Archives at archives@goucher.edu or (410) 337-6075.
Subjects
Historic preservation -- Theses
Brownstone buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- Connecticut.
Brownstone buildings -- Connecticut -- History.
Quarries and quarrying -- Connecticut -- Portland.
Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- Connecticut.
Chatham Quarry (Conn.) -- History.
Brownstone buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- Connecticut.
Brownstone buildings -- Connecticut -- History.
Quarries and quarrying -- Connecticut -- Portland.
Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- Connecticut.
Chatham Quarry (Conn.) -- History.
Abstract
This Thesis describes and documents issues in the preservation of buildings
constructed with Portland, Connecticut brownstone, a sedimentary sandstone formed
some 185 million years ago.
The stone was quarried along a three-quarter mile strip of the Connecticut River
in Portland, Connecticut primarily during the last half of the nineteenth century. Due to
its rich, earth-tone brown color and ease of quarrying and shipping, it was used as
building stone for hundreds of America's monumental structures. This national historical
significance has lead to the Portland quarries being named a National Historic Landmark
in 2000.
The harsh northern climates, to which most of the brownstone structures are
subjected, along with improper stone placement, poor maintenance techniques and owner
neglect, have lead to its extensive degradation. This thesis addresses the causes for this
deterioration along with the physical and chemical composition of Portland brownstone.
Deterioration causes come from both man made and environmental sources.
The Thesis concludes with a thorough description and conservation analysis of a
recently completed brownstone restoration project. The complete fayade restoration of
the New Haven, Connecticut, City Hall represents the state of the art in brownstone
deterioration analysis and employs a variety of conservation techniques. The appendix
contains a checklist of the Guidelines for Assessing and Conserving Brownstone
Buildings.