Together with the foundations uncovered beneath these doorways by archaeology, the walls above offer helpful indications as to the height of the porches and the character of their superstructures.

Research continues in conjunction with mason Ray Cannetti, who recently uncovered much helpful evidence in preparing the fireplaces for repair. It appears, for example, that the east ground-floor room of the main house was equipped with a Rumford-type fireplace, an early example of what would soon become became a widely-used amenity. We expect that Cannetti’s practiced eye and his thoughtful approach to the work will continue to unlock important information about the dwelling’s evolution and historical appearance.

In the meantime, we have moved ahead with the selection of models on which to base the recreated elements called for by the physical evidence. The arched soffits of the first-floor alcoves and the Rumford fireplace in the east room suggest a house of some sophistication viewed in the context of Southside Virginia. Because the Cocke family enjoyed strong ties with Norfolk and Petersburg, we look mainly to these commercial centers for our models, though our selections are not limited to these areas. They range across Virginia—from as far north as Washington to as far west as Charlottesville.

Having settled on a concept of the dwelling’s general character, and a corresponding strategy for selecting precedents, we began drawings for the stair in order to coordinate its construction with the task of returning the floor levels to their historical elevations. In formulating these designs, we attempted to include au courant ideas from nearby urban centers—ideas that embody the sort of sophistication implied in the arched alcoves of the west room. However, these are implemented with an eye to the generally conservative building tradition that characterized the rural areas of southside Virginia. Thus, while adopting the lighter railing, rectangular balusters, and flattened brackets that accompanied advancing fashions, we designed the stair around turned newel posts that look backward to an earlier stair-building tradition, even if they are lighter than earlier examples.

The constricted space of the passage presents a challenge, as it is necessary for the steps to rise rapidly enough to clear the river-front doorway, while leaving enough headroom for the lower flight of steps. At the same time, it is desirable to move the stair away from the front door to open up the area in front of the stair and also to align the adjacent door with that of the east wing.

Proposed exterior restoration, with a modern frame addition intended to blend in with the ca. 1810 brick mansion.

The introduction of winders at the first landing, like those at the Coke-Garrett House in Williamsburg, allows us to achieve all of these ends. But it requires us to cut back the stair aperture, producing the effect of the upper floor extending in a curved arc to meet the stair, a condition frequently observed in stairs of the period. The relationship of baluster, railing, newel and tread nosing is based on that of the Moses Myers House in Norfolk, while the bracket design is adapted from an contemporary example at Monticello.