Historic American Buildings Survey

Memorandum from Howard W. Baker to Allyn F. Hanks

Howard W. Baker summarizes the discussion he had with Ray H. Mattison concerning his report “Study of the Authenticity of the Maltese Cross Cabin.” Baker suggests breaking down the research program into several individual projects unless it is just one overall historical study. In that case, he suggests putting together several studies under one cover. Baker also suggests adding information to the report about the origin of the term “Maltese Cross” and why Theodore Roosevelt adopted it for his ranch. Baker would like the timbers used to build the cabin identified by a professional forester. He understands Russell Reid is already working towards this goal. Baker is also considering hiring an architect to do a measured drawing of the cabin to add to the report.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-03-29

Creator(s)

Baker, Howard W.

Recommendations for John Mason’s mansion

Memorandum providing recommendations for how to handle the ruins of John Mason’s mansion on Theodore Roosevelt Island. Stuart M. Barnette and O. F. Northington of the Historical American Buildings Survey recommend that a project be set up to further investigate the ruins. They cite the mansion as an important building in the development of U.S. architecture and provide a method for excavation based on the National Park Service. Barnette and Northington also recommend that a marker detailing the mansion’s place in history be placed near the site of the ruins. Accompanying these recommendations is a drawing depicting a conjecture of how the house may have appeared, a plan of the grounds showing the layout of all the buildings, and several photographs showing the ruins.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936-03-19

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992; Northington, O. F.

The Mason House: details of dutch oven

Elevations, sections, and a plan of the dutch oven in John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The elevations show the vertical surface of the oven indicating it was made of brick. The section in between the two elevations shows a vertical slice indicating the location of the flue. The section on the bottom left is a vertical slice indicating the location of the smoke shelf. The section on the bottom right is a vertical slice indicating the opening of the oven. The plan in the middle gives a horizontal view of the layout of the oven. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: windows in the west wing

Elevations and sections of windows for John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The elevations show the interior and exterior vertical surfaces of the windows. The Classical Revival architectural style can be seen in the pediments over the windows. The sections depict a vertical slice showing the relationship between the window opening and wall as well as the findings attached to the window. These plans are a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: west or end elevation

West elevation of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. Elevation shows the vertical surface of the structure and reflects some of the Classical Revival architectural style in which it was built. The cornice of the columns, an aspect of the style, can be seen at either end of the building. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: south elevation

South elevation of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. Elevation shows the vertical surface of the structure and reflects some of the Classical Revival architectural style in which it was built. The pediments at either end of the building above the windows reflect the style. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: soapstone trim

Sections of the soapstone trim used to decorate John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. These vertical slices show the size and shape of the trim. These details are a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: section “A-A” and section “B-B”

Sections of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The top section depicts a vertical slice showing the relationship between the basement and the first floor. The bottom section depicts a vertical slice showing the relationship between the basement and the rise of the first floor. It also reveals the location of the stairway between the basement and first floor. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: plot plan and survey grid

This view of the John Mason’s mansion indicates how the main structure and all ancillary buildings are aligned on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The grid demonstrated the buildsing position on the land. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: diagramatical locations of artifacts and full size sections of plaster moulds excavated

Plaster moulds, brickwork details, and floorplans plans of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. In the top middle is a floor plan indicating the locations of plaster moulds found in the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion. The vertical slices of these moulds, shown on the bottom, show the size and shape of the decorations which once adorned that structure. There is a small floor plan and section of the ice house in the top right corner. In the left corner is a discussion of how the brickwork would have originally looked on the building. These details are a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

Mason House, Analostan Island, Washington DC: Photographs, written and historical data

Begins with a brief history of the Mason family including how General John Mason became owner of the estate on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. It continues with a discussion of the appearance of the mansion built by Mason as well the beauty of the island as taken from accounts by contemporaries collected by Charles Cochran. Following the history is an extensive survey of the burnt remains of mansion by Stuart M. Barnette, an architect in the Park Service working for the Historical American Building Survey. Using photographs, observations of the site, and architectural drawings made by himself, Barnette discusses how the mansion might have appeared during Mason’s occupancy and points out the Classical Revival influence in the temple structure of the buildings. Barnette systematically discusses every aspect of the estate describing every room and ancillary building. He particularly focuses on finding an explanation for the incongruous layout of the buildings since according to Classical Revival style the layout would be symmetrical.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Cochran, Charles; Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: north elevation

North elevation of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The north elevation shows the vertical surface of the structure and reflects the Classical Revival architectural style in which it was built. The columns and pediments surrounding the door, as well as the pediments over the windows are markers of this style. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House

Cover sheet for the architectural records created by Stuart M. Barnette for the Historic American Buildings Survey. A map of Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island, depicts the layout of the grounds and the location of John Mason’s mansion. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: first floor plan

First floor plan of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. This horizontal plan shows a proposed symmetrical layout for the structure. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: section and elevation

Section and elevation of the vault entrance in John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The elevation shows the vertical surface of vault. The section is a vertical slice showing the relationship between the basements, the walls of the first floor, and the attic. These plans are a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: east elevation

East elevation of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The elevation shows the vertical surface of the mansion as well as reflects some of the Classical Revival architectural style in which it was built. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: top elevation, W. I. Pintle

Top views, elevations, and sections of hardware fittings allegedly used on the doors and windows of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. Included are the pintle which is part of the door hinge, the escutcheon which protects the key hole, the key, the bolt used for securing the door, and the shutter catch for the windows. The elevations and top views show the surface of the objects while the sections reveal the inner mechanisms. These plans are a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: plan of dependency C

Floor plan, elevations, and section of an ancillary building to John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later called Theodore Roosevelt Island. The elevations show the vertical surface of the structure while the plan shows the general layout and the location of the cobblestone walkway. The sections provide a vertical slice indicating the construction of the wall. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: plan of dependency B

Floor plan, elevations, and sections of an ancillary building to John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. The elevations show the vertical surface of the structure while the plan and top views show the general layout. The sections provide a vertical slice indicating the construction of the windows. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992

The Mason House: basement floor plan

Basement floor plan of John Mason’s mansion on Analostan Island, later Theodore Roosevelt Island. This plan is a recreation based on the burnt remains of Mason’s mansion, photographs, and the style of construction. For more information please see Description of Mason House, THIS_100.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

Creation Date

1936

Creator(s)

Barnette, Stuart M. (Stuart Moffett), 1905-1992