History revealed in restoration of Beaufort’s Verdier House front door frame

From staff reports

Layer by careful layer, 219 years of history surfaces in a most unlikely place – the area surrounding the front door of the historic John Mark Verdier House in downtown Beaufort.

The ongoing work by master carpenter and restoration craftsman Chad Bond of Charleston is helping Historic Beaufort Foundation learn more about the Verdier House, its premier property and public house museum.

“After the sensitive removal of layers of paint by conservation lab specialist and paint analyst Frances Ford, it was discovered that more than 219 years of weathering had resulted in the wear and loss of some architectural elements on the decorative pilasters and frieze,” said Lise Sundrla, assistant director at Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Ford is an adjunct professor and conservation lecturer at the College of Charleston and a graduate of Clemson University’s historic preservation program.

“As Chad has continued the removal of layers and decades of paint on the door surround, he is revealing the delicate and intricate craftsmanship on the decorative pilasters and frieze surrounding the front door of the house.

“This effort is even more amazing when you realize these extraordinary design elements were created 219 years ago by a craftsman not unlike Chad,” Sundrla said.

This restoration effort is possible thanks to the gracious support of Patricia and Colden Battey, Greg and Sarah Dyson, and Cheryl Steele in memory of her husband Roger Steele.

Between 1801 and 1805, John Mark Verdier built the house on Bay Street in Beaufort’s downtown. He was a successful merchant, owning more than 1,000 acres on Lady’s Island along the Coosaw River where he grew Sea Island cotton. His house features typical Beaufort Style architectural elements: It faces south, is built on a high tabby foundation, has a two-story pedimented portico and low-pitched hip roof.

During this restoration process, Bond found the long-lost pattern on the two composite medallions at the top of the pilasters which frame the door — a floral motif typical of the Federal Period. Restoration is underway on the decorative architectural elements surrounding the front door of the John Mark Verdier House.

“There were many, many layers of paint obscuring its original design,” Bond said. “For example, on the sides of the upper brackets above the pilasters are some simple and beautiful bell flowers that adorn each side.

“These were a complete discovery as they were revived from a puddle of many layers of paint.

Throughout the restoration, the original crispness of detail was rediscovered. I’m very happy with how that turned out,” Bond said.

Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Jenkins said her favorite part of the door restoration frame restoration so far has been realizing the left and right sides are no longer identical. “I was surprised to see that the decorative details on the west side of the door (left side facing the house) were more deteriorated than the details on the east side,” she said.

“The reason is pretty simple – the worst rain and weather comes from the southwest. Probably another issue is the summer sun is hotter on that side and it isn’t protected by the portico. The primary reason the Beaufort Style evolved from porticos to deep piazzas across the