Archeology at The Petersen House: Unearthing an Alternate History, Ford's Theatre National Historic Site

160 Pages·1991·6.6 MB·English

by  Virta, Matthew

ClemsonUniversity
3 1604 019 699 893
ARCHEOLOGY AT
THE PETERSEN HOUSE:
UNEARTHING AN ALTERNATE HISTORY
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
DEPOSITORY ITEM
NOV 4 1991
CLEMSON
LIBRARY,
A CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
UNDERTAKEN BY THE REGIONAL ARCHEOLOGY PROGRAM
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
-
MATTHEW VIRTA
R.
FORD'S THEATRE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
1991
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation
http://archive.org/details/archeologyatpeteOOvirt
ARCHEOLOGY AT
THE PETERSEN HOUSE:
UNEARTHING AN ALTERNATE HISTORY
A CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
UNDERTAKEN BY THE
REGIONAL ARCHEOLOGY PROGRAM
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
BY
MATTHEW VIRTA
R.
Principal Investigator:
Stephen R. Potter, PhD
Regional Archeologist, National Capital Region
Occasional Report #5
Regional Archeology Program
National Park Service - National Capital Region
Washington, D.C.
1991

ABSTRACT
In November of 1985, National Park Service archeologists began excavations at the
Petersen House, part of Ford's Theatre National Historic Site. The archeological
NW
excavations at the Petersen House (51 65), an extant mid-nineteenth century row
house in Washington, D.C. where President Abraham Lincoln died, began as a two week
rescue archeology operation. However, what originated as the emergency salvage of an
extensive refuse midden soon evolved into a several months long project after
unearthing features requiring further investigation. Previously unknown architectural
characteristics of the ell addition to the house were exposed and artifact-bearing soil
strata that extend to a depth of over five feet below the present ground surface were
encountered. Early nineteenth century cultural material recovered from the deeper
strata coupled with an unaccounted for construction episode and lens of burned
architectural material suggests that new information can be added to the documented
history for this National Historic Site.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Many people have assisted me with this project in one way or another during the
years that have passed since that first shovelful of dirt was lifted from beneath the
floorboards of the ell addition to the Petersen House. So many other projects have
cropped up in the interveningyears that I have had trouble foreseeing the day when this
report would be completed.. This busy schedule, coupled with my acceptance ofanother
position within the National Park Service, caused inevitable delays in finishing the
report. But now that time has come and I need to acknowledge the help which I've
received. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks to each and everyone
of the individuals who assisted me; realizing that many folks may not receive the
mention here they deserve simply because so many were involved and the years have
grown long. If I forget to mention a name, realize that my appreciation for your
assistance is no less than that for those cited.
First and foremost I would like to offer my thanks to the patient Dr. Stephen R.
Potter, Regional Archeologist for the National Park Service - National Capital Region
(NPS-NCR), and Robert C. Sonderman, Senior Staff Archeologist NPS-NCR, for their
assistance. Stephen's administrative leadership and Bob's help with the graphics allowed
me more time to focus my energies on the other aspects of this project. Their
A
experience and guidance is much appreciated. great big thanks to the numerous
Regional Archeology Program volunteers, both field and lab workers, who gave freely
oftheir time. Special volunteers include Malcolm "Rich" Richardson, Lynne Butler, and
Becky Griffin (now Becky Virta). Sara Bruins, our first Archeology Intern, provided
much needed help. Jennifer Stabler, a University of Maryland graduate student at the
time, pulled together tons ofdocumentary information and assisted me with the creation
of an interpretive exhibit on the Petersen House excavations for the Ford's Theatre
museum. Dr. Marilyn Nickels, then Park Historian for National Capital Parks East,
offered hints and help on what kinds of documents to look for and where to find them.
Frank Hebblethwaite, cultural resource specialist at Ford's Theatre National Historic
Site, provided assistance. A number of Museum Technicians at the Museum and
-Archeological Regional Storage (MARS) facility provided cataloging help. Douglas
Comer, Chief of the Applied Archeology Center of the National Park Service's Denver
Service Center Eastern Team, allowed me time to return on detail and finish the report.
My brother, Bob Virta, graciously loaned me his computer. Countless others certainly
deserve a big thanks, so if I haven't mentioned you specifically, THANKS!!
Finally, a special thank you goes to my father, Kay Ensio Virta, a man who taught
me many things before departing this world. Your family dearly misses you.
n
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
iii
PREFACE
v
INTRODUCTION
THE CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
1
BACKGROUND
3
The Setting 3
Nature and Scope of Work 3
CHAPTER ONE THE HISTORICAL SETTING
- 5
GEOGRAPHIC AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT 7
The Petersen House Locale and Its Origins 7
Initial Development of Square 347 and the Immediate
Vicinity 8
The Petersen Family 12
CHAPTER TWO THE RESCUE ARCHEOLOGY PROJECT
- 15
THE EMERGENCY SALVAGE EXCAVATIONS
17
Background and Methodology 17
Unit Summary - Analysis and Interpretation 18
The Rebuilding of the Ell Addition 21
iii
CHAPTER THREE - THE INVESTIGATIVE ARCHEOLOGY PROJECT 25
THE INVESTIGATIVE EXCAVATIONS 27
Background and Methodology 27
Unit Summaries - Analysis and Interpretation 28
Unit 2 28
Unit 3 36
Unit 4 39
CONCLUSION 43
REPORT SUMMARY
45
CLOSING REMARKS 46
REFERENCES 49
APPENDIX A FIGURES Al
-
APPENDIX B ARTIFACT INVENTORY Bl
-
APPENDIX C TEXT OF PUBLIC INTERPRETATION DELIVERED
-
DURING THE EXCAVATIONS AT THE PETERSEN HOUSE AND
THE COUNT OF VISITORS TO THE HOUSE CI
APPENDIX D TRANSACTIONS AFFECTING LOT
- 14
OF SQUARE 347 Dl
APPENDIX E ARTIFACT GROUPINGS, TOTALS,
-
PERCENTAGES, & DENSITIES El
APPENDIX F TEMPORAL AND PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS FOR
-
EXCAVATED PROVENIENCES Fl
IV
PREFACE
In the early morning hours of April 15, 1865 an event of national significance took
place in an ordinary row house in Washington, D.C., allowing archeologists one hundred
and twenty years later the opportunity to peer into a window on the past. That event
was the passing away of Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States of
America. The row house belonged to William Petersen, a German immigrant tailor.
A
twist of fate, throwing together the famous with the unknown, the great with the
small, created a story involving an ordinary person who should have been lost amongst
the countless pages of history. Such are often the stories of archeology; this report will
attempt to retell one of them.