Mr. Jones Goes to Richmond: A Note on the Influence of Alexander Parris' Wickham House

Abstract

EARLY IN THE summer of 1814 General Calvin Jones took time off from pressures of war against British to visit newly completed Wickham House in Richmond. The mansion, considered the best house in Richmond,2 owed its elegant design to collaboration of New England architect Alexander Parris and his mentor Benjamin Henry Latrobe.3 The observant General Jones strode through spacious chambers, sizing up stylish decorations, admiring soaring skylit stair, and exploring novel floor plan. Within a few days, he had convinced leaders in his adopted hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, to model new Governor's Palace after Wickham House plan. The story of Governor's Palace illuminates process by which high-style architecture influences provincial buildings; in particular it highlights role of layman, as contrasted with architect or artisan, as a carrier of stylistic ideas.4 The relationship between Wickham House (1811-1812) and Governor's Palace (1814-1816) is best understood in context of times. Early 19th-century North Carolina suffered from such poverty and insularity that it was scornfully nicknamed the Rip Van Winkle and the Ireland of America. Its economic and cultural life was shackled by conservative leaders unwilling to tax or pay for internal improvements, education, and transportation state so desperately needed. The tight public purse also assured that young state's first public buildings of I790os were unpretentious and old-fashioned structures. In wake of War of i812, however, North Carolina shared in national upsurge of patriotism and confidence, and proponents of change and improvement enjoyed unprecedented success. The legislature authorized new public investment in internal improvements, public buildings, and even arts, commissioning a statue of George Washington by Antonio Canova and portraits of him by Thomas Sully. Embarrassed by old State House and governor's residence, state focused its attention on erecting a new house for governor and revamping State House (1819-1821) in Grecian style to accommodate Washington's statue.5 Construction of Governor's Palace, as it was often called, began in midst of war years. In May 1814 state lands were sold to raise money and commissioners were authorized to contract for a building. The building committee drafted a plan and advertised for contractors, hoping to settle on a contract