Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-12
For the SPECTATOR.
The Concrete Building.

| When the small stone house, one
story, in Richmond, and q similar on,
in Winchester, were built, and by aOhon
would now crafty the antiquary. Th,
first was Gen. Washington's headquar
ters in the Revolution, and the last
Gen. Braddock's, when on his way tc
the field of defeat and death.
| The concrete system of building is
old. The aqueduct that supplies the
city of Rome is concrete, and centuries
have witnessed it getting harder. The
town of st. Augustine in Florida is en-.
closed by wall, the oldest concrete
structure in America. DIR. o. s. Fow-
Ter, the noted phrenologist, many years
ago erected noted mansion on the
Hudson. He wrote q treatise, describ-
Ing how to build, called the "Poor
Mans Plan Of Building" or some such
title. Over forty years ago our build-
ings were destroyed by fire. We erect
ed the first plank house south of Mason
and Dixon's line. The model we saw
ct Lockport, New York, in 1887. In
1857 the late Stephen Harnsbarger, Jr.,
built the first concrete house in Vir.
ginia. We built the first in Augusta
and second in Virginia. We had pro,
cured Fowler's book, superintended the
buildtng, which was done by VIM. Pc
terson, q native of Schuyskill, Chester
county, Pa, now in his 91st year, a Wig
orous man. and his son VIM. H. We
gave the book to them, and advised
their following it as an avocation. The
sou has done so, and to day, as in his
letter of 21st before me, he says: II
have just finished w. F. Womeldorf's
mansion in Lexington, Mrs. Mary G.
McGuffin's in Greenville, will finish
Col. VIM. II. PeytOn's near Greenville
in few days, and am now working at
Mr.. B. F. Meetings., Capt. VIM. Hogs.
heads, and Baptist church near
Staunton for the colored people. Have
under contract house for Daniel Hile-
man, near Lexington, and will close q
contract with George Harms barger, near
Thinking Springs. Have turned off
three dwellings and church in Wythe
county my correspondence about which
was with Mrs. Julia E. Kyle. I built
your house in the fall of 1859, the first
ever saw, and two small houses the
same year. Also assisted George L.
Obaugh with the Henry Hogshead
house near Stribling Springs"
Mr.. Editor, it would be an interesting
history to give the names, kind of build
ings, where, and When built, were you
to permit it. As it is. I hope, as q his
tory of the times, you will sanction q
brief summary of the number of each
year, and mention of one or more of
the most prominent. In 1860 he built
me large two. story kitchen and five.|
other buildings; Conrad Senger's, of Mt.
Clinton, the largest The war made a
blank. "In 1865 built my father a
dwelling on Fulk's Run in Brooks
Gap, and the Wash. Swink house near
Moscow" In 1866, Monterey Academy
and three dwellings. In 1867, Messy
Creek Academy, out of the rubbish of
the large and handsome Academy,
erected under the influence of Maj.
Hotchkiss and the public spirit of few
individuals before the war, and burned
by one = Taylor, a detailed hand of
Daniel Forrer at Elizabeth Furnace
also three dwellings for Col. Mike Har
man, and one for Morgan Hogshead
In 1868, Henry G. Jones, Highland, and
seven others. In 1869, Elias Kindig's |
and four others. In 1870, John A. Her
rings and two others. In 1871, DR.. R.
III. Robson's, Messy Creek, and two
others. In 1872, John Davis Arbuckle.
of Greenbrier. and four others. In 1878,
AsO'. W DCoAus ACSUOAO dLu tAlCC
others. In 1874, the Methodist church
at Mcdowell and six others. In 1875,
Dayton public school-house and four
others. In 1876, Ed. S. Calver's dwell
ing. Mt. Jackson, and five others. In
1877, the Grange Hall of New Hamp-
den and three others In 1878, Col.
Meredith Hogshead's dwelling and
three others. In 1879. Jacob Garrison
and three others. In 1880, Capt. Jerry
Early, of Albemarle, and three others
In 1881, Philip Hileman, of Lexington,
and two others. A house erected for
James Thomas Maupin, on Shenandoah
Valley Railroad, perhaps in this year, a
neighbor said to the writer be regarded
one of the finest in the county. Young
Peterson has sent off q number of young
men who have been and are engaged in
this kind of building. John o. easier
YVES permitted to build DR.. Wingfield's
house at Broadway as q test of fitness,
and number of others in the Valley,
and is now following it up in Texas.
So also James E. Taylor, another ap-
prentice, ls in Preble county, Ohio.
So Mr.. Editor, the pebble dropped in
the lake by your correspondent in the
fall of 1859, is now sending its waves to
the remote parts of the Union.
j. M. McCUE.
Fashersville, Va., August Oath, 1882.