Andrew Ownbey Restoration LLC

06/05/2026

The architectural evidence we see in Martinique suggests an 18th century construction. One thing that has always made the house feel early are the large flemish bond chimneys. Flemish bond can be found throughout the 18th century and well into the second quarter of the 19th. The arched openings seem old fashioned and are mostly gone by 1800. I’ve got to spend more time with the fireboxes, but they seem to all have straight sides and backs which is replaced with the more efficient “rumfords” by the turn of the century (usually). While the house has been published as built in the 1750s the physical evidence says it’s later. Robert Leath’s archival research suggests it was more likely built by Elisha Parker (1744-1830) and his wife, Elizabeth Norfleet, possibly as late as the 1790’s. (I mentioned a third quarter date in my last post but that was an error, 1790 is in fact in the fourth quarter). The story of Martinique may never be completely understood but we will certainly learn a lot as the restoration takes place and research continues. Ultimately dendrochronology could hopefully help us pinpoint the true date of Martinique and help us refine our understanding of these structures.

06/02/2026

“Martinique” as it is known has been in the spotlight a lot lately with plans to move it to the downtown waterfront in Edenton are underway. This 18th century house has been on cribbing for nearly 20 years and finally has a future! But what about its past? As we prepare for the project, both architectural and archival research is being carried out so that an accurate restoration can take place. For decades a 1750’s construction date has been associated with the house but I personally don’t see anything architecturally to support that theory. The house looked very different from the photo on the second slide with the 19th century double piazza and two story ell additions. As we study I’ll share the evidence we see that shows the house began as a 4 bay, two story center hall with a single story rear shed room and single story front porch. Robert Leath has been helping me with the archival history and the documents also point to construction likely taking place some time maybe in the third quarter of the 18th century. Hopefully we can conduct a dendrochronology study to help further understand the construction date. Stay tuned for more details to come but here are a few bits of the archival evidence we know so far :
•The house originally sat on Indian Creek next to Bandon Plantation
•While the house has been published as built in the 1750s for Peter Parker (d. 1785) and his wife, Mary Wallis, research by Robert Leath suggests it was more likely to have been built a few decades later for their son, Elisha Parker (1744-1830) and his wife, Elizabeth Norfleet (d. 1842).
•In his 1830 will, Elisha bequeathed the house to his widow for her lifetime, excluding use of the west shed room which he left to his son Peter (d. 1839).
•The property was inherited by Elisha’s son, Peter, and his wife Elizabeth B. Skinner, and by their daughter Annie F. Parker Winborne (1838-1908).
•In 1895, Allen Parker (1838-1906), a former slave at Martinique, published his autobiography in Worcester, Massachusetts, entitled Recollection of Slavery Times, and Chowan records support many of Allen’s earliest childhood reminiscences.

04/26/2026

Baluster turnings:
I recently watched a lecture by Mr Calder Loth, author and architect historian from Virginia. He mentioned in the lecture how the baluster turning was derived from the ancient Roman candlesticks and the word “baluster” was derived from the Ancient Greek word “balaústion” ( balustro in Italian) which is the word used to describe the pomegranate blossom. Last week I was in the yard behind the Cupola House and noticed the pomegranates were blooming. Here you can see an example of the bulbous turnings on the stair balusters and carved elements on the mantel that have their name rooted in the pomegranate blossom. I was fortunate enough to get to spend the day with Calder and others with the during their recent Edneton visit. It is amazing what you can learn from these experts !

04/26/2026

04/05/2026

Paint has been a big topic lately as it should be. Today I got the chance to paint a little at our house, Purdie Hall. The carpenter bees are so bad here that I try to make sure every surface is painted that they might like. Rake boards and siding edges below them are areas they love. I try to paint behind the rake board and the back side of it too. As usual I’ll be using linseed paint. This time from Brouns &co.

03/29/2026

Work at Corbin’s House over the last week was focused on the passage woodwork. Repairs were made to the dining room door piece focused on replacing inaccurately reproduced moldings made in the 1920’s. Paint remediation was done and we fit most of the east wall back in.

03/18/2026

The parlor door and passage side pedimented door piece were hung in the Cupola House today. It’s good to see the passage begin to come together.

03/16/2026

Imagine walking into a fully paneled room with egg and anchor carved window trim, anthemion carved crown molding, a spectacular door surround , built-in cupboard and the best mantle all in freshly painted light Prussian blue. The fireplace was trimmed with a king of Prussia surround and hearth, and freshly planed bright yellow pine floors separated by, “true mahogany”, hearth trim boards . That’s what the cupola house had: hearth trim boards in the best deep dense mahogany. In every room. What a contrast and what a house!

03/05/2026

108 years to the day:
Mar 5, 1918 Mr. Rueff penned the letter in photos 5/6 stating that they had finished removing the parlor woodwork. Today we worked in that parlor re-installing most of what he had removed. He also mentions lugging 40 lbs of photography equipment to get 12 negatives. Here are some photos he took then and some we took today. The last photo was taken before the woodwork was actually purchased while Mrs Tilly Bond still had all that great stuff in the house. The clock belongs to the cupola house association today.