Talk:Nehemiah Royce House

This house is clearly 18th century, somewhere in the 1725 to 1750 rangeOld houses (talk) 20:58, 27 December 2022 (UTC)

significance of restoration
The NRHP nomination document, now added to the article, centers on the architectural restoration led by the Royce sisters, of the house. About that, and much more, could be added from that source. --doncram (talk) 03:45, 2 March 2010 (UTC)
 * This looks like a 1720-1740 house; any details on the beams?Old houses (talk) 21:39, 24 April 2021 (UTC)

Date of construction is problematic
Reading through the nomination form, there is no evidence at all of a 1672 date of construction. The report quotes Elmer Keith saying the sheathed room is one of the finest 17th century rooms he'd ever seen; but that sheathing is an early/mid-18th century feature. The nomination also says the integral leanto is further proof of the 1672 date; architectural historians now know integral leantos were very rare before 1700, but common in the 18th century. This house has a great history, and probably is the house Washington visited, but I don't see any path to 1672.Old houses (talk) 22:40, 24 April 2021 (UTC)
 * What part of this statement made in the NRHP nomination form Architecture section do you not understand? "The presence of 17th-century fabric in the Nehemiah Royce House seems reasonably certain. The great age makes the house unusual in Connecticut architecture. The number of buildings in the state reasonably well authenticated to the 17th century is quite small. It appears that the Royce House belongs in this group."Tomticker5 (talk) 14:33, 25 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Exactly what I wrote- the "fabric" they say is 1672 is known to be 18th century; "seems reasonably certain" is admitting that they believe the house is 1672, but can't identify anything concrete. This house looks similar to houses known to date to the 1730 range. This is another house that's had dendrochronology done, but they haven't released the report-- red flag.  Why not just release the report; houses become instantly more valuable historically and culturally when authenticity is certified.  Could this house date to 1672?  Sure, maybe it underwent extreme alteration, maybe First Period details have been removed.  Maybe the dendrochronology report says exactly that.  But as of now, there's nothing in this house indicating such an early date of construction.  Harrison House Branford has a comparable history.Old houses (talk) 19:58, 25 April 2021 (UTC)

The truth about the dendrochronology results will become public at some point; the fact that it was done and the board of directors has decided to bury the results is an indication of where we're at as a society. Elevating myth over science is not a good look for a historical organization. If anyone knows a member of the board of directors, please encourage them to publish the report.Old houses (talk) 18:34, 31 May 2021 (UTC)
 * This house is run by a non-profit; accepting donations for its upkeep while not disclosing the dendrochronology results is unethical.Old houses (talk) 21:53, 12 November 2022 (UTC)

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