In connection with meetings of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Dr. Goodwin convinced Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., of the soundness of his views in this regard and studied the situation with him in its broad features. The following year (1927) Mr. Rockefeller definitely determined to undertake, with the coöperation of the City, the restoration of the ancient part of Williamsburg to its condition as of mid-18th century—an undertaking which is probably the greatest educational accomplishment of the present century.
The restoration is not yet completed and it is unlikely that further construction will be possible during the war. It may be roughly estimated as within eighty or ninety percent of completion. The First Theater in America is the outstanding public building not yet reconstructed; the number of residences still awaiting attention is indefinite but not large.
BASSETT HALL
Not far from half the buildings now standing in the old part of the city are the identical buildings which have lasted through from pre-Revolutionary days. These buildings have been thoroughly repaired, any modern additions removed and their grounds planted with such trees and flowers as probably were there in the 18th century. These buildings are technically described as “restored” in distinction from those which had been destroyed and are “reconstructed.” A comparison of each restored building with its condition just before restoration would be interesting. The principal case available is that of the Cole Shop in which hangs an oil painting loaned by Mrs. Rockefeller and showing the interior of the shop in 1938 in contrast with its present condition which is supposed to be as it was in 1780.
The most apparent change resulting from the restoration is that of Duke of Gloucester Street itself. Prior to its restoration in 1935 there were two concrete roadways separated by a strip of grass in which were unpainted wooden poles carrying electric wires. The restoration of the street illustrates very well the type of compromises which have been necessary in order to keep Williamsburg an up-to-date community as it distinctly was in its first century. Thus, while the wires have been buried, the street has not been returned to its former condition of six inches of mud or dust according to the weather; but it has been finished with a hard surface nearly resembling gravel. The town has not reverted to flambeaux for the wealthy and darkness for the poor; but the electric street lights are as old-fashioned as possible. Most nearly impossible of all problems was that of fire prevention; it was solved by installing the least conspicuous hydrants in the grass and painting them green.
GEORGE WYTHE HOUSE
The first buildings to be restored were those of The College. The original building had suffered from three fires. These gave excuse for adding the beautiful wings, housing the Chapel and the Great Hall, but also gave opportunity for departure from the plans of Sir Christopher Wren; so that the architects estimate that the building as we know it (and as it was just before the Revolution) is about 50 percent Wren and 50 percent local adjustment. The cost of the third fire, which occurred while the building was in the hands of Northern troops, was reimbursed from the Federal Treasury on motion of Senator Hoar of Massachusetts.
