The main house at Monroe Hill is a complicated building that was erected through many stages of construction. This semester, seven students focused their attention on different aspects of the building in an effort to produce a cohestive narrative of the development of this interesting site. In addition to extensive field documentation and observation, we worked with archival documentation, historic photographs, and preexisting building surveys to arrive at the periodization below.
- 1790s: original construction. 27 by 20 foot structure.
- By 1819: 27 by 17 foot shed addition to the west elevation.
- 1822-25: significant expansion likely consisting of second story added over 1790s block and one-story 27 x 20 foot addition toward south.
- 1841-1842: expansion to double story across entire front.
- January 1842: front portico added.
- 1843: expansions to rear. Existing shed raised to full two stories and 1.5-story shed addition beside it to establish complete rectangular footprint.
- Between 1866 and 1877: expansion to full second story rear elevation.
- After 1877: back porch added or expanded to two stories and front porch given second story.
- Post 1881: a brick kitchen was added to the north side of the main house.