Sensing a Pattern Here…
/It has been just a bit over a year since the last time I posted a blog entry. I am sensing a pattern here. Yes, my time during the year is quite well occupied, and it seems I always end up playing catch-up during my vacation time at the end of the year, or into January of the following year as it is now. Well, if this is the hand I have been dealt, I will attempt to make the most of it! A lot changed at the house in 2016, but progress came in fits and spurts. I will try and go back through the year and bring you up to date.
Chimneys
In April, the time had finally arrived for the chimney work. We knew that the kitchen chimney would be the most critical of all of them, and upon inspection, we learned that a chimney liner would not fit down the existing chimney. It was also painfully clear that the chimney had seen better days. So the original chimney was removed so that a safer chimney could be built in its place. The right hand chimney on the front portion of the house had been rebuilt at some point, but there are not plans to use this chimney. We are unable to replace the original interior wall in the front portion of the house that originally hosted a narrow – very narrow – hallway that separated the two rooms of the original structure in the manner of a dogtrot house. We did, however, want to return the exterior to the look of the late 1870s as shown in the earliest image we have of the house that was taken shortly after the two cabins were merged. This showed two chimneys on the front portion – one left and one right - one for each room. In working with the chimney contractor, it was decided to create a faux chimney on the left hand side (as you ace the house). All of this work needed to be completed before the roof could be shingled. The chimney contractor made quick work of constructing the new chimney and the faux version, and his work was done by the end of May.
A Bonus Find
In documenting the condition of the chimneys before work began, I once again headed upstairs to take as many pictures as possible in April. It was cool enough to be able to stand to be upstairs, and yet warm enough to take my time taking pictures. I was rather hopeful that since we had found the bottle earlier in the project that perhaps there might be other treasures waiting for us. I was not disappointed. After photographing the chimney over the kitchen, I decided to document as much of the upstairs as possible for use in a photo album that could be used interpretively once the house was open since we will be unable to allow access to the upstairs to the public. Photographs were taken of walls, chimneys, floors, hardware and the like. I paid particular attention to the area where the two original structures were joined and had a flashlight on hand so I could peer into the darkest corners. Of to the west side of the door between the two portions I noticed something odd stuck in between the areas where the buildings joined. It was carefully placed at a distance from the door so that it would not be easily noticed. It was a reach, but I was finally able to fish the shoe out. Yes, it was a shoe! Or in this case a concealed shoe. Concealed shoes, as well as other items, have been found in homes all over the world. Those who study concealed shoes document that they are often placed as a protection for the house from evil influences, ghosts, and the like. There is even a Concealed shoe index that is maintained by the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in England. http://www.northampton.gov.uk/museums
It is a registry of concealed shoes found in structures all over the world. There is a lot of interesting information available concerning concealed shoes and I encourage you to read some of the information that is available. I plan on looking into registering our concealed shoe. We have not yet determined if it will go back where it was, or if it will be replaced by another shoe.
Ramp
Since the house will be used for both interpretive and educational programs, we need to make the structure as accessible as possible. Brian Roberts, who has done the major amount of work on the exterior of the house, was able to complete a handicap accessible ramp on the west side of the house in April. The ramp will be accessed by a concrete walkway from the front of the house and will make it possible for wheel chairs and scooters to easily enter the house on the west side. The access deck is commodious and allows for easy maneuvering of wheel chairs. There is also a short set of steps of the back of the deck area to allow interpreters and teachers access areas yet to come, such as the water pump and clothes line.
Roof!!!
One of the most exciting things to happen this year was the old asphalt roof was finally replaced with a shake cedar roof! As the old roof was removed, so too were the remaining signs of modernity – the vent stacks for plumbing and the extra metal chimney for a wood stove.
Interior
With the roof safely on, it is now possible to move to the interior and begin work there. As 2016 came to a close, this effort was just beginning with then removal of some of the lath and plaster areas in order to make a door wider to allow full access of rooms in the house.
What's in store for 2017?
As the winter continues, work will continue on the interior of the house, repairing walls and floors, painting walls and ceilings and cleaning and returning to position the original door and window trim. On the exterior, sidewalks must be put in place and a planting plan considered. The final exterior addition on the house will be returning shutters on the windows in order to complete the look of the house in the late 19th century. Once all of these things have been completed, then, and only then, can artifacts be moved into the house. That will be a very exciting time!