Rotten windows!

Ben has his work cut out for him. This window only came with about half the frame intact. He's begun the process of cutting away the rotten components. They will be replaced with fir and antique pine (salvaged from a nearby house that was to be demolished).

200 year old letter found!

Letter found in a rats' nest behind the base trim at the Hilary Baker house. The letter is addressed to Mr. H Baker and dated March 23rd, 1815. The text is legible but not necessarily decipherable.  Will post more information after the experts look it over. 

Other things found yesterday while cleaning: a tiny bird skeleton, a few buttons, some periodicals from 1885 (35 cents for mens' garters!), a license plate from 1923, and a tiny wooden comb.

Thirteen little miters

Monument avenue dining room

This is now my favorite room in the house. The casement windows and pocket doors have been restored. The brass hardware cleaned, the crystal chandelier rebuilt.