How excited we were to discover, beneath layers of wallpaper and paint in the entry hall, a fresco believed to be original to the house in 1853. The fresco was not in great shape. Nor was it beautifully executed, like the artful job that Bill Sigsworth discovered hidden away in a closet. Still, it was a fresco from 1853! Should we restore it? Keep it as is? Paint over it? We kept going back and forth on these questions--everyone on the job had strong feelings one way or the other. When the floors were redone, beautiful parquetry appeared, but the double whammy of loud floors and loud wall seemed a bit much. We decided, with reluctance, to let the wall go, preserving a piece of it for posterity. We reasoned: the fresco had been painted over in 1860 by Governor Holley and his new wife Sarah Coit Day. If that decision was good enough for Governor Holley, who were we to disagree? We painted it over with the same green they used, remnants of which Lance was able to match.
Mike Zordan, the plasterer, assesses ghost of old doorway for damage and says he'll plaster over only what he has to, for safety.
Newly plastered wall. We still can't decide whether to keep, restore or repaint. We put off decision until floors are redone.
Original floor patterns of ash, hickory and mahogany make themselves known. We decide visual of floor AND wall is too gaudy.
On the other hand, fresco-d walls beautifully set off fireplace in parlor.
The nays have it. Plasterers do their thing, but, at our request, leave a tapestry-size patch of original fresco.
We might frame it. Or not.
Lance glazes around it.
Finished.
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