[MassHistPres] Shutters preservation: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 57

Tue Jun 30 12:37:06 EDT 2009

Ed

That's very interesting about Paris Green as a wood preservative.  I  
have found a peacocky green color as an apparent stain under the  
bottommost paint color layer on late 19th C wood house columns, trim,  
and lattice and wondered if that might be what it was.

Years ago one would see French farmers spraying Paris Green on their  
vines from wagons made of large wood barrels, that were stained  
coppery-green where it had slopped down their sides.  Wonder if that's  
what gave those old French vintages their irreproducible je ne sais  
quois.

It figures in more than one Agatha Christie plot, I think.

Dennis

On Jun 30, 2009, at 11:35 AM, Ed Hood wrote:

> In response to Dennis' querry about the longevity of shutters - yes,  
> they definitely can last 160 years or more if covered with  
> appropriately toxic historic paints for their lifespan.  One of the  
> bright green paints used so commonly on shutters in New England,  
> "Paris Green" is a copper-arsenic compound, that I understand was  
> first developed as an insecticide, and which some clever person  
> managed to re-purpose to pretty paint.  The shutters on the Emmerson  
> and Laura Bixby house from Barre, MA, now restored at Old Sturbridge  
> Village, are original and c. 1840, and were painted with Paris Green  
> from their earliest use.   We also have shutters (now in storage)  
> from the Salem Towne House from Charlton, MA house, probably  
> original to the house's construction in 1796, assembled with wrought  
> nails, that survived in good shape until the house was brought to  
> Old Sturbridge Village in the 1950s.  The hardware was removed from  
> these original shutters and applied to the reproductions made at the  
> time of the restoration (and which are not surviving as well as  
> their older models, lacking the re-applications of the old-time   
> type paints).  So, like original clapboards that have been covered  
> in leadpaint their entire lives and otherwise reasonably well  
> maintained, early shutters can and do survive in-situ and in many a  
> barn loft.
>     It is also my understanding, but I won't claim authoritative  
> proof of this, that so many of the dark green and black shutters we  
> see today are re-paints of what originally had been bright green  
> paints but which had darkened over time and then became incorrectly,  
> and perhaps incrementally, identified as an appropriate historic  
> color during the later 19th and early 20th centuries.
>
> Ed Hood
> Vice President for Museum Program
> Old Sturbridge Village
> 508-347-0300
>
> masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu wrote:
>>
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>    1. Old shutters (Carol Seitz)
>>    2. Re: Old shutters (Dennis De Witt)
>>    3. FW:  Old shutters (Wilhelmsen, Jon)
>>    4. Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter - June 29,	2009
>>       (Skelly, Christopher @ SEC)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:09:40 -0400
>> From: Carol Seitz <cbseitz at comcast.net>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] Old shutters
>> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
>> Message-ID: <47D8F21F-56FA-4DCD-957A-E2D36706C639 at comcast.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> We are replacing the shutters on our house with new wooden ones which
>> were matched to the old ones. The ones that are there are original to
>> the house which was built in 1846. Is there a clearing house for such
>> items or does someone know of someone who could give them a good  
>> home?
>> I hate to see them end up in a landfill somewhere.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Carol Seitz
>> Woburn, MA
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:38:25 -0400
>> From: Dennis De Witt <djdewitt at rcn.com>
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Old shutters
>> To: MHC MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Message-ID: <E494E4D7-B1EE-4CF6-BA30-3AEFB18D2235 at rcn.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>>
>> If they are re-usable, why replace them them?  If not, are you just
>> wondering is someone would save them as artifacts?
>>
>> There is a place that used to be in Bourne that I understand is now  
>> in
>> a mill in New Bedford(?) that deals in old windows and shutters.  (I
>> have bought shutters there.  Still not quite sure what I will do with
>> them!)
>>
>> I wonder if anyone could comment on the likelihood that 160 year old
>> shutters would have survived if continually in use -- or if these are
>> more likely later replacements.
>>
>> Dennis De Witt
>> Brookline
>>
>>
>> On Jun 29, 2009, at 12:09 PM, Carol Seitz wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> We are replacing the shutters on our house with new wooden ones
>>> which were matched to the old ones. The ones that are there are
>>> original to the house which was built in 1846. Is there a clearing
>>> house for such items or does someone know of someone who could give
>>> them a good home? I hate to see them end up in a landfill somewhere.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Carol Seitz
>>> Woburn, MA
>>> ******************************
>>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
>>>  directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
>>> MassHistPres mailing list
>>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>> ********************************
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:11:00 -0400
>> From: "Wilhelmsen, Jon" <Jon.Wilhelmsen at FMR.COM>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] FW:  Old shutters
>> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Message-ID:
>> 	 
>> <88E34EEE2399D344A60832218A2A731901CEF4C3 at MSGBOSCLF2WIN.DMN1.FMR.COM>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> The place in New Bedford is New England Demolition and Salvage.
>> http://nedsalvage.com/  It is quite a place - full of treasures.  The
>> new location in New Bedford is a large improvement over it's prior  
>> home
>> in Wareham.
>>
>> Jon Wilhelmsen
>> Plympton Historical Commission
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
>> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis De Witt
>> Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 12:38 PM
>> To: MHC MHC listserve
>> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Old shutters
>>
>> If they are re-usable, why replace them them?  If not, are you just
>> wondering is someone would save them as artifacts?
>>
>> There is a place that used to be in Bourne that I understand is now  
>> in
>> a mill in New Bedford(?) that deals in old windows and shutters.  (I
>> have bought shutters there.  Still not quite sure what I will do with
>> them!)
>>
>> I wonder if anyone could comment on the likelihood that 160 year old
>> shutters would have survived if continually in use -- or if these are
>> more likely later replacements.
>>
>> Dennis De Witt
>> Brookline
>>
>>
>> On Jun 29, 2009, at 12:09 PM, Carol Seitz wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> We are replacing the shutters on our house with new wooden ones
>>> which were matched to the old ones. The ones that are there are
>>> original to the house which was built in 1846. Is there a clearing
>>> house for such items or does someone know of someone who could give
>>> them a good home? I hate to see them end up in a landfill somewhere.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Carol Seitz
>>> Woburn, MA
>>> ******************************
>>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>>>
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
>>
>>>  directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
>>> MassHistPres mailing list
>>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>> ********************************
>>>
>>
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO  
>> THE
>> WHOLE LIST.
>> MassHistPres mailing list
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>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:14:48 -0400
>> From: "Skelly, Christopher @ SEC" <Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>
>> Subject: [MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter - June
>> 	29,	2009
>> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>> Message-ID:
>> 	<4B9743DC9631164FA8ED1AAC579277AF04446044 at PROD-MSG01.prod.sec.local>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER
>>
>> Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission
>>
>> June 29, 2009
>>
>>
>>
>> This e-newsletter from the Massachusetts Historical Commission
>> Preservation Planning Division has been prepared for local historical
>> commissions, historic district commissions and others interested in
>> historic preservation activities around the Commonwealth of
>> Massachusetts.  It is published roughly every other week.  If you  
>> have
>> suggestions or items of interest for this newsletter, please contact
>> Chris Skelly at the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us  
>> <mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>
>>
>>
>>
>> MUNICIPAL PRESERVATION PLANS
>>
>> Does your local historical commission struggle with prioritizing  
>> tasks
>> and projects?  With so many local demands, it can be challenging  
>> knowing
>> where to focus the energy of the local historical commission.   
>> Preparing
>> a municipal preservation plan can help.  A municipal preservation  
>> plan
>> can answer many questions regarding historic property survey forms,  
>> the
>> national register of historic places and how best to protect the
>> significant historic and cultural resources of your community.
>> Assessing the current status of historic preservation in your  
>> community,
>> recognizing issues and opportunities and providing an action plan for
>> achieving goals are all part of a municipal preservation plan.  Some
>> communities have hired a preservation consultant to prepare a  
>> detailed
>> preservation plan.  If that isn't an option for your local historical
>> commission, even a scaled down preservation plan prepared by the  
>> local
>> historical commission can make a difference.  The important thing  
>> is to
>> start planning.  The preservation plan for the town of Sandwich can  
>> be
>> viewed at
>> http://www.sandwichmass.org/PublicDocuments/Historic_Preservation_Plan.p
>> df
>> <http://www.sandwichmass.org/PublicDocuments/Historic_Preservation_Plan 
>> .
>> pdf> . If your community has its municipal preservation plan, goals  
>> or
>> an action plan on its city or town website, please let me know.
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us  
>> <mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>
>>
>>
>>
>> HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY BROCHURE
>>
>> This brochure, The Energy Smart Home - A Guide for Improving the
>> Efficiency, Durability, Comfort, Air Quality and Safety of Your  
>> Home was
>> prepared by Efficiency Vermont, a statewide energy efficiency  
>> utility.
>> In easy to understand language, the brochure includes many useful  
>> tips
>> for increasing home energy efficiency.  When it comes to replacement
>> windows, the brochure states that it is "generally not cost  
>> effective to
>> replace old windows for energy savings purposes alone, because the  
>> high
>> cost of new windows is rarely paid back by energy savings."
>>
>> http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/stella/filelib/2007FinalEnergySmartBook
>> let.pdf
>> <http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/stella/filelib/2007FinalEnergySmartBoo
>> klet.pdf>
>>
>>
>>
>> NEW LISTINGS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
>>
>> Lawrence, Boundary Extension to the North Canal Historic District
>>
>> Westborough, Boundary Extension to the West Main Street Historic
>> District
>>
>>
>>
>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER
>>
>> July 31, 2009
>>
>> Preservation Massachusetts Most Endangered Nomination Deadline
>>
>> August 7, 2009
>>
>> Deadline for Boston Foundation for Architecture Grants
>>
>> September 17, 2009
>>
>> MHC Workshop on Demolition Delay Bylaws, Wareham
>>
>> For more information, email Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
>> <mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>
>>
>> ********************************************
>>
>> Please forward this newsletter on to others that may be  
>> interested.  If
>> you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to  
>> receive
>> it directly, please contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
>> The Massachusetts Historical Commission also has a listserve, known  
>> as
>> masshistpres, specifically for historic preservation.  You can join  
>> this
>> listserve by visiting
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres> .  This
>> newsletter is posted on masshistpres directly and sent to local
>> commission members.  We welcome your thoughts on what you would  
>> like to
>> see in this newsletter.  The website for the Massachusetts Historical
>> Commission is http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm
>> <http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm>
>>
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>> End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 40, Issue 57
>> ********************************************
>>
>>
>>
> <ehood.vcf>******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us 
>  directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
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