hidden history

Mad Dog

For those that love the old things....we discovered these old pocket or parlour doors buried in the walls when we gutted The Old Lady almost 3 years ago. We thought we'd never get around to it, but this week we have restored them, and now mom and Barbara, The Wife, are goin' to town on them...stripping off the old stain to get to the orinial work. The hangar brackets say: Lane Brothers Company 1891. Mad Dog

J.C.A.

Hidden Treasures !

Isn't it amazing what you find ? About 15 years ago, I was doing a boiler install in an old Yankee home and the demo crew found that the old fireplace, cooking space, beehive and rotiseree had been covered over by sheetrock ! All the andirons and cooking chains and so-fourth were still there. It was about 16 feet long, hidden probably since the 1930's .

Nice find there Mad Dog ! Also real nice of the wife to take on such a task . (been there, done that , won't do it again). Chris

Mad Dog

Thanks chris

what a find that musta been. At least the guys who closed it in had the respect for it to leave it "as it was".....the hack who closed in the pocket doors used a hatchet to force one of them in what a meathead. Yes, the wife is a trouper so's mom. They spent a year restoring the staircase. Mad Dog

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October Home

Matt

Those are beautiful photos. Message to the two Mrs M.D.'s: Keep at it! You're doing the world a service.

Best wishes, Arlene

Bryan_5

You got to love those doors

Mad Dog,
I love those doors. I have 2 of them in my house. When people see those doors they just love them. No matter what you do with the rest of the house people just love to look at those doors. Your wife is a saint for spending a year on that stair case, it looks awsome.
I think I know the answer to this question but are you going to replaster those walls? Or go with drywall? If I had to bet you are going with the plaster. The stained glass looks great as well. Is there anymore stained glass in the house or just by the stairs? Is it staying?
Bryan

Mad Dog

Aren't they awesome Bryan........

We found them as we were gutting the walls out. I would love to do real plaster walls, but I don't have the budget of This Old House, you know. We are doing everthing we can to make it as it was and even better. we added a real brick fireplace (it only had pot belly stoves for heat )- putting one of them in the kitchen too, transom windows and of course the vapor system, restoring the barn. If you're ever in Long Island come on over for a beer and a tour. Sorry some of the pictures got screwed up Mad Dog

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Bryan_5

I understand what you mean about the plaster. It takes big dollars to put the stuff up. Its kinda like finding a steam expert. Not alot of them around so when you find a good one you best be prepared to pay them what they are worth. Awsome brick work for the chimney. It drives me nuts when people put vinyl siding up on there chimney. House is looking like night and day. Keep up the great work.
Bryan