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June 1, 2010 12:08:15
Posted By The Curator
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Hello All!
Here are a few pics from our recent plaster restoration. We still have a long way to go, but it's been a great start!
Durable Restoration of Ohio performed the work. They are known for jobs including the Warren Harding and Rutherford Hayes houses among other remarkable buildings!
They really made our parlor looks spiffy!
At some point mid 1900s, forced air heating was installed and a floor beam was cut through to accomodate it! They had to jack the floor up in the library and reframe the area to keep the 2nd floor on the 2nd floor!
Durable was able to save samples of the removed plaster, discovering the bottom or original layer of paint! We were able to match the color using the handy computers at Sherwin Williams Paints and return our ceiling to its original color!
More photos of the completed rooms soon!!!!!!
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March 14, 2010 01:18:50
Posted By The Curator
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Did you ever want to know how to care for your heirloom furniture? Decorate your Victorian home? We have been hard at work trying to find ways to help you out with these things and this summer and are adding workshops to our summer schedule. Starting in June, we will be holding workshops open to the public on these topics and more and want your feedback on what else you want to learn at the museum! We would be holding any of these on Saturdays and will be taking reservations once plans are finalized. Here are a few of our proposed topics:
Herbs and their Uses
Step back in time with us to learn what rue, tansy, and other herbs you may not have even heard of are, what their uses were/are, and how to grow them in your own home.
Antiques 101
Come learn an overview on purchasing, collecting, and decorating with antiques. We’ll go over some ways to spot fakes, and where to look to find the most accurate values of your collection.
Decorating with and Caring for Antique Furniture
Enjoy antique furniture collecting? We do (for obvious reasons)! Join us to look at different styles of furniture, how to best decorate a room with them, and how they should be maintained.
Creating a Victorian Holiday in your home
You may have been to our house for Christmas over the years, but did you ever wonder how to do some of those things at home? We could show you.
Cooking with Katherine
Katherine Reynolds’ handwritten family cookbook is part of our collection and we’d be happy to open it up for you! Come learn just how many of the vague, complicated recipes of old time are made in modern kitchens!
Please help us this week by reading these options and emailing us with you vote at museum@baldwinreynolds.org on which workshops would interest you the most. If you have other ideas for workshops, don’t hesitate to let us know as well as which of those I mentioned are your favorites. We can’t wait to serve you in even more ways in 2010!
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January 11, 2010 10:43:54
Posted By The Curator
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Hello All!
We're looking for oodles of new volunteers for our 2010 season! We are always looking for help in one of the following areas
Gardening
Housekeeping
Tour Guides
Filing/Clerical
Museum Inventory
Receptionists/Greeters
Research
Museum Exhibit Prep
Event/Program Prep
Fall Leaf Raking
Tree Trimming
Painting
and much much more!!!!!
If you'd like to help out in any of the following areas, please shoot us an email at museum@baldiwnreynolds.org or fill out the volunteer box on our website!
http://www.baldwinreynolds.org/contact.htm
Just scroll down and select "volunteering" in the drop down box!
We'll be emailing you back very soon and getting everyone aquainted and involved as the winter and spring progress. Hope to hear from you!
-The Curator
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January 6, 2010 05:46:45
Posted By The Curator
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As I was sweeping pine needles from my living room floor this weekend, I couldn’t help but notice how time is flying by and in only a few short months we will be back up and running at the museum for another year of tours and events. With the historical society’s events being released recently in this column as well as my column last week giving our “annual summary” of what we’re up to, I thought it a great way to start the year by going into detail a bit more on what’s coming up, what we’re working on, and how you can get involved!
Ceilings, Walls, and Paint galore
As I mentioned last week, we’ve secured the assistance of a local architect who will help guide our ice house project through the coming months. We plan to put a new roof on this structure as well as do some major restoration on the building’s interior including stabilizing the ceiling and replace a load bearing beam that shows signs of serious rot.
Similarly, we’re getting ready to do restoration projects on the retaining wall along Lord Street that has been bowing outward and has recently started to collapse in one or two places. This wall is well over a century old and its repair is integral to the historical accuracy of our three acre grounds as well as holding a rather large hillside from falling into the street.
Finally, we plan to do a bit of restoration inside the house itself, painting walls and restoring two plaster ceilings on the first floor. Both of these are in major need of repair as they are cracked and beginning to sag. We will keep you updated with our progress as these things occur.
Events, Lectures, and Exhibits for all!
We are working on putting together a season to remember at the museum for your enjoyment this year as well. With the Huidekoper family’s major impact on Crawford County from selling much of the land off to settlers in the first place with the Holland Land Company to influencing Unitarianism in Meadville, creating Hillside Home, and becoming the spectacle of style in the community, the Huidekopers have laid their influence in this area as thick as the sidewalks they once walked on. We will be hosting an exhibit of their lives and works for your enjoyment as well as possible events tying in with the Thurston Classic, the Crawford County Fair, enlightening workshops, interesting and exciting lectures, and more!
We will be hard at work this year and need your attendance, support, and physical help to succeed. We are always in need to tour guides, housekeeping help, event helpers, artifact catalogers, and more. Those of you who have expressed interest, we will be starting to put together short “backstage tours” very soon to get you acquainted with the museum and to those of you who are interesting in jumping in, you are always welcome! Feel free to contact us at museum@baldwinreynolds.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Have a Happy New Year!
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January 3, 2010 09:23:22
Posted By The Curator
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With the Christmas holiday over and way too many leftovers still residing in my refrigerator, I've been thinking of what has occurred over the last year and what I'd like to get accomplished in 2010. A slice of pie or two later, I have prepared a summary of what we have done at the Baldwin-Reynolds House this year for our readers as they, much like myself, have a vested interest in Henry Baldwin's historic home.
A bit of gardening
If there's one thing that I am especially excited about at the museum as of late, it is all of the hard work we have done to improve our physical landscape at the house. Several gardens on the property have been spruced up and are becoming showpieces in the area. We have several faithful volunteers working hard on keeping our gardens blooming and have had a special donation this year of over 2500 plants, both annuals and perennials, from Bollinger's Greenhouse and Florist in Springboro. These gifts have improved our garden tremendously and we are thankful to have such friends with common interests in our shared history! The work in the garden will continue over the upcoming year and we welcome any help in these efforts.
Stripping and redecorating
Our other impressive achievement this year has come in our efforts to make the Baldwin-Reynolds House appear more like a home than ever before. We have had several volunteers stripping paint off of Henry Baldwin's original tiger maple woodwork to return it to it's historic appeal. We are adding furniture, long since forgot about in storage, to the exhibits and including fine touches to make it appear as if Henry Baldwin just set a book down in his study or Katherine Reynolds just set the table for dinner. We thank you all for your donations to help in this effort including your heirlooms, assistance, and good will. We will continue to make the tour as enjoyable to you all as possible.
Outlook into the new year
As we look forward to the new year, we have much important work ahead of us to complete. We are working with an architect to restore the historic ice house on the grounds of the museum. The stone retaining wall along Lord Street needs attention that we hope to provide in the coming months, and much is about to happen in the house itself. We hope to paint several hallways, rooms, and the pine plank floors on the second floor in the near future. In addition, several plaster ceilings have issues needing addressed over the winter months. We will persevere in these activities in our effort to ensure the protection of your historic home in Meadville, Pennsylvania. After all, we are merely the guardians of our history. The keys to this history, however, remain in your hands. Your volunteer assistance and any other help is always welcome and crucial to preserving our heritage- as I am just a servant in the house...you are the master. This is my yearly report to you...enjoy the holidays and look back as well as forward. To continue progressing, we must remember.
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