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A House Restored: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Saving a New England Colonial
Shop Class as Soulcraft meets A Place of My Own in this lyrical meditation of a woodworker steadfastly repairing a historic home.
Old houses share their secrets only if they survive. Trading the corporate ladder for a stepladder, Lee McColgan commits to preserving the ramshackle Loring House, built in 1702, using period materials and methods and on a holiday deadline. But his enchantment withers as he discovers the massive repairs it needs. A small kitchen fix reveals that the structure’s rotten frame could collapse at any moment. In a bathroom, mold appears and spreads. He fights deteriorating bricks, frozen pipes, shattered windows, a punctured foundation, and even an airborne chimney cap while learning from a diverse cast of preservationists, including a master mason named Irons, a stone whisperer, and the Window Witch. But can he meet his deadline before family and friends arrive, or will it all come crashing down? McColgan’s journey expertly examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit, beautifully articulating the philosophy of preserving the past to find purpose for the future.
Old houses share their secrets only if they survive. Trading the corporate ladder for a stepladder, Lee McColgan commits to preserving the ramshackle Loring House, built in 1702, using period materials and methods and on a holiday deadline. But his enchantment withers as he discovers the massive repairs it needs. A small kitchen fix reveals that the structure’s rotten frame could collapse at any moment. In a bathroom, mold appears and spreads. He fights deteriorating bricks, frozen pipes, shattered windows, a punctured foundation, and even an airborne chimney cap while learning from a diverse cast of preservationists, including a master mason named Irons, a stone whisperer, and the Window Witch. But can he meet his deadline before family and friends arrive, or will it all come crashing down? McColgan’s journey expertly examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit, beautifully articulating the philosophy of preserving the past to find purpose for the future.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 25, 2024
Anyone who has tangled with an old house will appreciate McColgan's journey to restore the Loring House, built in the early 1700's in Pembroke, MA. However, this beautifully written book is much more than simply a story about the craft and patience that goes into caring for an old home. It considers the connection between mindfulness and meaningful work, the past and the present. McColgan's memoir reminds us that it takes a lot of hard work, hope, and humor to find the good life. His journey is an inspiring one.
June 24, 2024
if you love old houses…
I loved reading about the house and everything he had to learn to maintain it. His willingness to teach himself the historical methods was inspiring.
I loved reading about the house and everything he had to learn to maintain it. His willingness to teach himself the historical methods was inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews