Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/25/2012

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cr:7' C? r?m 5-' ' r- �� r April 19, 1978 -4- MD783 installed in the cloakroom together with exposed conduit and should be ✓ removed. A suspended light fixture on a chain is probably original to the electrification of the building. This undoubtedly had an opalescent glass globe at one time. The second cloakroom in later years has been Converted to a kitchen. All of the original wainscot has been removed at the time of the remodelling for lkitchen use. The window in the kitchen is original to the structure except that the lower sash has been modified by the removal of the vertical muntin and a single sheet of glass applied in what was originally a two light sash. The ceiling has been furred to a lower elevation and should be removed. The original hook strips like the wainscot' have been removed from the room. The south wall is in a location further south than original to the cloakroom. A door between this room and the front entry has been filled in. The door to the classroom is missing however the hinge and strike locations indicate a d or was originally installed at this location swinging into the cloakroom gainst the north wall. More modern improvements such as the water heater, sink and electrical outlets should be removed in any restoration. Similarly the epoxy topping on the floor should be removed to expose the original flooring. t/ The basement of the structure is not original. It was installed probably about the time of World War I when a large gravity warm -air furnace may have been installed in the basement to heat the classroom. There is evidence of a large opening in the first floor directly above this space which may have ontained a floor register at one time. The eliptical brick walls in this 7i space are of more recent vintage. The mortar does not match the mortar used n the original brick structure. The original half screens for the window -together with an original door are stored in this space. The stair for access i,,)7 to the basement is of modern construction utilizing round wire nails. There 4" ' is a crawl space under the classroom which is accessible from the basement. As previously noted the floor joists should be investigated -to determine their .1i condition and possible need for replacement. One of the original school desk seats is located in the crawl space and could serve as a guide for future desks to be installed as a part of the interpretive program. Prior to the start of any restoration considerable research should be conducted to verify the appearance of the building at the time it was still in use as a school about 1900. Such research should consist of interviews with former students, to determine desk arrangement, type of light fixtures, interior colors, location of book cases, location of heating devices, type and location of teacher's desk together with other classroom equipment and supplies such as globes, reading charts, maps, school clock, etc. In addition photographs of the original school would be helpful in any restoration. The records of the school district may or may not have survived. I would recommend checking with the present school district together with seeking out the files of the County Superintendent of Schods as a guide to any restoration. The files of the County Superintendent of Schools may have been turned over to the County Auditor and maintained in his archives at the courthouse. In any event considerable research should be conducted prior to the start of any restoration to insure that restoration of the schoolhouse to a living museum be accurate and as authentic as possible. FWD:ko