Restoration
1917 Porch
The circa 1917 addition contained a porch that was later closed in. When the home was sold in 2018 out of the family, this was turned into a laundry room and bathroom. We plan to undo the damage and restore the porch to how it was prior to 2018 and how it may have been originally. Planned for Spring 2024.
THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE
Prior to the renovation, this room contained counter tops and a bathroom that blocked the original window at the back. One of the windows had been removed from the exterior and boarded up to make room for plumbing and exhaust. The mid 20th century floor had been painted in various places. All of this was removed, the windows replaced, and the exterior brick painted to match the White House. This is now our "turn of the century" room.
Before
After
Closet of Names
Prior to the 2018 sale there were names written in pencil in an upstairs closet. Again, a bathroom was installed covering, possibly destroying, these names. These names are believed to be the names of the Gorham children from the 1860s. We are planning a careful removal of this bathroom to see if the names remain. If they do not, a memorial to the Gorham children will be put in its place.This project has been completed.
UPDATE- Covered Names
While great care was taken to remove the 2018 shower, the names once written here were lost. There were some remnants of the name of Thomas M. Gorham remaining. Also exposed in the removal of haphazardly installed tile, was the original brick wall that structurally supports the home. The once shower is now a display area in the bathroom. The names, once written in pencil in 1864, are now on bronze plaques, installed on tongue and groove boards. Also installed in wall that was damaged from plumbing installation, is a piece of yellow rose stained glass. Yellow roses were a reported favorite of Susan Gorham Cook, who once owned the home with her husband, William Cook. Her name was also on the wall at one time. You can see the now fully exposed brick wall and memorial closet in the upstairs bathroom.