We moved our tools and things into the building and started to disassemble the cardboard apartment yesterday. We didn't get too far, but it was a start. We did get all the cat soiled carpeting rolled up and taken out. The smell of cat urine was almost unbearable.
We uncovered the original door on the second floor over the portico at the front of the building under the cardboard and ended up pulling some of the cardboard down. We exposed well preserved wooden slat walls, ceilings and a nice brightly painted wooden floor.
What I found most interesting were the wall paper fragments on the wall, which I hope might give us a clue to dating the building. I have sent off a photo filled email to a retired wall-paper expert colleague and we'll see what he says.
The patriotic wall paper is the one that covers most of the other papers and decorative motifs on the wall. Given the penchant for Americana from the Centennial in 1876 that lasted through the turn of the 20th century, that is probably when this wall paper was produced.
I am in love with this beautiful wall paper fragment that looks very English William Morris style to me. I wonder if this was put up when the place was a brothel?? The colors are still very vibrant.
No comments:
Post a Comment