Barkhamsted Historical Society Log

322)   Central Connecticut State University students visit Squire's Tavern - July 13, 2007
                 A group of 16 students from the Central Connecticut State University visit the Squire's Tavern to learn about the building and the archeological work that has been done.  The Historical Society is currently preparing hundreds of pottery shards, pieces of glass and other items recovered in a series of digs at the Tavern over the last five years.  The students are part of a summer history course and also visited the Stone Museum and other sites in the area.
 

321)   July 4th Parade at Pleasant Valley and Open House at Squire's Tavern - July 4, 2007
                 Historical Society members marched in the Independence Day parade held at Pleasant Valley.  A fun time was had by all and the Star Band sounded fantastic as always.  Also a  special Open House was held at Squire's Tavern.  The building was open from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  We had about 30 visitors, must of which arrived after the parade ended.  Visitors checked out the building and the progress the Historical Society has made, for example the new wall stenciling in the Ball Room.
 

320)   Colebrook Historical Society visits the Squire's Tavern - June 20, 2007
                 A group from the Colebrook Historical Society visits the Squire's Tavern.  Walt Landgraf gives a tour of the Tavern and provides information on the restoration of the Tavern.  Walt provides background on consultants used by the Barkhamsted Historical Society during our restoration work including advisors specializing in areas such as paint analysis, iron hardware, stenciling and old house construction.  The Colebrook Historical Society is currently involved with a restoration project on their main building, part of which was the former Colebrook town hall.
    
Photos above (click to enlarge)- Walt Landgraf gives a tour of the Squire's Tavern to a group from the Colebrook Historical Society.

319)   Volunteers at Squire's Tavern - June 13, 2007
                 A volunteer work crew does a variety of small jobs at the Squire's Tavern including moving unsold tag sale items and digging a post hole for a sign at the Tavern parking lot.

Photo above (click to enlarge)- volunteers dig a post hole at the parking lot of the Squire's Tavern.  A parking sign will be eventually installed here.

318)   Historical Society Tag Sale - June 2, 2007
                 The Historical Society tag sale was held on June 2 at the Town Garage on Route 44.  What a great location!  We set up our tables, put out the items and with just one small sign at the road side, the curious and the bargain seekers are drawn in.  This modest tag sale is now our main fundraising event because the large flea market sales we held in the past grew too large for our small organization to handle.  The tag sale on June 2 was very successful.  We had been collecting items for months.  Thanks to all who donated items, brought plants and food to sell and helped set things up.

Photo above (click to enlarge)- the Historical Society tag sale fundraising event...thankfully the afternoon showers held off!

317)   Archeology students visit Squire's Tavern - May 31, 2007
                 Dr. Ken Feder, archeologist at Central Connecticut State University, visited the Squire's Tavern with a group of students.  Walt Landgraf gave the class a tour of the Tavern building and showed them pottery and glass shards recovered from a dig on the grounds of the Tavern.  The group then visited nearby sites in Barkhamsted that are potential areas for future summer field work.  One site is the Oakley foundation.  The Oakleys were the daughter and son-in-law of Daniel Bennett who is thought to have been the builder of the Squire's Tavern.  The other site visited was the Freeman Jacklin foundation.  Jacklin's son married Hannah Chaugham, daughter of James and Molly. 

316)   Third grade students visit historic sites - May 23, 2007
                 Barkhamsted Elementary School third grade students dressed in period costume spend the day visiting a variety of historic sites in the town of Barkhamsted.  Included on the itinerary is the Squire's Tavern and the Barkhamsted Center Schoolhouse, both operated by the Historical Society.  The students were involved with several activities at each location including a tour of rooms at the Tavern conducted by Historical Society President Walt Landgraf.  Walt discussed how the Inn was operated and also the fact that it was at the center of a large farm. 

Photo above (click to enlarge)- Walt Landgraf leads a group of third grade students into the Squire's Tavern.  The students spent the day learning about facets of the town's history at a variety of sites.

315)   Stencil Workshop at Squire's Tavern - May 15, 2007
                 Historical Society volunteer Linne Landgraf hosted a stencil workshop at the Squire's Tavern.  A group of seven people organized by the Salmon Brook Historical Society visited the Tavern to learn more about the wall stencils.  In 2004 Linne and other volunteers completed wall stenciling in the front parlor of the Tavern.  The stencil work was based on original stencils found in what is now the liquor keep.  Stencil work is now nearing completion in the ball room of the Tavern (see log entry #306 below).  During the stencil workshop on Tuesday, Linne provided insights on how the original wall stenciling were discovered, how layers of paint were removed that had covered the stencils, and the research that had been done to recreate the wall stencil patterns used in the restored rooms.  Linne discussed the input we received from historic building consultant John Curtis, paint expert Brian Powell and stencil consultant Mary Lou Davis.  

314)   Work continues on the Squire's Tavern woodshed floor - May 9, 2007
                 Volunteers continue the project in the Squire's Tavern woodshed, installing floor boards to cover the dirt floor and match the floor in the first section.
         
Photos above (click to enlarge)- Volunteers unload lumber and install floor boards in the second section of the Tavern woodshed.
 

313)   First regularly scheduled weekend hours at the Squire's Tavern! - May 6, 2007
                 The Squire's Tavern opened on Sunday, May 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 for our first regularly scheduled weekend hours.  Each Sunday the Tavern will be open to the curious and those wishing to learn about a piece of Barkhamsted history.  Volunteers will be on hand to show you around the Squire's Tavern or to help you with other questions you may have on the people and culture of our fair town.  The Tavern is also open on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to noon.  For sale at the Tavern are a number of items including the Barkhamsted Heritage book and a very colorful reprint of an 1874 map of the town. 
 

312)   Work starts on woodshed floor at the Squire's Tavern - May 2, 2007
                 Volunteer workers begin work on the woodshed floor at the Tavern.  One section of the woodshed already has a board floor and we want to build a similar floor in the second section.  The initial work involves digging out material and leveling up the dirt floor so that the floor joists to be installed are at the same height as the existing floor.

Photo above (click to enlarge)- Volunteers Mike Ream (at right) and Dave Ravasio (in shadows) level up the dirt floor in the second section of the Tavern woodshed.

311)   Squire's Tavern open Sundays 1:00 to 3:00 starting May 6, 2007. - April 2, 2007
                 At a Barkhamsted Historical Society board meeting on April 2, it was decided to open the Squire's Tavern to the public on every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. starting May 6, 2007.  Currently the Tavern is open Wednesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  The new Sunday hours will give visitors an option  on the week end to visit the historic building located at 100 East River Road, about one mile north of the bridge in Pleasant Valley.  Although the Historical Society is still working on the restoration of the building and setting up displays, it was felt that the work is far enough along to provide a very enjoyable experience inspecting the historic Squire's Tavern and learning about Barkhamsted history in general.  

310)   Portrait of Bertha Ullmann. - March 21, 2007
                 Ted Bachman has donated to the Barkhamsted Historical Society a high quality photographic copy of a pastel portrait of Bertha Ullmann.  The original work was done by artist Joanne Bachman of Pleasant Valley.  Bertha was a member of the Ullmann family that owned and operated the farm at what is now the main area of People's Forest.  Her childhood was spent in the house that we now call Squire's Tavern.  Born in 1906, Bertha was a long time Barkhamsted resident and daughter of Oswald and Ora Ullmann.  The portrait has been placed in the front kitchen of the Squire's Tavern.  Bertha has come home.

Photos above (click to enlarge)- Ted Bachman (at right) and Historical Society President Walt Landgraf hand the portrait of Bertha Ullmann in the front kitchen of the Squire's Tavern.

309)   Picture molding installed. - March 21, 2007
                 Volunteers Dave Ravasio and Mike Ream (also assisted by Doug Roberts) install picture molding in the second floor stair landing area of the Squire's Tavern.  This section of the building will be used for a variety of historical displays, including photos and paintings that will be hung from these moldings.

Photos above (click to enlarge)- Dave (with hammer) and Mike install picture molding on the second floor of the Squire's Tavern. 

308)   Archaeologist examines recovered items. - March 14, 2007
                 Archaeologist Bob Gradie visits Squire's Tavern to examine ceramic shards, glass and other items recovered from the grounds of the Squire's Tavern.  Over the last several years there have been digs at the Tavern which have recovered hundreds of articles from nails, pipe stems and bowls, pieces of plates, dishes and cups and other discarded items.  The Barkhamsted Historical Society would like to have this material analyzed so that we may glean any historical information possible about the occupants living at the Squire's Tavern over the last two hundred years.
     
Photos above- At left, Walt Landgraf and archaeologist Bob Gradie inspect items recovered from the grounds of the Squire's Tavern.  Photo at right shows ceramic shards with a blue glaze pattern- some of the items obtained from digs in the back yard of the Tavern.  Click on photos to enlarge.  When done viewing, hit your browser's "back" button.

307)   First kiosk sign goes up. - January 30, 2007
                 One wall of a small outbuilding near the entrance to the Squire's Tavern has been constructed to serve as an informational kiosk.  Signs will be mounted on the kiosk for the benefit of visitors.  The first of several signs has been hung on the wall.  The sign provides basic information on the Historical Society and the Squire's Tavern.  Future signs will display background on the town of Barkhamsted and the area around the Squire's Tavern.  If you are passing by on East River Road, stop and take a look.
               
Photos above- A sign displaying background information on the Squire's Tavern and the surrounding area has been mounted on the wall of the small outbuilding located beside the Tavern.  This is the first of several signs which will be located here.              
 

306)   Stencil work starts on the walls of the ballroom! - January 29, 2007
                 Historical Society volunteers Linne Landgraf and Sharon Lynes have spent a lot of time planning and preparing for the job of stenciling the walls of the ballroom at the Squire's Tavern.  The stencils selected are some of the same as those found in another Barkhamsted Tavern (the Merrill Tavern).  Today the paint starts to go on the wall.  The stencils will add some zip to the old room, which probably has not had stencils appearing on the wall for about 160 years.

Photo above- Linne Landgraf and Sharon Lynes start stenciling the ballroom on the second floor of the Squire's Tavern (click on photo to enlarge).

305)   Storm windows installed at the Squire's Tavern  - December 2006
                 Storm windows are installed on first floor and second floor windows at the Squire's Tavern in an effort to help cut down on heating costs (click on photo below to enlarge). 

304)   Work inside the archival storage room  - November 16, 2006
                 Volunteer Dave Ravasio prepares the archival storage room for painting (click on photo below to enlarge).  The heating unit and electrical work has been completed and the room has pretty much dried out.  The next step is to paint the inside: floor and walls.


303)   Potash stone discovered at the Squire's Tavern  - October 25, 2006
                 The Historical Society volunteer crew took time out from work at the Squire's Tavern to dig up an odd looking stone that was part of the walkway in front of the Tavern.  The smooth stone appeared to be possibly  an abandoned gravestone that had been incorporated into the walk.  Upon removing it and turning it over, it was found instead to be an old potash stone.  The tell tale grooves and runoff notch in the stone told the story.  The first step in making potash would be to fill a bottomless barrel with ashes.  The barrel was placed over the potash stone.  Water was slowly poured in the barrel over the ashes until a brown liquid oozed out the bottom of the barrel and was collected on the stone.  The brown liquid ran down the stone, into the grooves and dripped from the notch into a clay container.  The brown liquid was lye, which could be used in soap making or could be refined further into potash.  Potash was an ingredient used to make glass and ceramics or could be used for fertilizer.  Potash production gave early residents of Barkhamsted another source of income because there was a ready market for the material.
      
Photo above (click to enlarge)- workers removing a stone in the walk in front of the Squire's Tavern that turned out to be an old potash stone.  In the photo at right, notice the grove around the edge of the stone.  If you look closely you can see the notch at the bottom of the stone (just to the right of the shovel) where the liquid was drawn off.

302)   Volunteers remove concrete step  - August 23, 2006
                 A volunteer crew work to remove a concrete step at the porch of the Squire's Tavern.  The step will be replaced with a cut stone step which will improve the appearance of the porch.

   
Photo above (click to enlarge)- workers removing the concrete step from the porch area of the Squire's Tavern.  The concrete step will be replace by the stone step which is on the ground at the bottom of the photo..

301)   Volunteers continue work on Squire's Tavern front porch  - June 21, 2006
                 Dave Ravasio and his crew of volunteers remove rotten floor boards from the front porch of the Squire's Tavern.  The floor will be replaced with pressure treated wood.
   
Photo above (click to enlarge): rotten floor boards are removed from the front porch of the Squire's Tavern.

300)   Volunteers work at Squire's Tavern  - June 14, 2006
                 Volunteers mow weeds on the grounds of the Squire's Tavern and paint storm doors.  Dave Ravasio and his crew prepare to replace the floor boards on the front porch of the Tavern.  Contractor Ed Kostak has been working on the roof of the archival storage room.
                     
Photos above (click to enlarge): at left- Walt Landgraf works to keep the weeds under control in back of the Squire's Tavern.  Above center: Volunteer Ted Bachman paints a door insert at the Squire's Tavern while Doug Roberts makes sure he doesn't miss a spot.  Above right: Walt inspects progress on the roof of the archival storage unit.

299)   Door for the archival storage room installed  - June 6, 2006
                 Today the big heavy door for the new Historical Society archival storage room was delivered and installed.  Skilled workers experienced with these doors moved the unit into place and hung it in half a day.
               
Photos above (click to enlarge): at left- workers install the archival storage door.  Above right- Walt Landgraf inspects the progress as the door is hung in place.

298)   Volunteers clean up brush on Tavern grounds  - May 10, 2006
                 Today volunteers cleaned up the last of the brush left over from a number of trees that had been cut on the grounds of the Squire's Tavern.  

297)   Contractor pours concrete roof of archival storage room  - May 9, 2006
                 The concrete roof of the archival storage room was poured today and it looks just great.  The next step for this project will involve building a traditional wood rafter roof with wood shingles so that the storage room blends in with the other two bays of the wood shed.  Historical Society president Walt Landgraf has been spending a lot of time at the construction site over the last several weeks to make sure things are going smoothly.

296)   Contractor making progress on archival storage  - April   26, 2006
                 Masonry work on the archival storage room moves forward in the first phase of this project.  The work is being done by Connecticut General Contractors, Inc.  Years ago the wood shed had three full bays, and the archival storage room will be constructed to appear as the third bay of the shed.
 
Photo above (click to enlarge) - Workers make progress on the archival storage room at the end of the Squire's Tavern wood shed.

295)   Contractor views construction site  - March  22, 2006
                 A building contractor who has bid on the first phase of the archival storage project visits the Squire's Tavern and views the site off the east end of the Tavern wood shed.  This is where the small archival storage room will be built.  The work will start in April 2006.

294)   Trees removed - February  15, 2006
                 Today Ted Church and Kenwood Tree Service cut down two fir trees that were slated for removal near the small parking area of the Squire's Tavern.  This will allow some nice maple trees and lilac bushes to prosper in this area.

Photo above (click to enlarge) A worker in a bucket trims branches on a tree that will be removed near the Squire's Tavern.

293)  Ballroom floor patch work begins - March 15, 2006
                 Some areas of the floor in the ballroom are in need of repair and patching, including the filling of a few wide cracks between the boards.  Carpenter Ed Kostak and his crew start this work today. 

Photo above (click to enlarge)- The ballroom floor of the Squire's Tavern is patched to eliminate some large cracks.

292)   Volunteer work  - February 22, 2006
                 Volunteer Dave Ravasio prepares molding in the Hitchcock Room for painting.  The molding was installed over the last couple of weeks.

Photo above (click to enlarge)- Preparing molding in the Hitchcock Room for painting.

291)   Archival storage prep work - January 27, 2006
                 Walt Landgraf has been working hard over the last several months with architect Justin Natale to prepare plans for the archival storage unit.  This week they put together the final documents required so that the project can go out to bid soon.  The storage unit will be utilized to house items in the Historical Society's collection and will have appropriate climate controls.

290)   Contractor work - January 9, 2006
                 Farmington Valley Hardwood Floor workers are almost finished sanding the floor in the Hitchcock Room on the second floor of the Tavern after having completed the floor sanding in the ballroom.  The floors look great!

289)   Volunteer work party - December 21, 2005
                 Volunteers clean out the ballroom and Hitchcock Room to prepare them for floor sanding.  Work is done on a storage closet in the office area to install shelves and prepare it for a coat of primer paint. 

288)   Contractor work - December 15, 2005
                 Morse Electric has been working on a number of lighting projects at the Tavern over the last two weeks, including outdoor lighting and lighting fixtures and outlets in several rooms on the second floor.

287)   Volunteer work party - November 23, 2005
                 The routine Wednesday morning volunteer work parties have continued throughout the year.  Today, Dave Ravasio and his crew have almost completed the information kiosk.  Work on  the trim and roof shingles is virtually finished.  We have started to discuss different ideas relating to what information to post on the kiosk.

286)   Grant horizon extended - September 15, 2005
                 Through the efforts of Walt Landgraf and support of officials from the State Department of Environmental Protection, our grant period has been extended by two years.  This allows us a longer period of time to utilize the remaining portion of the original $176,000 STEAP  funds (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) that we received in May 2002.  The Historical Society can continue to carefully plan and research how best to apply the funds that are still left. 

285)   Landscape Master Plan - August 24, 2005
                 Chris Morhardt of Ferrero Hixon Associates spent the morning at Squire's Tavern as they start the landscape master plan covering the grounds around the building.  Walt Landgraf spent time with Chris reviewing the existing trail system and other resources near the Tavern at People's Forest. We hope to have a master plan in about six weeks that will be very useful for planning purposes.

284)   Volunteer work party - June 22, 2005
                 Work continues on the information kiosk- volunteers start to install the pine siding.  Walt and Ted meet with the architect for the archival storage which will be built at the Tavern.

Photo above (click to enlarge)- Volunteers at the Squire's Tavern install native pine siding on the information kiosk.

283)   Volunteer work party - June 15, 2005
                 Work continues on the information kiosk- Dave Ravasio and Charlie Lynes pick up native white pine ship-lapped siding for the kiosk.  They work on truing up and strengthen the walls.

282)   Volunteer work party and other topics - June 8, 2005
                 Work continues on the information kiosk (aka "the chicken coop") near the Squire's Tavern.  Ted Bachman continues to work on records relating to the State STEAP grant.  Walt Landgraf has set up a meeting with the architect working on the archival storage unit.  We have received a good report from the State Commission on Culture and Tourism regarding the Squire's Tavern application for the National Register for Historic Places.  The preliminary review indicates the Tavern may meet the criteria and that the application will proceed to the next step. 

281)   Volunteer work party - May 4, 2005
                 Walt Landgraf and Dave Ravasio lead a crew of volunteers as construction of the information kiosk begins in earnest.

Photo above- Construction work on the small building that will house the information kiosk (click on photo to enlarge).

280)   Liquor keep -April 27, 2005
                 Carpenter Ed Kostak continues work on constructing the liquor keep in the front parlor.  This is an important addition to the room and reflects the first 30 some years of the building's history as a tavern. 

Photo above- Work on the liquor keep, located in the front parlor of the Squire's Tavern (click on photo to enlarge).

279)   Volunteer work party -April 6, 2005
                 Volunteers move three 8" x 8" x 10" pieces of black locust to the wood shed to dry out.  They will be treated later with preservative and used as the sills for a small building that will house a informational kiosk and cover the exterior air conditioning units.  Walt meets with carpenter Ed Kostak and discusses design details for the tavern liquor keep.  A lot of effort has gone in to the design of the liquor keep including input from experts and visits to local taverns.  The liquor keep served as a secure storage area for tavern "supplies".

278)   Stair location discovered - December 22, 2004
                 Volunteers scraping paint in the basement stairway discover the faint outline of what was probably the original stairway to the second floor at the Squire's Tavern.  We know the existing stairway was not the original but were never sure exactly where the original stairs were located...until today.  As restoration work progresses on the Tavern the old building is giving up more and more of its secrets.
 
Photo above- Walt Landgraf measures the faint outlines of what must have been the original stairway from the first floor to the second floor of the Squire's Tavern (click on photo to enlarge). 

277)   Stenciling the walls in the front parlor - September 29, 2004
                 Volunteers Linne Landgraf and Sharon Lynes continue to work on the wall stencils in the front parlor of the Squire's Tavern.  Throughout the summer a lot of research and planning has been done on the stencil patterns and layout.  The patterns are based on original stenciling discovered under layers of paint in one corner of the front parlor and on research done on patterns used by the original artist in other buildings including another former tavern in Barkhamsted.  The recreated stenciling has transformed the front parlor and added an early 19th century flavor to one of the "fancy" rooms of the tavern where the public was entertained over 180 years ago.
 
Photo above- Linne Landgraf (at left) and Sharon Lynes continue to work on the wall stencils in the front parlor (click on photo to enlarge).

276)   Painting, storage cleanup -May 5, 2004
                 Volunteers Walt, Ted, Doug, Dave and Charlie clean out scrap lumber from the overhead storage in the wood shed.  Dave also completed interior wall painting on the second floor stair well.  Leon Daigle (employee of painting contractor Peter Webster)  has almost finished with phase one of the interior painting project.
  
Photo above- The front parlor has a new look with wall and trim painting nearing completion (click on photo to enlarge).  The colors are a close match to those originally used in the room in about 1800.

275)   Painting and yard cleanup -April 21, 2004
                 Volunteers Walt Landgraf, Ted Bachman Charlie Lynes and Paul Hart pick up construction and other debris from the Tavern yard and bring it to the dump (oops...I mean the Regional Refuse Disposal District facility).  Painting contractor Peter Webster continues with interior painting.  Over the last several weeks rooms such as the front parlor, front kitchen and south bedroom  have really been transformed from "under construction" to a much more finished state.

274)   Squires Tavern volunteer  work -April 14, 2004
                 Volunteers Walt Landgraf and Charlie Lynes remove wood scraps and other material cleaned from the Tavern and with some fallen branches picked up from around the lawn area, burn it all out back on this wet day.  Earlier in the week, Walt meet with two consulting archaeologist- showing them some of the artifacts recovered from digs around the Squire's Tavern foundation and discussing with them plans for further archaeology work in the future.

273)   Squires Tavern contractor work -first two weeks in April, 2004
                 Painting contractor Peter Webster works on interior painting at the Tavern, including the front parlor, ballroom, south bedroom and front kitchen.  Ceilings, window sash and trim are prepped and painted.  Looking good!

Photo above (click to enlarge)- Leon Daigle, an employee of painting contractor Peter Webster, paints window sash in the front kitchen of the Squire's Tavern.

272)   Squires Tavern contractor and volunteer work - April 7, 2004
                 Contractor Ed Kostak hangs an interior door on the first floor stairway.  Volunteer Dave Ravasio continues painting stairway walls and upstairs hall.

Photo above (click to enlarge)- Contractor Ed Kostak (at right) planes an interior door to size.

271)   Squires Tavern contractor work - March 25, 2004
                 Plaster contractor Eugene Zordan and Sons arrive to start the second phase of plastering walls and ceilings.  Sections of wall and some areas of ceiling are done in the front parlor and north bedroom downstairs and in the ballroom and two small north bedrooms upstairs.  Prior to the start of plastering, contractor Ed Kostak completed trim work and the installation of the a doorway door into the front parlor tap room.     

Photo above (click on photo to enlarge)- Plaster contractor Gene Zordan prepares a wall in the front parlor for plastering.

270)   Squires Tavern work party - February, 2004
                 Volunteers including Walt Landgraf, Dave Ravasio, Charlie Lynes and Ted Bachman prepare walls, cover floors, etc all in preparation for the second round of plastering on interior walls and ceilings.

269)   Squires Tavern work party - January 14, 2004
                 Dave Ravasio removes lathe and plaster to expose an area where a door will be built leading into the liquor keep.  The door is a feature that was very likely present during the early years of the Tavern and one that will be recreated now.  Charlie Lynes works on wall preparation where wood replacement panels will be constructed.  The group meets with a painting contractor regarding an interior paint job to be put out to bid. 
 
Photo above- January 14 2004, Charlie (left) works on wall preparation while Dave, Walt and Ed Kostak look for clues to how the liquor keep door was positioned. (click on photo to enlarge)

268)   Squires Tavern work party - August 13, 2003
                 Dave Ravasio and Charlie Lynes continue preparations for plastering in the two small rooms on the north end of the second floor.

267)   Squires Tavern contractor work - August 11 and 12, 2003
                 Morse Electric and H&H Heating complete the installation of air conditioning at the Squires Tavern.  This represents the first time that the Historical Society collection benefits from improved climate controls and will allow us to better preserve the items in the collection.  Thanks to Walt Landgraf (assisted by Dave Ravasio and Charlie Lynes) for all his work with the contractors. 

266)   Squires Tavern work party - August 6, 2003
                 Volunteers Dave and Charlie worked on wall surface preparation and the installation of what is thought to have been an original partition near the second floor ball room.  Walt and Fred inspected the now exposed floor boards in the front parlor and took measurements of floor boards.  Contractor Ed Kostak and son were on hand to replace the north exterior door, install the door hardware and also install the iron hardware to the cellar hatchway.
     
Photo above right- Dave and Charlie begin installing a partition that was removed by the State many years ago.  At right, Walt and contractor Ed Kostak install iron hardware on the north hatchway door. (click on photos to enlarge- then hit the "back" button to return to this page).

265)   Plaster Contractor visit - August 5, 2003
                 Walt and Linne Landgraf spend a good part of the day with plaster contractor Eugene Zordan inspecting the many areas that will need finish plaster work at the Tavern.  Eugene also points out the preparation work that Historical Society volunteers can accomplish in order to reduce the cost of the job.  Zordan hopes to do the plaster work in late October or early November.

264)   Squires Tavern work party - July 30, 2003
                 Dave and Charlie complete the sheetrock work in the 1st floor room that will be the kitchenette.

263)   Squires Tavern work party  - July 23, 2003
                 A big crew of volunteers (Dave Ravasio, Charlie Lynes, Fred Warner, Ted Bachman and Paul Hart) complete the removal of the modern hardwood flooring in the front parlor.  This exposes the original floor of yellow pine which is not in very good shape.   

262)   Paint consultant  - July 15, 2003
                 Historic paint expert Brian Powell visits the Tavern again to take more paint samples from different areas of the building.  The samples will be tested in his lab and a report will be compiled on what the samples reveal.  The work should provide more information on the history of the Tavern, especially on interior trim colors.

261)   Squires Tavern work party - May 31, 2003
                 Walt Landgraf is assisted by Fazal Amin and Bill Fletcher (students in the 10th grade at Regional High School #7).  They  vacuum, wash and wax  floors at the Squires Tavern.  They also dust and complete some general cleanup in preparation for a couple of special events at the Tavern coming up over the next several weeks.  The place looks great!

260)   Squires Tavern work party - May 23, 2003
                 Walt investigates some wiring circuits for planned renovation work.  Charlie removes old tape from the stairway.  Dave continues with the upstairs hallway conversion- today he is taping sheet rock.

259)   Squires Tavern work party - May 14, 2003
                 Dave and Charlie continue to work on the upstairs hallway conversion, installing some wood moldings where the two ceiling levels meet.  Walt and Ted install one of the first new lighting fixtures. 

Photo above- Ted Bachman (at right) and Walt Landgraf install one of the first period lighting reproductions at the Squires Tavern.  click on photo to enlarge...use your "back" button to return

258)   Squires Tavern work party - April 23, 2003
                 Walt, Charlie and Ted paint first floor bathroom trim and window sash.  Ted unpacks period lighting fixture replicas that have just arrived.  Dave begins dismantling and upstairs closet that will not be retained in the final floor plan.  Doug installs his custom made fireplace surround in the first floor south bedroom (looks awesome!)
     
Photos- At left, Walt paints window trim in the first floor bathroom.  .  At right, Doug installs the fireplace surround that he has constructed in his workshop.  (Click on photos to enlarge, then hit your "back" button to return here.) 

257)   Squires Tavern work party - April 16, 2003
                 Volunteers work on Historical Society collection storage at the Squires Tavern, including plans for reconfiguring a portion of the upstairs floor plan.

256)   Squires Tavern work party - April 9, 2003
                 Volunteers continue to paint and apply finish to various rooms at the Squires Tavern.  Charlie Lynes is continues painting the bathroom downstairs (second coat) while upstairs, Dave Ravasio puts on a coat of finish on the floor of the former bathroom.  Dave also completed the installation of shelving in the south bedroom upstairs.  Doug Roberts continues to work on the fireplace surround in the south bedroom of the first floor.  Ted Bachman did some much needed work on Squires Tavern files and other paperwork.

255)   Squires Tavern work party - April 2, 2003
                 Volunteers address a variety of tasks- Charlie Lynes applies the primer coat of paint to the first floor bathroom walls.  Doug Roberts takes some measurements of the fireplace in the south bedroom in order to begin the finish phase of the fireplace surround.  Ted Bachman paints all the hinges in the office area with a coat of flat black. 

Photo- Doug Roberts records fireplace measurements in the first floor south bedroom of the Squires Tavern.  Doug will be building a surround for this fireplace. (click on photo to enlarge)

254)   Squires Tavern work party - March 26, 2003
                 Charlie Lynes sands, fill holes and prepares bathroom walls for painting.  Dave Ravasio removes some old pipes (part of the plumbing system no longer needed) and makes repairs to the ceiling and floor in the closet of the archival storage room upstairs.  Doug Roberts works does preliminary work on the first floor south bedroom fireplace surround.

253)   Squires Tavern floors are sanded - February 19, 2003
                 Workers from Farmington Valley Hardwood Floors sand floors in the back office and bathroom and apply a polyurethane finish.

Photo- Hardwood floor in the back office room is sanded (click on photo to enlarge).

252)   Squires Tavern work party - February 12, 2003
                 Volunteers continue boxing in and hiding heating lines on the second floor of the Squires Tavern and finish the last of the painting in the office room.  The office room is expected to be occupied in March 2003.

Photo- Volunteers Dave Ravasio and Ozzie Murphy box in heating lines with pine boards on the second floor of the Squires Tavern near the Ball Room.  Click on photo to enlarge, then hit the "back" button to return to this page. 

251)   Squires Tavern work party - February 5, 2003
                 Volunteers begin work on hiding a portion of the heating lines on the second floor of the Squires Tavern.

250)   Stencil consultant visits - February 5, 2003
                 Historic stencil consultant and conservator Mary Lou Davis visits the Squires Tavern to inspect the wall stencils uncovered in 2002.  Ms. Davis will be assisting the Historical Society in developing an appropriate stencil plan for one or more rooms in the Tavern based on the portions of stenciling uncovered.  

Photo- Stencil expert Mary Lou Davis (left) discusses wall stencils uncovered in the front parlor of the Squires Tavern with Linne Landgraf.   Click on photo to enlarge, then hit "back" button to return here.

249)   Squires Tavern research - February 5, 2003
                 Walt Landgraf continues research work on Bela Squire and the tavern and farm that he owned during the 19th century.  US census records show that that Bela was first on the list of real estate value held by Barkhamsted residents in 1850 and again in 1860.  Census records of 1840 show five free people of color residing at Bela's house.  Walt is communicating with Squire family members and others in an effort to learn more about the Squires Tavern building, property and families who lived there.   

248)   Squires Tavern work party - January 29, 2003
                 Volunteers apply a second coat of off white paint to the walls in the back office room.

247)   Squires Tavern work party - January 22, 2003
                 Volunteers apply a second coat of blue paint to doors, door trim,  baseboard trim, and window trim in the back office room.  More investigation work is done on the original wall stencils.

246)   Squires Tavern work party - January 20, 2003
                 Volunteers Linne Landgraf and Sharon Lynes investigate paint layers in several rooms on the first floor.  They also remove some of the paint covering the original wall stencils in the front parlor.  Dave and Charlie look at each room in the building, recording what work needs to be done.  

245)   Squires Tavern tour - January 18, 2003
                 Walt Landgraf gives a tour of the Squires Tavern to Barkhamsted Cub Scouts and parents.  The visitors learned some of the history of the building and viewed the restoration progress. 

244)   Furniture donation - January 17, 2003
                 Volunteers pick up more office furniture including file cabinets, chairs and a desk donated from Litchfield Bancorp.  Thank-you!

243)   Squires Tavern work party - January 15, 2003
                 Volunteers paint doors, door trim,  baseboard trim, and window trim in the back office room.

Photo- painting doors and trim in the back office room (click to enlarge).

242)   Squires Tavern work party - January 8, 2003
                 Volunteers paint window sash in the back office room.

241)   Squires Tavern work party - January 4, 2003
                 Volunteers continue to prepare the back office room for painting- molding is put up, trim scraped and sanded, nail holes filled.  

240)   Furniture donation - January 2, 2003
                 Volunteers pick up three desks and some shelves that have been donated to the Historical Society by Litchfield Bancorp.  These items will be used in the office room and are a welcome addition.

239)   Squires Tavern work party - December 18, 2002
                 Volunteers work on preparing surfaces for painting in the back office room.  Some of the window sash is painted.  Throughout the week Walt Landgraf, Dave Ravasio and Charlie Lynes continue to do a lot of "behind the scenes" work such as contacting contractors, inspectors, etc.
  
Photo- (click to enlarge) Dave, Charlie and Walt painting and scraping in the back office room.

238)   Meeting with building inspector and fire marshal - December 17, 2002
                 Visits to the Squires Tavern by the building inspector and fire marshal go very well.  They look at plans for the kitchenette and also inspect heating and electrical work. 

237)   Contractor work - Week ending December 16, 2002
                 H&H Heating has completed the first phase of the heating system upgrade.  Cold air returns and grates are all installed.  We now have heat to all areas of the first floor of the building.  

236)   Squires Tavern work party - December 11, 2002
                 Volunteers remove the sheetrock ceiling in the room that will be used for the kitchenette.  Design work on the kitchenette is progressing.  Charlie and Sharon Lynes donate some decorative electric candles which are placed in windows for some Christmas ambiance.  They look sharp at night!  

235)   Squires Tavern work party - December 4, 2002
                 Volunteers plug several holes in the foundation with insulation.  Other work included attaching window jam trim and some cleanup in the "office room".  This room is located in the back of the building and is a current priority to prepare for the Historical Society administration area and office space for the Farmington River Coordinating Committee.  Pat Giglotti of the Farmington Valley Health District visited the Tavern and reviewed the kitchenette plans.  A special committee of volunteers has put in a lot of time designing the kitchenette so that it will be efficient yet unobtrusive.

234)   Squires Tavern work party - November 20, 2002
                 Volunteers remove old heating radiators no longer needed with the updated heating system.  Over the last week, volunteer Mike Ansaldi has worked on the computer network wiring for the building. 

233)   Contractor work - Week ending November 16, 2002
                 H&H Heating has made a lot of progress on the heating system- three air handlers are working, the furnace is rewired, the computer control is installed and three thermostats are operating.  Hot air supply to several rooms is on-line and much progress has been made on the cold air returns and duct work to the new office area.  Sections of the building now have heat, with more rooms to be added soon.  

232)   Contractor work - Week ending November 9, 2002
                 Walt has spent hours in preparation work with contractors and this week all the efforts are coming together.  H&H Heating starts work on the heating system, including duct work and air handler installations.  Morse Electric has installed wiring for thermostats and is wiring in the heating system air handlers.  The two Ed Kostaks continue to install customer iron door hardware on exterior doors.
   
Photo at left- Walt inspects the iron door hardware on one of the new exterior door of the Squires Tavern (click on photo to enlarge).  At right, workers from H&H Heating prepare heating ducts for installation.  

231)   Squires Tavern work party - November 6, 2002
                 Details of the heating system work are reviewed, including the placement of air returns and vents.  Dave continues work on the counter in the upstairs work room.  Volunteers burn brush and remove scrap wood from the yard and Tavern to the burn piles.
  
Photo at left- Walt and other Historical Society volunteers work with H&H Heating to decide on the placement of heating system vents at the Squires Tavern (click on photo to enlarge).  At right, Dave installs oak counter top in what will be the upstairs workroom.

230)   Squires Tavern work party - October 30, 2002
                 Dave does the only real work of the day in the upstairs office room, while "loafers" spend time on a special Historical Society project involving Historical Society by-law revisions.

229)   Squires Tavern work party - October 23, 2002
                 Volunteers work on wall paper removal in a first floor room.  Dave continues work on counters and shelving in the upstairs "office room".  
 
Photo (click photo to enlarge)- Volunteers Charlie Lynes and Dave Ravasio remove wall paper from the first floor north central bedroom.

228)  Squires Tavern committee meeting -  October 22, 2002
                 Sharon Lynes was made an honorary member of the Squires Tavern committee.  Continued work on the Master Development Plan for the Tavern.  Discussed building issues including the upgrade of the heating system and installation of three custom made exterior doors and plans for the kitchenette.

Photo (click photo to enlarge)- Sharon Lynes (center) is presented with an honorary Squires Tavern member certificate by Historical Society president Fred Warner and Squires Tavern Committee Chairwoman Leslie Cosgrove.  

227)   Squires Tavern work party - October 16, 2002
                 Walt got an early start at 8 a.m., meeting with H&H Heating regarding the placement of heating ducts and cold air returns.  Volunteers cleaned up sawdust and wood scraps left by the carpenters, and also worked on the computer network wiring.  Over the last week, volunteer Mike Ansaldi has made a lot of progress on the network wiring and also wiring for the phone system.

226)   Contractor work  - October 15, 2002
                 Work starts on the new septic system for the Squires Tavern which is being installed south of the building.

 225)   Contractor work  - Week ending October 12, 2002
                 Contractor Ed Kostak and Son has completed installation of a door in the back office area (this door will make the office area more accessible.  This doorway was present during the Ullmann family occupation but later removed during State ownership.  Ed also completes trim in the kitchenette and office area and starts working on trim in the bathroom and starts work on two plank doors which will be used on the north and east entrances. Ed also patches an rotted area of the floor in the back parlor using boards from the attic.  Over the last several weeks Walt has done a lot of work with H&H Heating on a proposal to upgrade the heating system of the Tavern.  Walt is also meeting with the septic system contractor hired by the State DEP to install a new septic system for the Squires Tavern.

224)   Town meeting considers STEAP grant - October 9, 2002
                 After a presentation by Historical Society president Fred Warner at a Barkhamsted town meeting, the town voted unanimously to approve the $176,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant.  This is a grant from the State of Connecticut which will be administered by the Town of Barkhamsted for work at the Squires Tavern.

223)   Squires Tavern work party - October 9, 2002
                 Volunteers remove the modern floor in the kitchenette, revealing the original floor, which is brown in color and still in good shape.

222)   Squires Tavern work party - October 2, 2002
                 Volunteers begin working on the walls of the kitchenette, tearing out and removing sheetrock.   

221)   Surprise visitors! - September 26, 2002
                 Descendents of Mary M. Ullmann and Charles Schofield make a surprise visit at the Tavern as they were in the area from Fort Lauderdale, FL.  They had a great tour and have family stories and genealogy to share with us.  They were very happy with the work at the Tavern.

220)   Squires Tavern work party - September 25, 2002
                 Volunteers remove old baseboard heating units from the south upstairs bedroom.  They also clean and paint the interior of the closet near the stairway on the second floor.  This closet will be used for storage.  Sharon, Jan and Linne have volunteered to develop plans relating to the kitchenette and also how to finish off the bathroom downstairs.

219)   Squires Tavern volunteer work - September 23, 2002
                 Dave is finishes the installation of wide pine boards in the upstairs office room.  He also removes old water and heating system pipes that will not be used.

218)   Squires Tavern volunteer work - September 18, 2002
                 Dave is nearly finished with the upstairs "office room" ceiling and walls and is preparing wide pine floor boards for installation.

217)  Squires Tavern committee meeting -  September 17, 2002
                 The main item of discussion was the proposed work that will be done to the heating system which should be installed before the cold months arrive.  Also discussed were the State grants- closing out the ARC grant and learning more about the $176,000 STEAP grant approved in May.  Other issues covered were trim and door work by Ed Kostak, the Master Development Plan and work on the National Register application.  

216)   Squires Tavern volunteer garden work - September 14, 2002
                 Kim McManus whips the period garden into shape, sprucing it up for the fall season.  The garden looks great and is a much appreciated part of the Squires Tavern grounds.

215)   Squires Tavern work party - September 11, 2002
                 Volunteers remove chairs and clean-up after the Historical Society annual meeting held on September 10.  Heating pipes no longer needed in the back parlor were removed.

214)   Squires Tavern work party - September 4, 2002
                 Volunteers remove construction material and a wood stove no longer needed and clean floors.  Flooring for an upstairs room is obtained and Dave will run the boards through his planer to prepare them for installation.  Fred installs hardware on an upstairs bedroom door. 

 213)   Squires Tavern work party - August  28, 2002
                 Volunteers sand interior window trim in preparation for a second coat of paint.  A lock on the north exterior door is replaced.

212)   Squires Tavern work party - August  21, 2002
                 Volunteers install electrical lighting on the front porch and a lock on the front kitchen door.  More modern wallpaper is removed from the kitchenette.  Items are removed from the upstairs and south bedroom is organized.  A reporter and photographer from the Waterbury Republican-American visit to gather information for a story on our progress.

211)   Former DEP worker inspects building - August 13, 2002
            Gus Hoffmann, a retired DEP worker who was based at Peoples Forest visits the Squires Tavern and provides details on the building during the 1950 to 1970's period.

210)   Squires Tavern work party - August 6, 2002
                 Volunteers remove excess plaster from around electrical boxes in several rooms and also clean floors of plaster debris and dust.

209)   Squires Tavern work party - July 31, 2002
                 Volunteers prepare interior trim for painting in the back parlor and apply a primer coat of paint.  Also new exterior clapboards are painted around the back door, which had been enlarged to allow handicapped access.

208)   Squires Tavern work party - July 24, 2002
                 Volunteers finish cleaning up the downstairs rooms and the ballroom upstairs, removing the paper that had been protecting the floors during the plaster work.  The floors are swept and the interior now looks great!

207)   Plaster work starts! - July 17, 2002
                 Over the past several days, plaster contractor Eugene Zordan and Sons have moved in all their supplies.  They have hung the blueboard and have taped the joints.  Today they have continued prep work and have started to plaster- adding the first of two plaster coats to some of the rooms on the first floor of the Tavern.
   
Photos- (click to enlarge) At left, plaster prep work in the ballroom; at right, Eugene Zordan working on the first of two coats of plaster.

206)   Squires Tavern work party - July 17, 2002
                 Volunteers clean up blueboard scraps inside and wood scraps in the back yard, filling a large trailer.  Left over blueboard is moved out of the ballroom and stored in Northeast bedroom

205)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending July 13, 2002
                 Electrical contractor Bob Morse has completed the wiring necessary before the plaster work is started.  Carpenter Ed Kostak and son have finished trim work in the back parlor and have enlarged the exterior door opening to comply with handicapped access requirements.  He has started repair work on some of the back parlor floor boards that have rot from water damaged.

204)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending June 29, 2002
                 Plumbing contractor Clayton Webb has moved the sink to the new kitchen location.  He has also removed a radiator and installed a hot water control valve and a hose connection in the basement. Electrical contractor Bob Morse has finished the thermostat wiring for 3 zones, wiring and switches for the front setting room sconces and finished wiring in the back parlor wiring and most of the front kitchen.

203)  Historic building expert visits Tavern - June 27, 2002
                 Historic building expert John Curtis spends a good part of the day inspecting the Tavern building, addressing a number of issues.  John provides guidance on a section of the front sitting room where apparent evidence of a small liquor locker has been found.  He recommends that the section be restored as the liquor storage and dispensing area.  Also, while many of the walls are still exposed, John provides insight into the mysterious stair access to the second floor, which was unusual for this type of building.

Photo- Historic building expert John Curtis and Walt Landgraf inspect what apparently was the Squires Tavern liquor locker.  (click photo to enlarge)

202)   Squires Tavern work party - June 26, 2002
                 Six volunteers continue prep work required before plastering can be done.  One more small section of sheetrock is removed.  Portions of the bare plaster are primed.  The floors in several rooms are completely covered with paper to protect them from plaster work.  The plaster work is expected to start in about two weeks.

Photo- Prep work before the plastering starts- paper on the floor and priming sections of the wall. (click on photo to enlarge)

201)   Inspection - June 25, 2002
                 Walt shows the fire marshal and building inspector around the Squires Tavern.  Main topic of conversation is the use of the fireplaces.  With some of the modifications already made and others in progress, many of the fireplaces will be usable on a limited scale.

200)   Squires Tavern work party - June 22, 2002
                 Volunteers work hard to prepare walls and ceilings for plaster work.  Layers of paint are scraped and wallpaper is removed.  The difficult task goes fast with the turnout of seven workers.

Photo- Scraping paint and removing wallpaper in the ballroom, second floor of the Squires Tavern (click photo to enlarge).

199)   Squires Tavern work party - June 19, 2002
                 Volunteers continue to scrape paint and remove wallpaper in preparation for wall and ceiling plaster work.  The paint contractor finishes painting the exterior of the building today!  The old building is dressed up well, at least on the outside.  

198)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending June 15, 2002
                 Masonry work by Bill Parsons is completed, including the last brick on the main chimney.  Dave's Painting has finished priming the exterior of the building and finished a good portion of the second coat.

197)   Squires Tavern work party - June 15, 2002
                 Volunteers work on preparations for plastering including scraping ceiling paint, removing wall paper and removing some newly discovered sheetrock.  Later in the day, Walt, Ted and Linne mark locations for interior lights that will be wired in by the electrician.  Note- earlier in the week, volunteer Mike Ansaldi continued work on telephone and computer network wiring to the office room.  

Photo- Walt Landgraf removing the last of the sheetrock in the front parlor (click photo to enlarge).

196)   Former Squires Tavern resident visits - June 14, 2002
                 Warren Whitney, retired DEP ranger and former resident at the Squires Tavern drops by and provides more information on the building.  Warren also provides some old interior photos of the renovation work done by the State DEP during 1969.

195)  Squires Tavern committee meeting -  June 12, 2002
                 The committee continued to work on the overall plan for restoring the Squires Tavern, including the near term priorities.  Some of the priorities are completing work necessary prior to plastering, plastering itself, completing the office room, planning for the archival storage space, completing heating system upgrade, restoring floors, addressing landscape issues, interior painting and establishing an exhibit philosophy.

194)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending June 8, 2002
                 Ed Kostak installs metal studs around the fireplaces in the ell.  These are required by fire code and will support the blueboard and plaster which will be added later in the summer.  Masonry work by Bill Parsons is nearing completion on the main chimney.  He has also completed the "floor" of the back parlor fire place.  Bill Parsons and Walt inspect the furnace chimney, where cracked tile and loose bricks have been discovered.  Walt spent some time with Electrician Bob Morse going over the specs for the final phase of wiring that will be done before the plaster goes up.
        
Photo- Walt Landgraf and Bill Parsons inspect the furnace chimney and find cracked tile and loose brick (click on photo to enlarge).    

193)   Squires Tavern work party - June 5, 2002
                 Volunteers work on preparations for plaster work and also show around visitors from the Hartford Courant.  Earlier in the week, Walt, Fred and Ted journeyed to the Period Lighting Co. in northern Massachusetts to study lighting fixtures that will be appropriate for the Squires Tavern.

192)  Squires Tavern committee meeting -  June 1, 2002
                 Farmington River Coordinating Committee president Pat Keener attends the meeting and announces that FRCC has made a substantial commitment in funding to the Squires Tavern project.  In addition to supporting the restoration, the FRCC will share the office room with the Historical Society.  The two groups start to make progress toward a partnership that will benefit both organizations.  Other issues discussed include a grant application for $25,300 made to the Torrington Area Foundation for Public Giving and work on the Master Development Plan for the tavern.   

191)  MAJOR GRANT approved by Bond Commission! -  May 31, 2002
                 The State Bond Commission approves a $176,000 grant for the restoration project at the Squires Tavern.  This Small Town Economic Assistance grant is the result of a lot of hard work by Squires Tavern committee chairwomen Leslie Cosgrove, town first selectman Mike Fox, State Representative Richard Ferrari and State Senator Tom Herlihy. 

190)   Squires Tavern work party - May 29, 2002
                 Volunteers work on the old upstairs bathroom conversion and also sort through tools donated to the Historical Society.

189)   Paint consultant - May 28, 2002
                 Brian Powell, well known historic paint expert, spends a day at the Squires Tavern.  Walt and Leslie give him a tour of the building, then Brian spends several hours looking at the paint history using a variety of tools and techniques.  Later in the afternoon, Brian spends a couple of hours discussing some of the information revealed by the paint history- for example whether individual doors and windows appear to be original to a specific room, the type of paint used for the stenciling (distemper paint), the number of layers of paint in a given spot and colors of each layer.
 
Photos- Historic paint expert Brian Powell visits the Squires Tavern (click on photos to enlarge) .

188)   Squires Tavern work party - May 25, 2002
                 Volunteers string 1,000 feet of wiring for the computer network that will eventually be installed.  This work is done primarily in the cellar and crawl space.  Dave Ravasio works on some of the last interior trim needed before the plaster work can be done. 

187)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending May 25, 2002
                 Painting starts!  Painters from Dave's Painting begin scraping and priming the exterior of the Squires Tavern on Tuesday, May 21.  In about two weeks the Tavern will look pretty spiffy.  Dave also finishes another group of windows (scraping, glazing and painting).  In addition, Dave has also documented paint analysis work he has done on both exterior and interior samples.  Mason Bill Parsons finishes the chimney work in the ell and also makes good progress on the chimney in the main part of the house.
  
Photos- Painters starting on the front of the Squires Tavern (north side is primed).  Masonry work on the ell chimney. (click on photos to enlarge)

186)   Squires Tavern work party - May 18, 2002
                 Dave Ravasio works in the back kitchen on trim.  Other members work on a financial plan including possible new sources of funding for the Tavern project.

185)   Squires Tavern work party - May 11, 2002
                 Volunteers work on preparations required before the plaster contractor starts work.  Pieces of sheetrock are removed where wall and ceiling meet, more trim boards (door trim and baseboards) are installed and primed with a coat of paint.

184)  Squires Tavern committee meeting - May 8, 2002
                 The committee walks through several of the Tavern rooms, discussing how each room should be finished and used.  This information is documented and will be incorporated into the Master Development Plan  for the project.
 
Photo- Committee members working on the Tavern room plan, May 8, 2002.

183)  Squires Tavern committee meeting - May 4, 2002
                 While painting goes on, the committee meets to discuss finances, retaining an architect consultant and mapping out a comprehensive room by room restoration plan.

182)   Squires Tavern work party - May 4, 2002
                 Interior trim painting continues as volunteers (including four new recruits!) finish several more rooms.  Dave Parsons continues to make progress on the jungle of brush in the back yard.  Walt is back from a well deserved vacation to whip us in shape.

181)   Squires Tavern work party - May 1, 2002
                 Six rooms have raw wood trim recently installed that matches the original window, chair rail and baseboard trim.  This all needs to be primed before the plaster contractor starts work.  Sanding and painting starts today as volunteers finish two of the six rooms.
    
Photo (click to enlarge): Starting to paint-Dave applies the primer coat to the interior trim. 

180)   Squires Tavern work party - April 27, 2002
                 Many of the volunteers are on vacation but Noreen and Ted show up to start prep work (covering nail heads with wood putty) on the raw wood trim so that it can be primed later.

179)   Special event for the Friends of the Tavern - April 20, 2002
                 A special day for the members of the Friends of the Squires Tavern.  Historical Society President Sharon Lynes expresses appreciation for the support of the Friends.  The event included live music, refreshments such as Marlborough pudding (a delicacy enjoyed by early settlers) and a display of photographs covering the history of the building and renovation work.  Walt Landgraf provided a special tour that brought everyone up to date on restoration progress.  State Representative Richard Ferrari was honored for his valuable assistance with lease negotiations and securing grant funds (not in attendance but also honored were State Senator Herlihy and Barkhamsted First Selectman Mike Fox).
  
Photos (click to enlarge)- At left, Historical Society President Sharon Lynes honors Rep. Richard Ferrari for his valuable support of the Squires Tavern project.  At right, Walt Landgraf keeps Tavern Friends members up to date on the restoration progress.

178)   Squires Tavern work party - April 20, 2002
                 Volunteers complete some last minute clean-up in the morning and begin setting up for the special event at the Tavern for the Friends group.  Dave Parsons continues the big job of brush removal in the back yard.

177)   Preliminary inspection by plaster contractor - April 18, 2002
                 Plaster contractor Mike Zordan visits.  Walt Landgraf and Mike cover all the rooms that will have extensive plaster replacement done.  The wall areas have had much of the preparation work already completed (sheetrock removed, etc) over the last few months but Mike points out some additional detail work that will need to be done before he starts work. 

176)   Squires Tavern work party - April 17, 2002
                 Volunteers continue the cleanup effort to make the Squires Tavern presentable for the visit of the Friends of the Squires Tavern on April 20.  More sweeping, vacuuming and hauling away of scrap wood.

175)   Squires Tavern work party - April 13, 2002
                 Volunteers focus on cleanup work in preparation for the Friends of the Squires Tavern event scheduled for April 20.  Workers clean floors, wash windows and spruce up rooms from the attic to the cellar.  Dave Parsons continues to make progress cutting brush and pruning trees in the back yard.

174)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending April 13, 2002
                 Carpenter Ed Kostak and son have finished both the north and south hatchways (except for some small details).  They have completed the interior window and door trim in the rooms that will have plaster work later in the year.  Also completed is a custom made 36 inch interior door needed for handicapped access to the bathroom.  This door matches the unusual five panel configuration of many of the other doors in the building.  Dave Mercer, the painting contractor, continues to prime the inside portion of the windows, repairing as needed. 

173)   Squires Tavern work party - April 10, 2002
                 Volunteers cleanup the grounds on the south side of the building, concentrating on the area around the hatchway.  Leftover stones from the hatchway construction are removed and the area re-graded.  Also, sub-flooring is installed in the previous upstairs bathroom.  Work is started on installing computer and phone lines, taking advantage of the access to walls before plastering is done later in the year.   

172)   Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending April 6, 2002
                 Carpenter Ed Kostak and son continue to add trim to several rooms downstairs including chair rail, window trim and door trim.  This trim is identical to the original trim, pieces of which can still be found in some locations of the building.  Stone mason Mike Hoffnagle finishes the stone work for the south cellar hatchway/bulkhead (photo below-click it to enlarge).  Thanks to Mike for donating much of his time for this work.
 
Photo- Mike Hoffnagle working on the stone side walls of the cellar hatchway/bulkhead.

171)   Squires Tavern work party - April 6, 2002
                 Volunteers continue the clean-up of several rooms by removing wood scraps and building debris.  Floors are swept and vacuumed.  Dave Ravasio replaced sub-flooring in the former upstairs bathroom to close holes in the floor from where fixtures were removed.  Dave Parsons, today assisted by Kevin and Joan Banach, continues to improve the appearance of the backyard area, cutting brush and removing dead trees.

170)   Squires Tavern work party - April 3, 2002
                 Volunteers remove scrap wood and metal and begin to clean up some of the rooms in the Tavern.  Upstairs bathroom fixtures that had be disconnected earlier are removed from the building. 

169)  Squires Tavern committee meeting - March 30, 2002
                 Major issues discussed include finances, work in progress and in the pipeline and a review of qualifications of an architect and a historic paint analyst.  A representative from SCASCO gives a presentation on a new kind of heating system appropriate for a historic house. Plans for the Friends of the Tavern event on April 20 are discussed.   

168)   Squires Tavern work party - March 23, 2002
                 Volunteers remove old plaster from a wall in the south first floor bedroom.  Sheetrock and tile from the upstairs bathroom is removed and the bathroom fixtures are removed.

167)  Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending March 23, 2002
                 Carpenter Ed Kostak and son replicate the chair rail and window trim in the ball room on the second floor.  Electrician Bob Morse completes a lot of work to the wiring system including the removal of fixtures that will not be used, the removal of some circuits and other wiring that is no longer needed, moving receptacles to more appropriate locations, correcting some problems with the panel.

166)   Squires Tavern work party - March 20, 2002
                 Volunteers remove the modern linoleum floor in the back parlor, then remove the oak flooring beneath that.  This exposes a wide pine board floor that if not original to the building, must have been a fairly early floor.  A piece of newspaper was found under the floor and later it was determined to be from October 1932.  Click on the photos below to enlarge them.
    
Photos- at left, volunteer workers remove a modern floor in the back parlor; Walt pointing out details of the old pine floor.

165)   Squires Tavern work party - March 16, 2002
                 Volunteers cut brush in the back yard, construct a floor in the overhead space of the woodshed (for storage space), cleanup scrap wood and remove wallpaper samples (to preserve) from the first floor south bedroom.  Measurements were taken in several rooms so that the floor plan drawing can be updated to reflect recent changes such as the removal of some walls.

Photo - Removing wallpapers samples for preservation- first floor front bedroom (click on photo to enlarge).

164)   Squires Tavern work party - March 13, 2002
                 Volunteers cut brush from the grounds of the Squires Tavern.  A wall is removed next to the front parlor fireplace to re-establish that portion of the parlor's original floor plan.  Ted continues his room description (dimensions, trim etc) cataloging.  A clean-up of the woodshed is started.  Some electrical outlets are removed in the wall between the parlor and in new bathroom.   

163)  Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending March 9, 2002
                 Carpenter Ed Kostak and son continue to make progress on replacing exterior trim boards.  Painter Dave Mercer has finished more windows and has taken another group of windows to sand and prime inside surfaces (and repair if needed).  Electrical contractor Bob Morse has visited the Tavern to look at the wiring.  Heating system experts from SCASCO have visited and our working on a proposal for heating system upgrades.

162)  Squires Tavern committee meeting - March 9, 2002
                 Major issues discussed included planning for upcoming work that should be done before the plaster is applied.  This includes wiring and heating system work.  More research work is planned including visits to area taverns, input from area museums and a visit to a local blacksmith shop (Bela Squires operated a blacksmith shop adjacent to the Squires Tavern).  Fiscal controls were reviewed. 

161)   Squires Tavern work party - March 6, 2002
                 A good crew of volunteers was again on hand for sheetrock removal in the front parlor.  Evidence of a chair rail was found, one similar to the chair rail in the ball room.  Also, as recommended by our historic house consultant, wood trim, book shelves and mantel were removed from the fireplace in the front parlor.  These are "recent" additions that were probably added by the State DEP.  During this work, more evidence of wall stencils were found, although the pieces of color are very small and feint.  No clear pattern can be discerned at this time.  The flooring in the former first floor bathroom was removed. 

160)   Squires Tavern work party - March 2, 2002
                 Volunteers finished removing sheetrock from the ballroom.  Large amounts of debris are removed from the building and grounds and loaded onto a truck and a trailer to be hauled away.  Sheetrock is removed from the back parlor on the first floor. (click on photos below to enlarge)
 
Photos - Large turnout of volunteers!  Removing sheetrock from the ballroom.

159)  Squires Tavern contractor work - week ending March 1, 2002
                 Plumber Clayton Webb has finished installing a toilet in what will be the new bathroom.  He has roughed in much of vent and waste systems needed for the bathroom and small kitchen area.  Painter Dave Mercier has finished painting and reglazing four windows and has picked up four more to do.   Ed Kostak has installed exterior trim and replaced some clapboards on the front of the main part of the building.  This includes corner trim and water table boards.  Over the past week, volunteer Dave Ravasio has primed these trim boards before they were installed and is also priming additional trim boards which will go up shortly. 

158)   Stencil expert visits the Tavern - March 1, 2002
                 Historic stencil expert Polly Forcier from Vermont views the old wall stencils found at the Tavern.  She agrees that these stencils are the work of an itinerant whose work has been discovered and documented in Massachusetts and New York.  Besides providing historical information she also offers guidance and tools to recreate these wall stencils. (click on photos below to enlarge)
  
Photos- Fred Warner and stencil expert Polly Forcier viewing old wall stencils.  Polly demonstrating stenciling.

157)   Squires Tavern work party - February 27, 2002
                 Volunteers finished removing sheetrock from the downstairs south bedroom and the former downstairs bathroom.  Work starts on removing sheetrock from the ballroom upstairs. 

 156)  Squires Tavern work party - February 20, 2002
                 Volunteers continue to remove sheetrock and also primed exterior trim boards which will be installed soon.  Photo documentation of early wall stencils from another Barkhamsted tavern are analyzed and found to be done by the same itinerant that did the stenciling in the Squires Tavern.

155)  Squires Tavern committee meeting - February 16, 2002
                 Major issues discussed: bathroom fixtures, joining museum associations such as the New England Museum Association, continuing to gather input for the Development Plan and seeking proposals from architects for consulting work on Squires Tavern issues.  A consultant on historic stencils has been contacted and will be visiting the Tavern on March 1.

 154)  Input on Squires Tavern issues - February 15, 2002
                 Leslie Cosgrove has been and will be contacting area Historical Societies and museums for input on general issues relating to the Squires Tavern including recommendations on expert consultants and restoration experiences they may have had.

153)  Squires Tavern work party - February 13, 2002
                 Volunteers continue to remove sheetrock from the walls of the front kitchen and start removing sheetrock from the south front bedroom.  Fred Warner traces old stencil patterns uncovered earlier in the year.  Dave and Fred visit a plumbing supply outlet to get information on bathroom fixtures.  Lumber has arrived for the exterior corner board and water table trim. 

152)  Squires Tavern work party - February 6, 2002
                 Volunteers begin removing sheetrock from the outside walls of the front kitchen.  These walls will eventually be plastered.

151)  Squires Tavern work party - January 30, 2002
                 Volunteers take down and remove plaster in a wall of a closet of the front kitchen.  Also planning work for the proposed bathroom is done, along with the removal of a door and door trim in the pantry area that will become the new bathroom.

150)  Squires Tavern committee meeting - January 26, 2002
                 Major issues discussed: doing historic paint analysis at different areas in the Squires Tavern, work on the survey results for the Master Development Plan, issues relating to financial grants, priority work to be done on the building and recommendations coming out of visit by historic building expert John Curtis.  Noreen Watson replaces Paul Hart as leader of the Squires Tavern Friends group. 

149)  Squires Tavern work party - January 23, 2002
                 Volunteers photograph and record details of a bedroom partition and closet wall and then begin the process of removing them.  This opens up the original ballroom, a very important room of the Tavern.  It was hoped that the removal of the partition would yield more evidence of early wall stencil, but no such evidence is found.  Ted Bachman records details (dimensions, room trim etc.) not only of the removed walls but of the entire ball room.  (click on photos below to enlarge) 
 
Photos- starting to remove partition dividing the ballroom, Walt and Ted remove the last stud of the closet wall.

148)  Squires Tavern work party - January 19, 2002
                 Walt and Dave remove windows from the back ell and former bathroom area so that painter Dave Mercier can putty and prime them, and apply a finish coat of paint to the exterior wood surfaces.  It is hoped that by the end of the winter, all windows will receive this treatment.  Also, town building inspector Mike LaRosa is providing assistance with handicapped access issues at the Squires Tavern. 

147)  Master Development Plan survey distributed - January 19, 2002
                 Leslie Cosgrove distributes a survey to be completed by Squires Tavern committee members for the purpose of gathering input for the Master Development Plan for the project.

146)  Local tavern research - January 19, 2002
                 Squires Tavern committee members visit another local residence which was formerly a tavern at Barkhamsted Center.  The building is now owned by the MDC.  Details of the interior are studied and recorded in order to help in the understanding of the Squires Tavern. 

145)  Paint analysis contractors - January 17, 2002
                 Leslie Cosgrove researches contractors who are experts in analyzing paint in historic buildings.  The information is compiled and distributed to committee members. 

144)  Historic building expert visits Tavern - January 17, 2002
                 Historic building expert John Curtis spends four hours inspecting the Squires Tavern and provides advice on several areas including how best to proceed with replacing sheetrock with plaster, paint analysis, the possible original floor plan of the tavern, stair ways, possible use of rooms and the treatment we might want to consider.  He is very excited about the discovery of the old wall stencils and concurs that these stencils were probably on all the walls of the front parlor.

143)  Local tavern research - January 12, 2002
                 Ted Bachman compiles photos and information on a local residence that was formerly the Merrill Tavern in Barkhamsted Center.  Information on room size and layout and interior trim details will assist in understanding details of the Squires Tavern.

142)  Plaster contractor surveys Tavern - January 12, 2002
                 Mike Zordan of Torrington Plasters inspects the building and provides information on plaster work.  The Tavern has sheetrock on many of the walls and it is our hope that the sheetrock can be replaced with plaster.  Mike gives information covering many options to complete this task.  Other contractor work completed during the week: mason Bill Parsons has just about finished work on the front parlor fireplace.  Clayton Webb has hot water to the temporary kitchen sink.  SCASCO is gathering information necessary to compose a heating needs study.  Ed Kostak and Clayton Web provide advice on how to design the new bathroom.

141)  Connecticut Historic Commission expert visits - January 11, 2002
                 Paul Loether of the Connecticut Historic Commission visits the Squires Tavern and is given a tour of the building by Walt Landgraf.  He offers insight on the date of many of the rooms and after inspecting the exterior features, concurs with the 1795 estimate for the main part of the building.  Paul suggest that the interior trim of the building be documented.  He provides suggestions and information on a variety of other issues including formalizing a master plan and issues with the National Register of Historic Places. 

140)  Squires Tavern work party - January 9, 2002
                 Volunteers burn the brush pile that has accumulated from clearing the back yard over the past couple of months.  Work was also done in the south downstai