Major construction has ended at Glenmont, the Edison home at the Edison National Historic Site. In its wake, it has left major unpacking, sorting, cataloging, and cleaning chores.

After the completion of the major renovation and conservation work at Glenmont, Edison National Historic Site staffers have moved in with specialized cleaning tools in hand.

Although extraordinary efforts were made to reduce the impact of construction on the Edison home, those efforts could not totally control the inevitable dust and dirt, and those procedures themselves required the dislocation of furniture, artwork, and other artifacts.

Part of the precautions taken at Glenmont included barriers of plywood and plastic sheeting that protected the contents of the house.

Edison National Historic Site staff and interns have begun the massive job of putting the Glenmont collection back on display. The preparation includes locating artifacts and returning them to their proper location within the mansion.

The work also requires careful cleaning using specialized techniques and tools. Everyone involved with the project has received training on the cleaning and preservation methods before taking up gloves, brushes, vacuums, and cotton swaps.

Edison National Historic Site interns Sharon Robinson (left) and Mary Masilamani (right) carefully vacuum a book from the Glenmont collection.

Glenmont Curator Beth Miller carefully dusts a lamp in portion of Glenmont once used as a private area by the Edison family.

Two of the rooms on the first floor of the house will receive special attention from a team of NPS conservators. Over the years of occupancy and public view, air contaminants have dulled the walls and wall coverings at Glenmont.

NPS specialists have evaluated the situation and have chosen the Pedder Library and the Reception Hall as two public spaces that could most benefit from more aggressive cleaning methods. Their work will begin in Fall 2004 with an end of the year completion target. The adjoining photograph shows a test swath that indicates the expected improvement.