Restoration of the Weir House & Studios

The Weir House gets a new roof (April 2012).

National Park Service

 

Restoration of the Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio

The historic Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio are in the midst of a four-phase restoration project. The last artist to live on the property, Sperry Andrews, occupied the Weir House and used both studios until his death in 2005. This will be the first time that these historic structures have been restored. With a target completion date of late 2013, these buildings will soon be fully-furnished and open to the public for regular tours.

Even though these three structures remain closed to the public, there is still plenty to see and do in the park. Check out the Things to Do and Event Calendar for all the exciting activities available!

Curious about the on-going restoration work? Below, you can find a breakdown of the various phases of the project. Check back often for updates!

 

Heating systems in the basement of the Weir House.

National Park Service

Phase I: Systems

Phase I - COMPLETE

- Installation of a new fire detection/suppression system, including twelve 3,800 gallon water tanks placed in the Weir House basement.

- Installation of a new heating system that utilizes biofuels and includes energy-saving features like a warm weather shut-off mechanism. 

- Upgraded plumbing and electrical systems.

 

The Weir Studio, constructed in 1885.

National Park Servce

Phase II: Exteriors

Phase II - In Progress

- The roofs of the Weir House, Weir Studio, and the Young Studio will all be re-shingled. [COMPLETE]

-The siding on the Weir Studio and the Young Studio will be repaired and painted. [COMPLETE]

- An accessible path will be installed connecting the Weir House to the Burlingham House Visitor Center. [COMPLETE]

- The Weir House porch will be repaired and an accessible ramp will be added.

- The siding on the Weir House will be repaired and painted. 

- Windows will be repaired and given UV protection. The original shutters of the Weir House will be reinstalled.

 

Window on the first floor of the Weir House.

National Park Service

Phase III: Interiors

Phase III: IN PROGRESS

- Paint tests will be done on the Weir Studio ceiling to determine its original color. [COMPLETE]

- The wallpaper in the living room and downstairs bedroom of the Weir House will be reproduced and installed based on original samples.

- Paint tests will be done on the Weir House kitchen, dining room, and pantry walls to determine their original colors.

- The plaster ceilings will be repaired in the Weir House.

- A discrete humidity control system will be put in place, without the need for a large air-conditioning system which could have impeded views of Weir's painting sites.

- Loose objects (doorknobs, lights, etc.) will be re-installed in their original fixtures.

 

Some of the larger original pieces of furniture are being restored on-site.

National Park Service

Phase IV: Furnishings

Phase IV: IN PROGRESS

- Furnishings will be removed from all three structures for analysis and conservation. [COMPLETE]

- Furnishings will be conserved for their safety during future exhibition and storage. Most iterms will be conserved at the National Park Service Museum Services Center in Lowell, Massachusetts and the Harpers Ferry Center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Some of the larger objects will be conserved on-site.

- Historic furnishings that cannot be located or are too fragile to be on display will be reproduced. For example, the wicker furniture that originally adorned the Weir House porch is in disrepair. Reproduction wicker furniture are currently in storage and will be placed on the porch before the restoration is complete.

- The Weir House, Weir Studio and Young Studio will be refurnished. The Weir House will be refurnished according to the Weir House Historic Furnishings Report.

 

This William Morris style wallpaper in the St. Esprit pattern will be installed in the first floor bedroom of the Weir House.