Putting The Bits Back. Drum Roll…Please!
In 2014, not long after I purchased the Cross House, I discovered that a stained-glass window had gone missing. I was shocked, as all the stained-glass seemed intact (although in perilous condition).
I detailed the missing window in this post, and knew that I would eventually recreate the lost window and return it to its original location.
Well…that day has come.
The tall opening to the left was originally a window just like the pair of windows to the right. However, it would have had a different pattern for the stained-glass transom. The tall opening was created when the adjacent sun porch was enclosed and turned into a closet.
And…today. The lost stained-glass is back. A temporary door infills below. In 2021, I will order a steel window, exactly matching the adjacent wood sashes, but the steel window, while LOOKING like a double sash window, will actually be a door. This door will not go to the floor, but only to the height of the recreated sill. Again, it will LOOK exactly like a double-sash wood window, while functioning as a door. I know, clever!
Squee!!!!!!!!
The sewing room, looking south, with its balance of FOUR stained-glass windows recreated: east, south, and west.
Looking to the west window (right). The east window will look just like this when all the work is complete.
The west window. The architect of the house, Charles Squires, designed all the stained-glass in the Cross House, and he liked matched pairs, as evidenced throughout the house. As such, it seems likely that the lost window exactly matched this window.
The original west window, right, and its brand new twin, left. This THRILLS me.
The south pair looks like this. All 43 stained-glass windows in the house were restored as part of two Kansas Heritage Trust Fund grants. My appreciation is massive.
One of my absolute favorite things about restoring an old house is bringing back the lost bits. All old houses lose bits over time, but such a loss erodes a house.
Since 2014, I have recreated:
- lost porch columns and lost column capitals.
- the porch railings.
- lost porch lattice.
- the diamond sashes to the west dormer window.
- the multi-paned sashes to the north gable.
- the lost octagon tower finial.
- the original cabinet configuration, south wall, in the butler’s pantry.
- the partly destroyed bump-out in the south hall, first-floor.
- broken wheels to all the pocket doors.
- the lost door to the Sewing Room bath.
- the original expansive size of the main stair, which had been reduced in size by half in 1929.
- lost picture rail for parlor and stairhall niche. In time, all such trim will be reinstated.
- the five metal medallions under the north exterior “brooch”.
- the east window in the dining room, which had been converted to a door. Its stained-glass transom was thus covered over for five decades.
- the second-floor sun porch, which had been enclosed. Its original flooring height was also recreated.
- the only stained-glass window to have gone missing!
In addition; I have:
- relentlessly tracked down the lost west screen doors. These have been restored and will be reinstalled in 2021.
- returned the swinging door between the kitchen/butler’s pantry to its original location.
- brought back to the house the original main pantry door.
- returned the south entry door to its original location
- the lost and highly damaged door to the Octagon Bedroom bathroom was brought back to the house and extensively restored.
- tracked down missing hardware for interior doors and window sashes. There are still pulls missing for the latter.
- discovered the locations of all the missing gas/electric sconces. Slowly, such sconces are being installed in these locations.
- the four original mouthpieces for the speaking tubes were long gone. I now have four awaiting installation.
- brought the radiator system back to full use. The system had been damaged over time with burst pipes, and broken radiators.
- ascertained the original color of the kitchen, and the original finish of its wood trim. All this will be recreated.
- installed downspouts!
Still to do:
- recreate the lost dumb-waiter.
- recreate the party missing clothes chute.
- recreate the lost annunciator, and install call bells in every room. Only the dining room retains an original call bell.
- recreate the lost bits to the main stair.
- recreate the lost east porch stair, and lost south porch stair.
- recreate all the remaining lost porch lattice.
- reinstall a telephone in the telephone closet!
- when the roof was redone circa-1930, some of its decorative bits were removed along the ridges. I plan to reinstate such bits.
- it does not appear that the house ever had a full set of screen windows. The window trim was designed to allow for “half” screens, meaning that only the bottom sash would have had a screen. I plan to have at least one such screen recreated.
- recreate the lost bits of Lincrusta.
- recreate the lost, tall wainscoting of the second-floor bath.
- restore all the porcelain geometric tile floors in the three entry vestibules, power room, and second-floor bath.
In a word?
SQUEE!!!!!!!!
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Bravo! Several more days to go before the year ends and… you continue to finish tasks! What a great finish for the year 2020!
Thank you too, to the Heritage Trust Fund -Kansas Historical Society, Ross MacTaggart and supporters.
“SQUEEE!!!!” 😄
It’s all so excellent.
I’m going to have to go back in time on the blog…bcz
How goes the kitchen?
Are the fireplaces gas?
Are the electric switches still in tact?..ooou, they have such a pleasing sound and feel the old bakelite switches.
Does it have a basement?
Gosh, do you have time to plan furnishings yet?
Vegetable, herb, and flower gardens?
Iron fencing, gates, rock walls?
…is there room for a pool, ahhhh,
This is exciting, ya.
Hi Ross,
This looks fantastic. What a wonderful way to end what has been a strange and unnerving year.
In your original posting you planned to sit on the porch and toast with a glass of wine. Given that New Year’s Eve is almost upon us, I think it’s time to pour a glass and get comfy on the porch as you survey all your achievements for the year.
Colin
Amazing work Ross! Love these updates. Those windows are gorgeous, you must be sleeping so well knowing all 43 stained glass windows are home. I know I would!
Yummy windows!!! My room is looking super duper!!! Lol!! I love making lists and especially checking off what is done, and you should get great pleasure in seeing many items ( and many were BIG ticket items!!) checked off yours! Hats off to you, my boy, for all of your hard work and meticulous attention to detail!!
What is your plan for winter work on the house? And how is the remodel going in your present abode?
You give us so much and then I just ask for more!!😬😉
Wow. I am so happy to see the bits returning where they belong! The Cross House is so fortunate to have a dedicated and tenacious caretaker. You are working miracles here, a Baby Step (TM) at a time.
When you see all the lost bits that you’ve restored, it’s kind of overwhelming. I think each of us probably has a bit we are particularly looking forward to seeing restored. Mine is the porch lattice. Here’s to a productive new year, with time for wine between projects.
You know Ross,,,,hummmm, you should do a YouTube time-lapse of the construction story. It’d earn for the restoration funds for you.
Your 1st video could be a walk thru of the home. You could edit in or spread out photos on the floor and video-walk through the narrative too, ya.
People are chomping up restoration of homes. You’d get better with time on editing and music for effect on parts. People come up with opening themes songs and eveything.
Showing people how to restore/build a stained glass window would probably go viral!
Oh, oh, show us your wallpapering…actually everything. The refurbishing process teaches!
Uploads of 5-15 minutes in length are sweet spot viewers.
And too open an Account for “Coffee for Ross on Break” or “Ross’ Coffee Break” for $5. People will buy you coffees.
Here are a couple examples:
https://youtu.be/HfPQ2i_ay4U
https://youtu.be/6FynDuaMAw0
https://youtu.be/5suwxXyRsJs
https://youtu.be/14PnylZU8Pw
https://youtu.be/IAeJnI1EENI
I’m telling you, you could bake cookies, plant flowers, and your followers are going to watch.
Much love,
-m
Excellent suggestion, Mary Bryan!
Also, Ross’ solution to make the steel door to the sun porch appear like a double sash window is brilliant: the door will blend in with the current windows yet provide ease of access (by being a door) and security (steel). Applause!
Functional art! This project is going to be fun. Hey Ross, when you film put your phone in landscape mode. It’ll most likely be series for your vlog.
Ross, your to do list is actually pretty doable. For the enormity of the house it’s whittling down. Very well done! Can’t wait to see more in 2021!
I forgot all about the speaking tubes! That’s actually how I found this wonderful blog, I went down an internet rabbit hole about them. I’m so glad it did, because you and the Cross House have been such a bright spot in these dumpster fire times we lived through.
I know, can you believe it? And the telephone booth…it’s like the Cross family being updated with the newest iPhone as soon as it comes out.
Not at all sure what Mrs. Cross would say about the party missing clothes…or your plans to recreate it! LOL
Looking forward to seeing what 2021 brings good for you and your house!
Well, well, well Ross! I did a marathon reading of your blog and caught up to this post! So exciting (except for the inching along of the shingles, that was painful)!! Yes! I can’t believe the wallpaper choices you’re going with but I wouldn’t claim to be a decorator so what do I know? I’m sure it’s going to look magnificent once you’re done and you’ll love it which is all that matters. You should feel so proud of yourself for having so much love and energy for this project after such a long time! Your energy and enthusiasm seems to be building as you complete each task. So sweet. I look forward to following your blog from here on in and won’t offer ANY decorating advice! Ha! This is going to be fun. Keep your chin up and don’t ever feel lonely. We’re all here cheering you on!
Merry Christmas Ross and Happy New Year!
We can’t forget the things needed to be done for Ross to move in either. Like cat fence and stuff, there is a post about it a while back.
This is beyond exciting . . . this is stupendous!
They really did a stellar job on the replica window! I’m giving them a standing O for that!! You’re lucky to have such talent nearby and accessible!