Vinery Greenhouse Conservation Pilot Project III: Brick, Metal and Wood Components

One of the three brick types identified

One of the challenges of active conservation work is that lay persons often want to see the finished project pristine, shiny and like new. That is not the case with conservation. The object is to preserve and one of the things that we set out to do at the outset of the pilot project was to salvage as much reusable material from the original Vinery as plausible for reuse. As the contractors from Faber Solariums began taking the greenhouse apart, all salvaged material was returned to the shop for review and assessment.

Bricks
As the disassembly progressed approx. +/- 300 bricks from the Vinery were deemed salvageable. While cleaning and assessing the condition of the bricks, 3 different types, of similar colour and texture, were identified during the process.

ERA Architects, Parkwood, and contractors met to discuss the selection of the replacement bricks, along with the use of the reclaimed bricks in the Vinery for preservation, as well as interpretive purposes

Experimenting with lime wash removal

Some experimental cleaning of the painted masonry surfaces has been underway over the last little while. This is because we have identified what looks to be a lime wash on some of the surfaces. Experimentation is underway because we are wary of physically damaging masonry with aggressive chemical or heavy friction applications to remove. In the past, Parkwood NHS has experienced the negative attributes of abrasive paint removal processes on historic surfaces, and we are carefully watching our intervention with regards to the Vinery project.

Metals
For the most part, the metals were in stable condition, showing wear and tear in the expected areas. For example the sills, and gutter drains were weak or broken between the bolt holes and the ends. In the case of the sills, they will be used, with the ends that are damaged being repaired with a 4mm sill plate used to match the historic profile of the original. As a modern intervention, during the installation, a non visible application of blueskin™ (rubberised asphalt compound membrane) will be added between the sill and the wall.
Items like sill brackets, eaves plates, collar ties, rafter end ties were in decent condition, with some  broken or others missing completely, etc. Reclaimed items from other sites, all approved, some even being labelled, Lord& Burnham, will be used in the rebuild.

While cleaning the flashing lips, a combination of copper, aluminium and galvanised ones were salvaged. During the cleaning process, we were able to identify a few of the steel elements that had been "blued" historically, as a rust prevention measure. These identified "blued" pieces were not blasted to preserve the technique, and a section of the bluing will be visible for interpretive content of the finished Vinery.

Gable rafter curve (Upper)

Woods
The wooden components have been deemed quite stable. In some areas, the historic pieces will have a consolidant applied, to fill holes, etc., but the anticipated rot, and areas of loss etc. associated with the age and condition of the Vinery has not been a concern.
Stay tuned as the process of rebuilding the Vinery is  documented and although not shiny and new, the initial work and foundation wall construction is looking  stunning.

Thank you to Sydney Martin E.R.A. Architects Inc. for the use of her photography.

Curious Curator: The Ontario Reader

Among the books within our book collection is the Ontario Reader, Third Reader, from 1885. Like many of the books within Parkwood it sits on the shelf, dark yellow fabric binding, pages showing signs of foxing (age related spots on vintage paper) and just being. As I peruse the shelves and check condition stability, its existence and purpose at Parkwood, in my mind, is likely due to Adelaide McLaughlin having been a teacher when she met Sam. Last week I decided to look a little bit further into the book. Well, to be honest, I was intrigued by what was curriculum of a Third Reader, (Grade 3) in 1885 and chuckled at some of the language and statements in the preface.


ALM third from left back row Teacher Sinclair PS,
 Whitby
Compliments Whitby Archives

This little book among the thousands in the Estate has an interesting history of its own, one of political arguing, national newspaper editorials, and its existence led to the advent of the Ontario Booksellers' Association.

The idea behind the creation of the Ontario Reader, was the Ministry of Education had desired the Ontario Reader series "become the sole authorised readers for use in the public schools." Furthermore, the Ministry assigned their publication to three publishers, granting exclusive rights, and a fixed price point, for purchase, of 30 cents per book. The Ministry was keen on this agreement, "because the contract gave them the right to inspect finished samples and to reject faulty work, the printing plates were kept the property of the Ministry and the Minister of Education, George Ross, reserved for himself strict control of the content and composition of the readers."

This new Ontario Reader program moved away from the public tenders and open competition for publication which had been the previous norm.
As one can imagine the independent book sellers were annoyed by this change in 1885, seeing that the process "could place them in a situation of perpetual disadvantage in dealings with the publishers." In January 1885, over 700 booksellers arrived in Toronto to "protest the government handling of the textbook issue, and to voice an united objection to the creation of a publishing combine with essentially monopolistic interests in the Ontario Readers, forming the Ontario Booksellers' Association."

Who knew when I picked up this book that it had such an intriguing history in terms of Ontario curriculum development, but also Ontario business history?

Want to learn more? My sources on the matter are Balancing the Books: Brokerage Politics and The Ontario Reader Question by Oisin Patrick Rafferty

and

Liberty of Trade from the Thraldom of the Autocrats: Provision of School Textbooks in Ontario, 1850-1909 by Penney Clark

 

 

 

 

Curious Curator: Weather Forecasting Instruments

vintage desk/mantle piece c.1960

Behind the heavy velvet draperies or hidden in the nooks and crannies throughout the Estate is a collection of artefact instruments to forecast and calculate the weather.

Temperature and humidity are important to me, today, from a curatorial perspective in terms of a preservation measure, and I have added to the collection of recording tools, including modern hygrothermagraphs, humidity test strips, etc., but within our artefact collection, the Estate boasts a dozen devices for recording environmental information.

Humidity indicator strips

I have no idea if weather knowledge was a fascination of the family; if the items were just practical in nature; if the purpose for thermometers and barometers were a era specific preservation technique for house health or if the items were novel gifts and therefore put to use recording the daily life and routines of weather at Parkwood. Regardless of their purpose beyond recording devices, they are an interesting item, that are rarely observed by the visiting public.

The Aneroid Barometer was made for the B & H.B. Kent Company, Toronto between 1895-1900 by Short and Mason, London U.K. I have always wondered if the McLaughlin's brought this piece with them to Parkwood in 1917 from their first Oshawa home, or if this was acquired as an "antique" later on. The barometer is composed of enamel and red brass and is in the captain style design. Note the moon and arrow indicator hands, perfect for a family with the sea and nautical traditions in their blood.



In the Library, resides this interesting Art Deco piece from the Luxor Company of New York for recording outdoor temperatures. Attached to the wall, the instrument came with 15 feet of tubing which runs parallel to the side of one of the French Doors and out to the exterior of the house. The workings within the piece are designed and built by Boyce MotoMeter, and is called a "distance type movement".                                                                   

 The "Cyclo-Stormograph" c.1920 was used to predict storms including potential tornadoes in the area. This piece comes with its own mahogany carrying case, from the Short and Mason Company. The display case is made from mahogany and bevelled glass.
The intricate simplicity of this piece is what makes it so interesting. The barometer plate itself changes shape with the rising pressure. As it changes the thin bar moves and makes the arm go up and down accordingly. The cylinder spins and the changes are recorded. The "pen" on this is more of a trough that comes to a point marking the 7 day clock drum.There is a small ink well on the back right corner which holds the ink for marking.  Below is the card which is located within the carrying case, indicating how to read the recordings. Better yet, from the curatorial perspective, is the next photograph with the handwritten notation  found on the reverse side of the card on where the family could purchase supplies, including more ink, for the stormograph in the future, reading Taylor Instruments Co., 180 Church St, Toronto.