Archive for the ‘Stuff I Find In the Attic’ Category

Wren’s Nest Conservation Project — Fixing Historic Windows

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I was reading this post on historic window repair from Villa Finale, a National Trust Historic Site in Texas, and it reminded me that I hadn’t shared anything about our own window conservation.

Most of the windows in the Wren’s Nest are original.  There’s one, however, that’s been boarded up for as long as I’ve been here.

The window is at the top of the stairwell, but it isn’t within easy reach at the top of the stairs.  The best way to get to it is actually through the secret hatch in the roof.  We’re keen on hatches.

I wanted to make sure we repaired the window as accurately as possible, but I didn’t know who to call.

That is, not until I met Tom Bretherton at the Decatur Old House Fair.  Tom kicks it so old school that he spells it ‘ye olde school’ and nobody laughs, not even the English majors.  He’s meticulous about historic preservation, and to be honest many of the details of what he did went way over my head.

Very basically, Tom removed and repaired the sash.  Then he reinstalled it, replacing a few rotten parts.

He even busted out his sewing kit.  Tom was explaining what he was doing exactly, but then the doorbell started ringing and I had to fetch it.  My guess is: sewing the rope to the rope.

When I came back we had a new window!

The glass isn’t original the to the Wren’s Nest, but it is contemporary to our glass.  There are striations and bubbles and everything.

Before and After Pictures from Our Previous Restoration

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Lately, I’ve been busy planning our latest restoration efforts–fundraising, researching, meeting with experts, consolidating budgets, and looking through old plans.

I’ve come to find out just how lucky I am. The Wren’s Nest is in decent shape thanks to our last restoration that occurred between 1985 and 1992.

Here’s what the house looked like before–

And here’s what it looked like last spring from a kind of similar angle–

(Note: the stairs are wider now, as they were in Joel Chandler Harris’ day)

Part of my job has included sifting through big boxes filled with pictures, plans, receipts, assessments, and stuff. I figure you might be interested in the pictures part.

Thankfully, our restoration won’t be nearly so drastic as before. They had a mess on their hands.

This was the library.

And this is the library now.

This photo of the hall looks like it was taken when restorations were underway–

And what it looks like now–

Fancy parlor–

And today–

Our dining room–

And today’s dining room–

Finally, the bathroom–

Looks like they were well underway here.

You’d be surprised at how many people try and use that toilet. Seems clearly marked to me.

Ghost of Joel Chandler Harris?

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In keeping with the questionable reporting practices the Wren’s Nest blog has exhibited lately, here’s an excerpt of a letter I received today:

“I noticed the “orb” on your great-great-great grandfather’s picture on the way home and thought it strange since it wasn’t something that was there when I took the picture.

Then while I was looking over my vacation pictures and trying to blow up the one of the Wren’s Nest, I guess I saw what looks to be a grayish figure in the upper left window? I thought it a bit odd since the window is the only one that is not reflecting and looks flat.”

Perhaps this is why Amelia is afraid to be in the Wren’s Nest by herself.

Anyway, I can’t really see the figure in the window. Can you?

While we have had several ghost hunts from some very well-respected and televised professionals, I’ve yet to see anything definitive that there are ghosts in this place.

If I knew how to put audio on this blog, I’d let you listen to the mysterious (and flat!) whistling of “Baby Bumble Bee” that some of the ghost hunters caught on tape. Now that’s a little eerie.

Email me (lain@wrensnestonline.com) if you want a listen.

EDIT, 1/29/08, 1:13 pm–

So, I finally got around to installing the audio software. Assuming it works, here’s the ghost whistling:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You might have to turn up your speakers, but listen for the whistling in the second half. If the audio isn’t working, I’m currently trying to fix it.

Thanks, Rusty!

Shakespeare Gives Uncle Remus a Hand

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This is approximately where I threw out my back. Note the rain drops–it had to be done.

Anyway, like I mentioned in the comments of the last post. We’re looking into restoring these at about $2,000 a pop. Any takers?

Thanks for the picture, Josh.

More From the Archives

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It’s been a slow day at the ole Wren’s Nest.

I have about 500 emails to sort through from this weekend, Amelia updated the Museum page, and one lady called asking for the phone number of “that Aquarium there in Atlanta.” Gosh, why wouldn’t I have that number at my fingertips?

In slightly more exciting news, the homeless guy refused to get off our porch this morning and Outdoorsman Matt briefly electrocuted himself. His ear, specifically.

Regarding the porch, it was Joel Chandler Harris’ favorite spot at the Wren’s Nest–

We definitely need a rug like that, and I definitely need some britches like that.

Kind of related, I scanned a few more miscellaneous items back in March, but must’ve forgotten to post them. Enjoy!

First, a note from Buckingham Palace–

Dear The Wren’s Nest…Love, Buckingham Palace.

Do people often send books to princesses? Was that once the done thing? I’d like to think that Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth demanded that someone fetch them a copy of Brer Rabbit directly from the source, and not some peasant bookshop, you buffoon.

The following invite, I believe, is from 1946.

Hey y’all–meet the Disneys! That’s how I would’ve written it, anyway.

Presumably, the next one is taken that very day, with Walt (left) and Julian LaRose Harris, the eldest son of Joel Chandler Harris, sharing a guffaw over the Uncle Remus Tales.

Song of the South was released this very weekend, and this may be the day that they had the press conference and tea at the Wren’s Nest. From last year’s AJC article:

“The city played the premiere up big. There was a parade down Peachtree and a luncheon at the Capital City Club and a tea at the Wren’s Nest, where a crowd of autograph-seekers got out of hand and knocked Disney to his knees.”

Margaret Mitchell and the Wren’s Nest

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361 days ago, I was rummaging around in the attic and found some cool old books.

This evening I was clearing out old and inherited files on this here computer and found some pictures of the very same books. Well, one of them, anyway.

This is the Wren’s Nest’s copy.

If I understand correctly (and I probably don’t!), the author did not usually autograph copies of the book after the first run.

She may have made an exception for us, though perhaps someone from the Margaret Mitchell House could enlighten us.

Text: For the library of the Uncle Remus Memorial Association with the compliments of the author.

Margaret Mitchell
Atlanta, Ga.
August 26, 1936.

What I don’t have a picture of is the letter that has been inserted in the book. In it, Ms. Mitchell explains that her eyes are way too tired, and she can hardly see anything. She promised to sign the Wren’s Nest’s copy eventually, and looks like she made good on it.

Gone with the Wind was initially published in June May [thanks, Sam!] of that same year. They really burned through those printings, huh?

Brer Rabbit in Translation

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Today I’ve been scanning in images from old books we’ve got here at the Wren’s Nest. I think some of the coolest are from different countries. Funny how the image of Brer Rabbit changes in the translation.

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Autographed Walt Disney Photo

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I found this picture while rummaging through our attic upstairs.

It’s Walt Disney, seated on the left, with some of the cast of Song of the South. His signature is faded, but you can see it in blue in the bottom left.

The film was released at the Fox Theatre in 1946, and the Wren’s Nest hosted a few press conferences for the event.

Seriously, you could spend weeks in our attic and still find stuff like this. Most of the memorabilia has to do with obscure family members and descendents of Joel Chandler Harris. But every once in a while you’ll find something neat.