Household Implement - Door from Lafayette Inn (Pierce Tavern)

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Household Implement - Door from Lafayette Inn (Pierce Tavern)

Exterior' door reputed to have been from the Lafayette Inn (former Pierce Tavern), corner of Buffington Hill and Huntington roads, since razed. Jerrilee writes: 'The door was given to me in the early 1970s by Franklin Hitchcock when he was breaking up his home on the northeast corner of Harvey and Huntington roads. He was also cleaning out a barn on that property which he had used as a workshop. Frank showed me two raised panel doors which he said he obtrained while working on the demolition of the 18th century inn that once stood on the sourthwest corner of Buffington Hill and Huntington roads where Worthington's public library now stands. Both doors were what J. F. Kelly. ('Early Domestic Architecture of CT') calls the 'earliest forms of the panelled (sic) type', that is, two or three panels per door, precursors of the more common four panel door. This door is a three panel, pine door. The raised panel side of the door appears to be all original escept for the lower right stile which has been replaced from the area of the latch to the ground. This stile would have received the most wear from boots kicking it while opening it. No attempt was made during the repair to restore pegs that would have occurred where the bottom stile mottised into this vertical stile. The mark of a latch is apparent, whether the original or a later reproduction is unclear. Remnants of white paint remain and, where shrinkage has occurred, there appears to be pigment that could be green or blue. The door has been sanded which removed marks of hand planing. Evidence on the upper and lower horizontal stiles indicate that originally this door had strap hinges. Modern butt hinges were installed later. The opposite side of the door is not original as can be seen by the modern, round (instead of hand whittled) dowels that have affixed the sheathing to the original paneled door. It is possible that Frank (Hitchcock) needed to strengthen the old, paneled door. (All exterior doors of this period were strengthened with interior, vertical, beaded sheathing). Whether this was an exteiror door or an interior door to which Frank added vertical sheathing we cannot now know. It seems certain, however, that the paneled door originated in the Lafayette Inn either as an exterior or an interior door. (I believe it to have been an interior door.) the mark of a bar is clearly visible but, again, it appears to be a 20th century reproduction. Frank gave one of the doors to me and the second door to Esther Sena who, subsequently, gave to her daughter, Sandra Huntley. Sandra used this door when she restored a center chimney, eighteenth century home on Stage Road in Cummington. Her door was not in as good condition as the door now given to WHS and, since she has since sold lthis house, it is possible the new owners will replace it for a more adequate exterior door. Perhaps they should be contacted. The fact that this door was not in as good condition is a plus in its favor since it has not been altered and could provide more information.' Ted Claydon also believes this to be an interior door because of the thickness. It is currently on display in the main room of the WHS. See also the original document from Jerrilee Cain in Box 35, 2007a-089.

Artifacts

75.6 x 193 x 4.4 cm (29.8 x 76 x 1.8 in)

1800/1833

2007-06-23

On Display

June 17, 2007

Jerrilee Cain