
THIS OLD HOUSE
THIS OLD HOUSE: PRESERVING THEM ONE WINDOW AT A TIME
A Hands-on Learning Experience
Window sash constructed in the 18th and 19th century was assembled with mortise and tenon joints using wooden pegs to hold the joints tight. They were made to be taken apart, repaired and put back together easily. Simple, yet ingenious.
We were excited to visit the Henry Hogg Biddle House of Conference House Park recently with Park Director John Kilcullen to have a look at the room we would soon occupy and use for our office and research center. The office space is located on the second-floor of the Biddle House. The room is spacious with tall ceilings, wooden floors, and large, six-over-six sash windows that offer a sweeping view of Satterlee St. and the long entrance driveway. A piece of plywood covered the bottom half of one of these windows. Removal of the plywood revealed three missing panes of glass in the lower sash; two of the remaining three panes were cracked and needed replacement. The Tottenville Historical Society offered to make the necessary repairs.