Lisbon - With a little imagination and a lot of hard work, the Lisbon Historical Society hopes to preserve a 19th-century farmhouse.
The project just got a boost; the Connecticut historical commission added the John Bishop House to the state Register of Historic Places.
First Selectman Jeremiah A. Shea wrote a letter to the commission endorsing the historical society’s restoration plans.
"The location of the Bishop House is part of Lisbon’s colonial history. We as citizens and elected officials have the obligation to preserve the historic buildings and documents which are so valuable in teaching our future generations of their past history," wrote Shea.
To qualify, the structure had to make a "significant contribution to our history and the lives of persons of (the) past"; have "distinctive characteristics" of a type, period or method of construction; or have yielded or be likely to yield important historical information.
The "corner house," with fronts south and east, stands opposite the Newent Congregation Church on Route 169.
A tour of the cold, dark building reveals wall, ceiling and floors of the first floor blackened by smoke.
Richard Herrmann, a member of the historical society, said the last occupant apparently feared a chimney fire and instead let smoke from the stove out into the house. The house has no indoor plumbing. Instead, chamber pots or "thunder mugs" can still be found in several rooms.
Linoleum covers some wooden floors and layers of paint and wallpaper hide original wall colors. The historical society will peel away what’s new to uncover the old.
Chipping away a little paint in the kitchen show what looks like a red wall underneath.
"Our problem is holding back the members. You have to proceed slowly," said President Joan Friedland.
So far, workers have patched the roof, sealing it against the snow with roofing paper, said Edward Friedland, who has made a career of building restoration.
Volunteers have also cleared brush from around the house because it has holding in moisture and obstructing the view, said Joan Friedland.
In exploring the cellar, the Friedlands found a fireplace and a staircase they didn’t know existed. Just about every room has a fireplace.
The couple also found in the cellar parts of wooden racks apparently used in drying wool and a two-foot tall rendering kettle used to melt down animal fat.
Edward Friedland said he is especially intrigued by a first-floor doorway which opens over a well, enabling early home owners to draw water without going outside.
The house has bee dated at 1810-1812. It is first mentioned on a deed from 1812. Chimney date stones, likely from a rebuilding, 1819.
"We’ve got the use of a microscope to examine nails and/// if we can date it even closer than we have," said Edward Friedland.
"I cannot recall in all these years having encountered a house which has so little changed from the time it was built than the John Bishop House," said Edward Friedland, in applying to have the house added to the state register.
The property , formerly owned by Lillian Whitaker, includes a barn and a carriage house.
"We will have to assess whether those buildings are worthy of being restored," said Edward Friedland. In the meantime, the outbuildings are marked as unsafe.
To assess what in the house the society has assigned each room an identifying letter and labeled the walls by direction. For example, a kitchen wall is chalk-marked "E/W" - room E, west wall.
Detail includes a ram’s head design at the base of the stair railing; beaded door moldings; and "staple, keeper and bow" and "bean" door latches.
Next, the historical society will be applying for matching grants to help cover restoration costs. Edward Friedland estimated the complete project should cost about $250,000.
The first grant application is due Feb. 14. "We’re trying to make a deadline. It’s a mammoth job," said Edward Friedland.
Restoration will take a good many years, he said.
Donations of labor or material are always welcome, added Joan Friedland. Ultimately the historical society would like to see the house serve as a museum, possibly with a resident curator.