Household Archaeology
Restoring an old house helped me discover the secrets of its past.
By Judy Ostrow, photography by Todd Caverly
I've always loved the process of peeling away successive layers of wallpaper, paint, and flooring, un-snaking old wiring and replacing cranky pipes, and restoring the finer points of a great old house. I find myself drawn to the mystery and romance of a home that has sheltered generations, with its inherent capacity to reveal secrets and tell stories of times past.A few years ago, when my family happened upon a nineteenth century, mansard-roofed Victorian overlooking Stonington harbor and the islands beyond, I knew we'd found a treasure.
