The dinning room was the first rooms we worked on when we moved in, in 2000. The first layer was vinyl 80′s country and the next layer seemed to be a paper based 60′s era. The later was really easy to remove. The walls must have been papered when it was new. When I removed the last layer you could see plaster with grit and short random hair embedded within. There were also layout lines in pencil that I had got used to seeing until I started scraping near the kitchen door. I really had to take it easy when I was pealing away the water soaked paper. The pencil could have been scrubbed off if I wasn’t careful. After checking it out we saw it was clear it was signed by the installer after each install. They obviously stripped the old layer as they would add a new one. Very professional! I couldn’t see painting over it so I sprayed it with clear polyethylene and picture framed around it.
The oldest signature was August 2nd 1934. It was by far the most elaborate. It features an artist pallet with the words Union Job above. There is also a drawing of a man with a mustache and a derby hat. Maybe the installer?
The next newest was called the 2nd edition. May 15 1942 says “it’s still a union job”. 3rd Edition was signed January 15 1955.
The latest date was October 1961 and says the new order has arrived.
We also found one more spot of graffiti on the stair wall. I only painted around this area and clear coated it. Planning to do a better job later. Maybe some day. This provided details about the current events of the day. The top part, as far as I can tell, is eligible. What I can make out is the middile and it says… “28 straight days of bombing over Germany to the low country”
Below that says…
“Repapered by GW Brown
March 23rd 1955 “eligible”
6 inches of snow on the land
came the 1st day of spring “eligible”
big drifts “eligible” we are really
isolated”
If you can read any of the eligible words or have a guess please leave a comment!
One Comment
Wow! That’s really cool. That the tradesmen did that, that you found it and that you’re willing to save it. Don’t think most would care enough to do that.
I once worked as a volunteer at a mansion restoration in Crystal Lake ILL. There you could find the signitures and dates of the plumbers who signed their work. Back in the 1860′s it was a very advanced technology and tradesmen. I was told it was not uncommon for them to sign their work. They saved and protected the wall writing as well.
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