Hidden Beneath

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • August 22, 2022

I cannot remember if I have shared this little tidbit before. Recently, I found myself needing to go up into the attic of the MMA Research Center to check on something. And while doing so, I realized very few people have ever seen in here so I thought I would share – in case you are curious. 


What you are looking at is the roof for the main part of the building – what was once William Mitchell’s schoolhouse. I am taking the image from the little addition on the west that houses the bathroom. As you can see – the shingles were not removed – but that was a common occurrence – we have those at Mitchell House from the 1818 addition and the 1825 Kitchen addition. They even have the original roof inside the “new” roof at the Methodist Church here on island. Why bother removing? Though I think those shingles probably could have been re-used if they were carefully removed.


In the upper left, you can see the newer roof from 1918/1919. Then into the “attic” space above the main room via the rectangular cut out. That is the hole I get to squeeze myself into. And, you have to realize, there isn’t a floor to the attic – just the joists and then the plaster beneath you for the ceiling – one wrong move and, “Hello,” main floor and whomever is working there as you fall eight feet onto the hard floor and leave a resulting hole in the ceiling! So, it’s a bit of a stressor.


Happy to report things were fine up there. Not one of my favorite spelunking places at the MMA I am afraid.


JNLF

 


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