Hidden Beneath

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • Aug 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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Shards

By Jascin N. Leonardo FInger • 06 May, 2024
I have written of my love for sea glass and pottery shards in the past and the recent replacement of the sewer and water lines on Vestal Street created a small shard collection over the last month. Since the work required the asphalt to be completely removed (all twelve inches of it!) and the road to be dug up multiple times as they worked to remove pipe, relay new pipe, hook up the water meters, and install drainage and manhole covers, this resulted in the earth in the street being tossed about quite a bit. And, with that, came the shards! Some of these likely came from the sewer line (yes, yuck) but others came from being simply in the dirt of the road – which was not paved until 1946/1948. Pieces were likely tossed out at times, made to act as filler in holes, or simply tossed. So I found all sorts of pieces I will keep here at the Mitchell House. They included: a lovely piece with a red floral, many pieces of plates, glass, the top of a late nineteenth or early twentieth century (medicine) bottle, glass shards, a flattened spoon, a brass knob (found by a neighbor) some nails, a spike, pieces of a larger container or two based on the size and curve and coloring of the shards, and possibly a Wampanoag stone tool. One person’s trash is another one’s treasures! JNLF

Is That A Wrap?

22 Apr, 2024
Yes. Well, almost. After about a month of working – and some living (staff and or neighbors) – on Vestal Street with all the sewer and water replacement work, the paving happened today (April 17, 2024). This is the first “layer” – a three-inch binder coat. In the fall, once time has passed, they will return for the final one inch of the finish layer. Some of the other things along Vestal Street will also be repaired and updated between now and the final coat – and a bit after that. But we are very happy, after all these years to have a modern system of piping – and all new drainage we never had before! While the curator in me loved the old clay pipes, they were riddled with roots from the trees, holes, and in some places, collapsed, and the twelve inches of asphalt had to go. Vestal Street was only paved in about 1946/1948 – and has not been paved in maybe twenty years so that is a lot of asphalt in about fifty years! And with climate change and the increase in how much rain we get in these heavy rain events, all that water rushed down Vestal Street with nowhere to go – except our cellars. I am sure the neighbors are happy too! A thank you to the Town of Nantucket’s Sewer Department, especially David Gray (who may regret giving me his cellphone number forever), N&M Excavating and Utilities (Dean, we appreciate you being so nice when we had too many questions), Victor-Brandon Corp for paving, and numerous others. We are looking forward to great flushing, powerful hose lines, and rainwater being whisked away via the new, never-before-had storm drains! JNLF And to all the N&M workers who wondered why I was constantly looking down as I walked along Vestal Street, you should see the trove of porcelain shards, glass, old nails, a bottle neck, 19 th century spoon, and even possibly a Wampanoag stone tool I found!
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