Thiebaud House Update ~ Looking Good!

Thiebaud House Update ~ Looking Good!
Major changes have taken place in transforming the Thiebaud house from its 20th century life
back to when it was the home of the second generation of the Thiebaud family in the 1850s. The twostory frame Greek Revival replaced the house that was the home of Frederick and Harriet Thiebaud
who settled the farmstead in 1817, and then was home to their son Justi and his wife Mary, who
inherited the farm where they raised their ten children.
The Jeffris Family Foundation in Janesville, Wisconsin is responsible for launching us on a
very successful capital campaign with their challenge grant, followed by a grassroots campaign
strongly supported by our members and community, with a final grant from the Paul Ogle Foundation
in Jeffersonville, Indiana that pushed us past our goal. We are so thankful to all those who showed
such vision by donating and believing in our project.
Extensive research went into determining how to approach the
restoration. Careful consideration was given to determine the needs of
the house as a museum, which led to the decision to provide a climatecontrolled environment to preserve the structure and future historic
furnishings. We also considered the needs of the house for
interpretation.
Stabilization efforts preceded the actual restoration work made
possible by the capital campaign. The restoration began with removing
the vinyl and damaged siding. Then the house was insulated with
polyurethane closed cell foam sprayed between the studs, applied from
the exterior. An air space was left before 1/4” “Eco-green” foam
sheeting and 30 lb. felt were installed to provide a thermal break before
the custom-cut siding was nailed into place. The roof structure was also
insulated, including the areas above the porch and attic, due to housing
the ductwork and mechanicals for the high velocity low volume HVAC.
A wood plank wall sensitively hides the contemporary intrusions.
The original siding was first growth poplar. The poplar
available today is unsuitable, so cypress was selected
as the best alternative. Before installation, the cypress
was cut to the same dimension as the original siding
then sealed on all sides with equal parts boiled
linseed oil and turpentine before being painted with a
primer on the front and back. The west, south and
east sides have the new siding. Salvaged siding was
utilized on the north side, which has the protection of
a roof, as this area is now a breezeway connecting
the frame house and the stone kitchen. (This area
was returned to its original use, having been enclosed
probably in the early 1900s.)
To re-direct surface and groundwater to alleviate moisture and mold issues in the house, a 90”
deep trench along the back of the house was excavated and 4” perforated pipe was installed, then
covered with geo-fabric and gravel to 6” from the surface before covering with dirt. A sump pump was
installed in the dirt-floored cellar, plumbed through the foundation to the underground trench.
The original windows were restored. Many door and window jambs had to be replaced, with
walnut heartwood being utilized. The house was rewired and new underground service was installed.
The lath and plaster ceilings had lost their key (breaking away of plaster through the lath
causing the areas to sag or break), requiring their removal. The ceilings were replaced with
plasterboard (blue board). The plasterboard areas and remaining lath and plaster walls received
basecoats and veneer plaster as needed. Extensive repairs were needed in some areas.
Door and window frames were stripped and sanded in preparation for painting. Repairs were
made to door, window, mantle and stair trim components.
The exterior below-ground level cellar entrance was discovered during
restoration and was excavated, revealing still intact stonewalls on part of
the entrance, which once provided easy access to the cellar, and will
again. The wall that replaced the original doorway was removed,
replaced by a specially fabricated basement door and frame appropriate
to the style of the house.
While the east and west parlor fireplaces are still in place, the
kitchen fireplace was long ago removed. Suitable stone was harvested
from the property. With the original stone foundation and the original
opening in the ceiling as a guide, an appropriate fireplace to serve the
needs of interpretation of a farm kitchen in the late 1850s was
constructed. While modern materials were used, the cinder blocks of the
fireplace will be plastered over to match the walls in the kitchen,
replicating its earlier style.
The linen-press doors on the built-in storage cupboards on either side of the fireplaces in both
the east and west parlors were stripped and are now faux-grained to represent the original fauxrosewood finish. (A linen-press is a cabinet designed for storing sheets, table napkins, clothing, and
other textiles.)
An amazing team of specialists have been contracted to make the restoration plans a reality.
Thank you to: Herschel Brichto & Erjo Construction ~ General contractor; Greg Sigmon ~ heating and
cooling; Sparks Electric ~ electrical installation; John Marsh Building and Remodeling ~ fireplace and
chimney construction; Sherin Wren ~ faux graining; Matthew Mosca ~ historic paint finishes analysis;
Wallin Forge ~ historic lighting.
The restoration is not yet complete, but will be by the end
of summer. We look forward to welcoming you in as the
Thiebauds once did, evidenced in a special discovery found
folded-up and concealed behind the lock box on the front door. A
small page from Revelations Chapter 3 contained the following:
We are now working on furnishing the house and are hoping for donations of appropriate
furnishings for the parlors, bedrooms and kitchen. Please contact the museum if you have items you
may wish to donate or if you would like to make a financial contribution to help with custom-made
items such as floor cloths or curtains.
~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Save the Date!
Rural Heritage Tour ~ October 13 & 14
Two Sites – Two Families
The Thiebaud house will be ready for its first “open to the public tour” and will join with Musee
de Venoge for the Rural Heritage Tour. Enjoy the family life and culture of two French-Swiss families
separated by 50 years. Sample hearth cooking, walk in a kitchen garden, talk with period reenactors
and learn about their trades. More information will follow in the next Grapevine.