{"id":12325,"date":"2013-09-11T22:00:09","date_gmt":"2013-09-12T02:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=12325"},"modified":"2024-12-04T17:58:57","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T22:58:57","slug":"the-smallest-detail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/?p=12325","title":{"rendered":"Meticulous Attention"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"11<\/a>Linda Burton posting from Montpelier, Vermont <\/i>\u2013 Meticulous. That\u2019s the word. When it comes to restoration, there are two ways to go about it. You can recreate the general mood of the past \u2013 who would really know, after all? Or you can pay meticulous attention to the smallest detail. Such as the antlers on a hand-carved deer, so tiny no one would ever notice they were missing. I stood in the Governor\u2019s Office as David Schutz, Curator for the State, pointed out the deer. It\u2019s part of the Constitution Chair, so called because it was carved from the timbers of the frigate USS Constitution (aka Old Ironsides) and has served as the official governor\u2019s chair since 1858. Now that\u2019s a pretty awesomely unique chair, right there. But, as David pointed out, it suffered from years of use, and modernization. It was reupholstered with modern fabrics, and somewhere along the way, the \"11<\/a>delicate antlers of the deer were broken off. During the restoration of 1985, the decision was made to restore the chair, and give the deer its antlers back. But not just any wood was used. A trip was made to Boston, where the USS Constitution is berthed for public tours. By special arrangement, a small piece of \u201cConstitution timber\u201d was obtained from which to \"11<\/a>carve new antlers for the deer; the Constitution Chair was made whole again. Meticulous. There\u2019s another word that describes the Vermont State House, and that word is \u201cintimate.\u201d The building nestles between the river and the hills; inside its granite walls there\u2019s warmth and color in every room. It has a cozy feel, but touches everywhere that make it grand; soft red velvet draped against shuttered windows; gilt-bronze radiator screens with delicate patterns of cast-iron curving vines; tiny warrior cherubs perched on the gasoliers. <\/p>\n

I was just finishing a bowl of beef noodle soup in the cafeteria when David walked in. It was a chilly day but the soup was warm; I\u2019d chosen a window seat so I could watch as rain dripped on the ferns and native flowers in the garden setting just outside, where firs and sturdy Vermont rocks climbed straight up the hill. We chatted for a long, long time; about history, and state capitols, and Vermont. David told the story of Vermont\u2019s three state houses; \u201cDuring the early days,\u201d he said, \u201cVermont didn\u2019t even have a capital city. The General Assembly met 46 times in 14 different towns before Montpelier was chosen as a permanent site.\u201d That was 1805, and the choice was provisional; Montpelier had to provide the land for a capitol building, and that building had to be done by September 1808. It was; Thomas Davis donated the land and a three-story wooden meetinghouse was built at a cost of $9,000.<\/p>\n

\"11<\/a>The wooden building deteriorated over the years; it eventually was torn down and replaced by a grander structure \u2013 a classically inspired granite building on an elevated site blasted out of the hillside above the river. It cost $132,000, and was completed in 1838. Wood-burning heating systems can be dangerous; on a cold January night in 1857, the building caught fire and almost everything was destroyed. But not the Grecian portico \u2013 it was saved and incorporated into the design of the third and present State House (which cost $150,000). \u201cThe portico dates to 1838,\u201d David continued, \u201cand the main section right behind to 1859.\u201d As we walked from the cafeteria at the back\u00a0to the main building, he pointed out the additions; they date from 1888, 1900, and 1987.<\/p>\n

\"11<\/a>Our path led to the Cedar Creek Reception Room, where a painting of enormous size dominates one wall; it\u2019s the 20 x 10 foot rendition of The Battle of Cedar Creek<\/i>; artist Julian Scott created it between 1871 and 1874 for the State House. The setting is Virginia\u2019s Shenandoah Valley; the Civil War scene shows the Old Vermont Brigade leading a rally that would reverse a Union retreat; the date is October 1864. Despite the grandeur of the painting, the intricate oriental carpet design, the grand piano in the corner, the curved-back settees, and the hand-carved marble-topped \"11<\/a>table adorned with flowers, the room had a comfortable feel. \u201cIntimate,\u201d David said. I nodded, agreeing. The governor\u2019s office was next, where we’d see that Constitution Chair; the adjoining spacious rooms are used for important state events, yet open for the public to see as well.<\/p>\n

We continued down the hallway to the House Chambers, where the 150 Vermont representatives meet. It has been restored to an 1859 look; from the center hangs the original bronze and gilt chandelier. \u201cIt\u2019s one of America\u2019s most important surviving gas fixtures,\u201d David said, pointing out the allegorical figures of Commerce, \"11<\/a>Prudence, Eloquence, and Science, and the Hiram Powers famous Greek Slave, thought to be an abolitionist statement in this pre-Civil War building. We waited for the tour ahead to finish before walking in for a closer look. Over the speaker\u2019s rostrum George Washington\u2019s portrait hangs high; almost-invisible doors underneath were added when an addition to the building was made. The 1836 George Gassner copy of Gilbert Stuart\u2019s original was rescued from that 1857 fire; an elegant look in a room warmed by reds and golds and hand-carved woods. I noticed the \"11<\/a>\u201cmodesty skirts\u201d on the front of each of the desks; another intimate detail of\u00a0times past.<\/p>\n

We headed for the Senate Chamber next; all furnishings there are original. David led me to the hand-carved rostrum, pointing out Vermont\u2019s coat of arms at the center. The gasolier was lost for years, but found in 1979 and restored and rehung; this one has a maritime theme, with sea horses and water lilies; delicate, yet grand. Green velvet settees arranged under \"11<\/a>green velvet draped windows are for public use; \u201cPeople can sit here when Senate is in session,\u201d David explained, \u201cor in the gallery, whichever they choose.\u201d \u201cAn intimate meeting place for sure,\u201d I said. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen that anywhere before.\u201d I wanted to sit for a while myself, but there was more to see.<\/p>\n

We walked the hallways where portraits of Vermont\u2019s 80 governors hang; the poses range from 1800s austere to 2000s modern, such as that of Howard Dean in boots and jeans; we stopped at portraits of Calvin \"11<\/a>Coolidge and Chester Arthur, two presidents from Vermont, and naval heroes Admiral Dewey from Montpelier, and Charles Clark from Bradford. We looked for fossils in the black and while tiled lobby floor; the white tiles are from Danby, Vermont; the black from Isle La Motte on Lake Champlain. We stopped in the Hall of Flags to see the 68 flags carried by Vermont regiments in the Civil War. We sat to rest in chairs beside one of the two curving staircases in the building; cast iron in delicate design. \"11<\/a>We talked with the volunteer tour guides on hand for today\u2019s visiting groups; a Japanese-language speaker was waiting for a busload of Japanese visitors. We passed the bust of Abraham Lincoln, the only work of Larkin Mead that remains in the capitol. It was done in preparation for the large bronze statue Mead created for Lincoln\u2019s tomb in Illinois (yes, I remember seeing that).<\/p>\n

In answer to my questions about the dome, David explained how Vermont\u2019s State House came to be the only building in the world (\u201cso we believe,\u201d he said to qualify) in which there is no interior expression of the dome above. The original 1830s design called for skylights allowing light over the interior staircases; when the current building was constructed it was decided that supporting trusses were needed under the dome; \"11<\/a>the design was changed. There is no \u201crotunda\u201d to look into; the gold-gilded dome is only for outside view. It\u2019s topped by a replacement of Larkin Mead\u2019s first venture into high art, a statue representing Agriculture, and that\u2019s a good story too \u2013 the original Mead statue was made of wood, which deteriorated over time; the replacement was carved in 1938 by Sergeant-at-Arms Dwight Dwinell and crew; Dwinell was 87 at the time; his work is considered genuine folk art.<\/p>\n

Our last stop was the Under The Dome <\/i>gift shop, where volunteers Teresa and Sharon excitedly showed me around. \u201cThe Gift Shop is seasonal,\u201d they explained. \u201cWe\u2019re only here when there is no session going on. When session begins, this room reverts to a committee room, and a post office for the legislators.\u201d What a clever idea! Space that would be unused \"11<\/a>during much of the year is put to good use \u2013 \u201cThat\u2019s a good example,\u201d I said, \u201cfor all those capitols who haven\u2019t yet figured out where to put a gift shop.\u201d \u201cWe operate a moveable cart when session begins,\u201d Teresa explained, \u201cwhere we sell postcards and small items people want. We never shut down completely.\u201d The larger items are packed away in storage for that period of the year. The ladies posed for me with Board Member Jim Stembridge\u2019s Fifty State Capitols<\/i> book, which they proudly sell.<\/p>\n

\"11<\/a>I thanked David for his time and praised the work he\u2019s done in his 35 years with the state of Vermont. \u201cMeticulous pays off,\u201d I said. \u201cGood job.\u201d David handed me the State House brochure, one of the cleverest designs I\u2019ve ever seen. A Walk through Vermont\u2019s Historic State House<\/i> is printed across the front of the tiny folded piece; unfold it bit by bit and the State House story is revealed; pictures of the buildings that have served the state; interior details in color; a written account of the history; and my favorite of all, a cutaway drawing of the building. No citizen of Vermont, or visitor from anywhere, is left to wonder.<\/p>\n

The rain had stopped by the time I headed back to my car. The golden dome was shining; my postcards and the clever brochure were tucked inside my pack. \u201cStories can be told in many ways,\u201d I thought; \u201cthrough words, and images, and through meticulous attention to the smallest detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vermont State House, 115 State Street, Montpelier, open year round Monday-Friday except state holidays, tours call 802-828-2228 for hours, http:\/\/www.vtstatehouse.org\/tours.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Note: The Vermont State Curator’s Office oversees the restoration, care and conservation of the historic Vermont State House and the collections of fine art, decorative art and historic furniture housed there. In addition, the State Curator’s Office manages three gallery spaces in the Capitol Complex for rotating exhibitions of contemporary art: the Governor’s Office in the Pavilion Office Building; the lobby of the Supreme Court Building and the State House cafeteria. Care and management of the broader State Art Collection is also a responsibility of this office.<\/i><\/p>\n

The State Curator works closely with the Friends of the Vermont State House, a private not-for-profit organization, to supervise the more than 100 volunteers who work at the State House as general tour guides, school tour guides or in the seasonal Under the Dome gift shop.<\/i><\/p>\n

Maintenance and renovation projects undertaken at historic buildings owned by the state of Vermont and managed by the Department of Buildings and General Services are reviewed by the State Curator’s Office. Curatorial staff conduct research and provide support to insure that projects are carried out in accordance with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Linda Burton posting from Montpelier, Vermont \u2013 Meticulous. That\u2019s the word. When it comes to restoration, there are two ways to go about it. You can recreate the general mood of the past \u2013 who would really know, after all? Or you can pay meticulous attention to the smallest detail. Such as the antlers on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4587,1733],"tags":[2754,2755,2746,2745,2756,628,2748,2752,2378,2751,2753,3095,2750,2749,2678,2747],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12325"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12325"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15570,"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12325\/revisions\/15570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capitalcitiesusa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}