Home Improvement: Plastering and Lathe
Step one: Nail thin strips of straight-grained wood spaced about 1/4” apart (or the distance of a “pinkie” finger according to one site) to wall studs or ceiling joists.
Step two: Measure out two parts plaster powder (gypsum) to one part water. Pour water into a container, then slowly add powder. Allow to sit for about two minutes. Mix powder and water until creamy, approximately 4-5 minutes.
Step three: Apply first coat of plaster over lath. Let dry, then sand until smooth. This is called the scratch coat.
Step four: Apply second coat of plaster, and let dry, then sand until smooth. This is called the brown coat (I have no idea why!)
Step five: Apply third coat of plaster and let dry, then sand until smooth. This is called the finish coat and once completed is ready for wallpaper or paint.
Photo credit: Asmithmd1, public domain.
Home Improvement: Windows - a short history
Fashion in the 1910s can be broken into two periods: before World War I (AKA The Great War) and after World War I. The formality of the Edwardian era changed to more practical and comfortable clothing. Women shed their corsets and underskirts and never looked back.
During the colonial period, Americans imported their glass from England. Through the early 1800s, 
windows were primarily made of wood and hinged on the sides. Until 1820, when pressed glass was invented, each window pane was made of blown glass. Then in 1902 a machine was invented that mechanically drew large cylinders of glass which allowed for large scale automated production of window glass. In all cases, the windows were built one rail at a time, which is what Leo would have had to do for Nadine’s boarding house.
As glass making skills improved, the size of the panes increased as well as combinations and eventually glaziers could construct a window out of a single pane of glass. Windows were typically (and still are) described by their number of panes such as a six-over-six which has an upper sash with six panes and a lower sash with six panes, and by the way they open such as a double-hung window which has two sashes that open independently of each other or a casement window that swings in or out on hinges.
With the prevalence of fire in many U.S. cities, the invention of steel during the Industrial Revolution saved the day. The use of steel casements replaced wood until World War II, when the metal was needed for military equipment such as tanks, ships, aircraft and weapons. Aluminum took its place.
Photo credit: Historical Windows of New York
Fashion During the Progressive Era
In 1914, the hobble skirt became popular, wide at the hips and narrow at the ankles. But this made taking wide strides difficult, and it quickly fell out of fashion to replaced by dresses and skirts with hemlines above the ankle (shocking!). These were referred to as “war crinoline” and considered very patriotic.
Tunics and jacket-style tops and skirts with suspenders were fashionable with most styles being less elaborate than the prior two decades. Jewelry became more understated, and women wore less of it. Practicality and functionality were the watchwords with designers.
Black, once a color only used for mourning attire began to appear, especially in shoes, but it would not be used extensively for another decade or so until Coco Chanel hit the scene.
For men, hairstyles became shorter, and facial hair rose in popularity. Blazers for both formal and casual events were fashionable as was military braiding on garments.
Photo Credit: John Wanamaker catalog, Smithsonian Institution collection.
England: The Tower of London
In Under Fire Ruth Brown follows clues from her tiny New Hampshire village to London. Having rarely left her town, and never traveling to large New England cities like Boston, she was overwhelmed by the crush of people, tangled roads where vehicles drove on the “wrong side” of the street, and an intricate system of underground trains known as the Tube. She saw thousand-year-old buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with “modern” structures such as the BBC building that was dedicated in 1932.
Located on a twelve-acre plot on the north bank of the River Thames, the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and resented as a symbol of oppression by the new Norman ruling class. From 1100 to 1952, the castle was also used as a prison, housing some of England’s most famous and infamous inmates. Rather than being one structure, The Tower of London is a complex of several buildings located within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. Over its history, there were phases of expansion, mostly in the 12th and 13th centuries.
One of London’s iconic sites, Tower bridge is both a suspension and a “bascule” (AKA drawbridge) bridge and can be seen from the Tower of London. Built to provide better access to the East End of London where the commercial district had greatly expanded, construction began in 1886 and finished in 1894. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to electro-hydraulic in 1972. Queen Victoria’s son Edward, Prince of Wales and his wife Alexandra, Princess of Wales opened the bridge upon its completion.
Two 213-foot towers are connected by two horizonal walkways accessible via an elevator or two hundred (!) stairs. The bridge is eight-hundred feet in length. Unfortunately, with my fear of heights, I was only able to admire this architectural marvel from afar.
England: Hyde Park
Established by King Henry VIII in 1536, Hyde Park is the largest of the parks and green spaces that stretch from Kensington Park to St. James Park. Initially used as hunting grounds, the park opened to the public in 1637. Wife of King George II, Queen Caroline made major improvements during her lifetime. Unfortunately, the park became a popular location for duels, but on a brighter note, The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held on the grounds. It was at this time the Crystal Palace was erected.
Officially named the Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster, Westminster Abbey housed Benedictine monks on the site since the 10th century. An Anglican church, the Abbey has been the location of England's coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066. According to Wikipedia, at least sixteen weddings have taken place there. King Henry III began construction on the current building in 1245, and in 1559 the monastery was dissolved. The church was made a "church peculiar," a Church of England church accountable directly to the sovereign - at that time Queen Elizabeth I. More than 3,300 people are buried there, some of England's most famous sons and daughters.
Most people think "Big Ben" is the name of this iconic tower that soars over London, however, the nickname actually refers to the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster. Originally known as the Clock Tower, it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Completed in 1859, the tower stands 316 feet tall with 334 steps from entrance to the belfry. The clock dials are more than twenty-two feet in diameter. It is a "striking clock" with five bells.
England: The Tower of London
In Under Fire Ruth Brown follows clues from her tiny New Hampshire village to London. Having rarely left her town, and never traveling to large New England cities like Boston, she was overwhelmed by the crush of people, tangled roads where vehicles drove on the “wrong side” of the street, and an intricate system of underground trains known as the Tube. She saw thousand-year-old buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with “modern” structures such as the BBC building that was dedicated in 1932.
Located on a twelve-acre plot on the north bank of the River Thames, the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and resented as a symbol of oppression by the new Norman ruling class. From 1100 to 1952, the castle was also used as a prison, housing some of England’s most famous and infamous inmates. Rather than being one structure, The Tower of London is a complex of several buildings located within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. Over its history, there were phases of expansion, mostly in the 12th and 13th centuries.
England: Views across the Thames from the Tower
One of London’s iconic sites, Tower bridge is both a suspension and a “bascule” (AKA drawbridge) bridge and can be seen from the Tower of London. Built to provide better access to the East End of London where the commercial district had greatly expanded, construction began in 1886 and finished in 1894. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to electro-hydraulic in 1972. Queen Victoria’s son Edward, Prince of Wales and his wife Alexandra, Princess of Wales opened the bridge upon its completion.
Two 213-foot towers are connected by two horizonal walkways accessible via an elevator or two hundred (!) stairs. The bridge is eight-hundred feet in length. Unfortunately, with my fear of heights, I was only able to admire this architectural marvel from afar.
England: Hyde Park
Established by King Henry VIII in 1536, Hyde Park is the largest of the parks and green spaces that stretch from Kensington Park to St. James Park. Initially used as hunting grounds, the park opened to the public in 1637. Wife of King George II, Queen Caroline made major improvements during her lifetime. Unfortunately, the park became a popular location for duels, but on a brighter note, The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held on the grounds. It was at this time the Crystal Palace was erected.
England: Westminster Abbey and Big Ben
Officially named the Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster, Westminster Abbey housed Benedictine monks on the site since the 10th century. An Anglican church, the Abbey has been the location of England's coronation since William the Conqueror in 1066. According to Wikipedia, at least sixteen weddings have taken place there. King Henry III began construction on the current building in 1245, and in 1559 the monastery was dissolved. The church was made a "church peculiar," a Church of England church accountable directly to the sovereign - at that time Queen Elizabeth I. More than 3,300 people are buried there, some of England's most famous sons and daughters.
Most people think "Big Ben" is the name of this iconic tower that soars over London, however, the nickname actually refers to the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster. Originally known as the Clock Tower, it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Completed in 1859, the tower stands 316 feet tall with 334 steps from entrance to the belfry. The clock dials are more than twenty-two feet in diameter. It is a "striking clock" with five bells.
No comments:
Post a Comment