This shows how the 1980 replacement sash looked in the meeting house. Note the original cornice line and doors.
Luckily, Some of the original windows had been stored in the attic. This would allow us to make exact replicas. We also salvaged the glass from these windows to use, along with donated antique glass, in the replicas.
Original 9 over 6 light sash that had been stored in the meeting house basement. Note the various colors of the old glass
Notice the character of the antique glass in this "borrowed light" window that was never removed from the building. The Friends of the White Water Shaker Village wanted us to use as much antique glass as possible in the new exterior windows.
Patterns for the new windows are made directly from the old windows.
Custom router blades for the proper profile.
A table saw with a sled for precise cuts. .
A specialized router table for cutting tenons.
Bruce uses a drill press set up for blind mortises.
An open mortise can be made on a table saw with a jig.
The tenon and open mortise used to join the stile to the meeting rail.
Sarah applied wood sealer to all joints before assembling and gluing the new sash. When the wood shop was set up for sash production, we had 14 wood milling stations set up for the production run.
This is the solid walnut replication before glazing and paint
test fit. Looks good.
Already glazed and painted, windows are brought to the site and installed as units...Just like historically accurate replacement windows.
New windows installed, but still without their trim.
Bruce of Architectural Reclamation with Dave and Joe of Friends of the White Water Shaker Village stand in front of the newly installed windows. A group of volunteers, led by Dave and Joe, have agreed to finish the interior window trim. This is a common practice when Architectural Reclamation works with charitable organizations and in private homes, where interested minds and willing hands, of various skill levels, are often available.
The meeting house one year later with the restored windows
