Work in Fort Reveals Layers of History 

Interior "Facelift" to Help Create "Gathering Place"  

Early to mid 20th century fragment of wallpaper found in Fort recently.

Outside, the Fort looks stoic, the same as always.  Inside, it's quite a different story.  A peek in the windows will reveal empty spaces, protective paper on the floors and exposed lath. 

The work is the continuation of a project that began in 2009 with dual purposes.  The first floor rooms were in need of restoration.  The plaster was in poor condition.  Earlier leaks and time had taken their toll.  In addition, there was a desire to create a space that was more welcoming to visitors and that could be used more effectively.  For many, the DuBois Fort, as our Visitor Center, offers the first impression of what our houses have to offer. 

In 2009, the room that houses the Museum Shop, along with the main hallway, were restored.  Plaster was repaired.  Deteriorating floorboards were replaced.  Walls were repainted.  The "after" was the spiffy new Museum Shop we have enjoyed the past two years.

Lath is exposed on ceiling where prior leaks from the bathroom deteriorated plaster.  New, replacement lath is evident.

The "before" was the either side of the main hallway.  It is to these two rooms, which were once dining rooms when the building was the Old Fort Restaurant, that attention turns this spring. 

The result when completed will be a cozy "hearth room," centered around the historic fireplace with its intact beehive oven.  Here, visitors will be able to experience a new video about Historic Huguenot Street, enjoy a snack and make use of our new public WiFi signal.  Next to this, the room adjoining the hallway will be repaired, repainted and ready for use as an exhibit space.

Once the interior work is done, attention will turn to the outside, where some key framing in the wooden part of the building will be replaced.

Stay tuned for more and come by and visit the Fort when we open on weekends in May!