Abbot Completes Historic Restoration of Exterior Facades of Philips Library & Plummer Hall at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA

Philips Library (right) & Plummer Hall (left)

The most significant feature of the project was the complete disassembly and replacement of the library entrance portico. The deteriorated fluted columns and capitals were removed, matching columns and capitals were fabricated, new perimeter dental band stones were installed, and the portico was rebuilt to match the original. In addition, the portico ceiling was framed in wood and a new roof was installed.   

The project also consisted of the following components: 

• Repointing all of the brick masonry
• Removal and replacement of the ornamental brownstone on the building facades using fabricated precast colored stone to match the brownstone
• Historic restoration of the wood windows
• Historic replication/replacement of the windows on Plummer Hall

The project had a tight construction schedule and had to be completed by September 30, 2014 so as to not disrupt the Halloween festivities that began on October 1st.

Philips Library is a rare books and special collections library best known for holding the original 1692 Salem witchcraft papers and the early works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Philips Library Reading Room is located in Plummer Hall.