This project is part of a multi-year effort to restore the Oliver House to a historic state. In the 1940s, decedents of Peter Oliver did extensive research to ensure the paint used on the interior of the House was consistent with other homes built in the late 1700s. Using electronic paint scanning these colors could be replicated, and the interior of the Oliver House could be repainted to appear as it did in the 1940s or suitable to the historic period interpretation acceptable by CPC.
The ceiling plaster in several of the rooms are in need of repair. There are many areas that are cracking and becoming separated from the ceilings and walls. These problems go beyond regular maintenance as they risk plaster falling away from the walls and ceilings. These sections will need to be reattached and stabilized. See Attachment C for full plaster details provided by Village Green Restoration. After the plaster on the walls have been stabilized, fifteen rooms will receive a new coat of paint. Additionally, the entryway woodwork, including balusters and risers, will be repainted. Select doors and windows will also be painted depending on remaining funds.
There is a mural depicting a world map with decorative illustrations on the second floor. It was painted by Deborah Champion Jones in the early 1900s. Her family owned the Oliver House between 1883 and 1942 and resided there during the summer months. She shared the room with her two sisters, and painted the mural for their enjoyment. After the Oliver family purchased the house in the 1940s, they performed renovations which included putting up wall paper in the room containing the mural. The vertical white lines painted over the mural protected it from the wall paper, which was later removed before the House was purchased by the Town. Deborah Champion Jones later expressed that she did not like the white lines through her mural, and descendants of the Jones family have voiced interest in seeing the mural restored to its original state. Included in the budget are funds to restore the mural, and to perform paint analysis around it to determine if there are any more components covered by paint.