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Model Railroad Index Excursions Seneca Stone Cutting Mill

Plum Orchard

Update - Cleaning and Misc. August 7, 2007

Update December 19th 2007

1st Tour Since Renovation

Plum Orchard Short History

Nearing the End Oct. 25, 2007

Update September 28th 2007

Update August 14th 2007

Update August 7th 2007

August Update

Overview of Plum Orchard

Plum Orchard Page 1

1st Story Floor West Side

1st Story Floor East Side

2nd Story Floor West Side

2nd Story Floor East Side

Attic

The Kohler Connection

Elevator

A/C -- 19th Century

Electrical Work

Outbuildings

Ventilation Work


Valida Ward has started the cleaning process for Plum Orchard. She started on August 6th and said that it would take about 3 more weeks or so since she is cleaning it by herself. She did say that she is trying to figure out how to clean the very high windows (2 stories) in the stairwells. Besides doing the floors and the woodwork, she is going to clean the dust (from construction) off the wallpaper by using a vacuum cleaner with a very “nice, soft, brush”. Valida said that she met Mike Roseberry through some friends. When he found out that she did cleaning, he asked her if she might be interested in the job at Plum Orchard. She said, “I’ve been cleaning my whole life.” He asked her to come out and look at the job; after she looked, he asked if she could do it. Her answer, “Yea, I can do it.” Originally from Kentucky, yet another Kentucky connection, she and her family moved to Saint Marys about 6 years ago. When she finishes this job, she is moving to Missouri where her family now lives. She is staying in Saint Marys while her family is in Missouri because “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” The cleaning is being done with water and cloths. Mike told her no chemicals, so she is using a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth. In the details of the woodwork, she is using a small brush to get the dust out. The floors will be damp mopped and then dry mopped. As much as the woodwork cleaning has helped, she said that when she does the floors, the place will really shine.

The left picture shows the crew mixing cement for the floor of the Pump House. They would put the dry cement mix on the plastic and then add water. To mix the two, they would grab the edges and swish the mixture around until it was properly mixed. I have never seen it done that way before. Center photo is of one of the three grounding triads for the electrical system of the house. The house will have a 600 amp breaker, so large grounding areas are required. Incidentally, a normal house will have a 200 amp breaker. The photo on the right shows Allsouth Sprinkler Company installing a tie-down for the 12,000 water tank. The buckle in his hand will connect the strap behind him to the cement foundation. The other end of the tank is anchored by the pipes running from it. Heat index this day was 114 degrees as the photos were taken.

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