Reviving the Underground Railroad

Ipswich, Massachusetts

Attention to Detail Painting & Wallcoverings – “We are grateful for the opportunity to experience a home with such historical and virtuous purposes.”

The Dr. Thomas Manning House in Ipswich, Massachusetts conceals a secret. A trap door in a back room leads to a hidden brick chamber in the basement.

Legend has it that enslaved people used this alcove as a stop on the Underground Railroad on the way to the nearby river, which led to freedom.

As for Dr. Manning himself, he was responsible for saving countless lives. The Harvard-educated physician introduced the smallpox vaccine to Ipswich after obtaining a sample from England.

Despite its fabled history, the house was in surprising disrepair when Attention 2 Detail was brought in to restore it.

“It was messy and sometimes we had to go layers deep to do our repairs,” the company said. “We worked long days and weekends to keep things moving along. It was cold there for a while, and drafty until the new heating system was up and running.”

It took the team of seven painters almost a full year to complete, working alongside a skilled contractor who performed the structural fixes necessary to repair the substrate.

The project started with the interior. They removed all the old hardware and sent them to a restorationist. The team reglazed windows and applied multiple primers and finishes, including trim and window shutters. The colors are historically consistent with the period and were chosen by the home’s current owner, an artist.“We are grateful for the opportunity to experience a home with such historical and virtuous purposes.”

Products Used:

* Zinsser Gardz Problem Surface Sealer

* FibaTape Super Crackstop

* USG Durabond 90 Joint Compound

* Benjamin Moore Regal Select Eggshell

* Wooster Microfiber Roller Covers