By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Medfield Historical Society (MHS) hosted a program regarding historic home restoration at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church. This was the last of five programs that MHS holds throughout the year that happen on the first Monday evening of October, November, February, March, and April.
Attendees gathered in the basement of the Church to hear local author and craftsman Lee McColgan tell his story of how he restored the 300-year-old Loring House in Pembroke, Massachusetts. McColgan, who was previously in a corporate position, traded this title for a life of craftsmanship, specifically towards preserving old buildings and homes.
Upon finishing this restoration, he decided to write a book about the process in hopes of getting more people excited about preserving older homes, titled A” House Restored: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Saving a New England Colonial”. Throughout this presentation, McColgan explained how this project of his came to be and some of the research that he conducted in order to pull it off.
When asking attendees whether or not it is smart to quit one’s full time job and completely restore a home with no prior experience, he laughed and said “Of course not people!” but he was determined to take it on and finish the challenge. As an added stressor, McColgan and his wife Liz had a deadline of finishing within 18 months, just in time to host their Thanksgiving dinner at their home.
As it is with many old houses, more and more projects started to arise and McColgan had to conduct more research and find experts to talk to. When looking for a timber framer, he went to Plymouth Plantation where he was directed towards a man named Michael Bury. After getting in contact with him, McColgan ended up becoming Bury’s apprentice where he learned the skills necessary to restore an old home.
While McColgan couldn’t detail his entire experience while restoring his home during this talk, he provided wonderful insights for those interested in home restoration as Medfield is a town filled with historic homes. Programs like this serve as an inspiration for residents to preserve and cherish their own pieces of history. The Medfield Historical Society continues to foster a deep appreciation for local heritage through engaging events, reminding the community of the importance of honoring the past while shaping the future.
