In case you aren’t familiar with the term,  a newel is a central column around which winding stairs are attached.  A newel post is (the often highly decorative) post at the end of a stair that anchors the railing.  Newel posts are an architectural detail that had many style changes throughout history. In the early American colonies, simple lathe-turned posts, often similar in profile to the balusters of the railing, or ...

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Built in 1736, the Henry Antes house sits on a 34 acre plantation now owned by the Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc.  Once every year the property is packed with visitors to the  Goschenhoppen folk festival.  The festival is a large living history presentation of early Pennsylvania German culture. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992.  It qualified not only as a well preserved example of early 18th century German ...

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A series of posts that address historic floorcoverings in the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Full disclosure:  I consult on and provide carpets for historic houses, museums and state capitols.  This article may appear self-serving, and while it is, my words will hopefully clear up some misconceptions about historic floorcoverings. Putting it all together: Installers and Installation.  Because the carpets of the 18th and 19th century were woven in either 27” ...

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