The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1922-08-04
CUSTOM HOUSE, INSPIRATION
OF SCARLET LETTER"
TO BE RESTORED
Nathaniel Hawthorne Landmark to
Be Made As Of Yore.

Il S@NSAAAS AAeSAAAAAAN~~4A W
Be Made As Of Yore.
Salem's century old Custom House,
where Nathaniel Hawthorne got his
inspiration for "The Scarlet Letter, !"
and on which time and weather con-
ditions had painted picture of abb
ject neglect is undergoing extensive
repairs to restore its original beauty
of architecture, writes speci al cor
respondent to the World. Several
thousand dollars will be expended by
the government in restoration work,
and present day costs may bring the
total expenditure Up to (. figure near
ly equal to the appropriation of $14,-
271 set aside for the construction of
the building in 1918.
The great golden eagle presented
sad-looking sight when removed
from it's perch over the front en-
trance to the building. Although it's
huge talons still clutched the bunch
of sticks with patent strength, and
its head remained tilted to one side
in an attitude of critical inspection,
it's eyes were missing and the wings
and breast lacked lustre, with only a
few shreds of gold leaf still visible. |
This great bird, carved by Joseph |
True a century ago, has been sent |
away for repairs and new coating |
of gold leaf.
The four Corinthian columns sup
porting the portico have become
gray, and the cases and capitals be-
grimed and dingy with the dust of
years, that has almost obliterated the
outlines of the carved or stucco dec
orations along the front and sides
of the portico roof. The balustrade
on the easterly side has completely
parted company with the brick wall
of the building, revealing the plain
red bricks that have long been COW
cred with paint that is now dirty
yellow
The cement is missing from the
great sandstone blocks that made
up the first floor or basement. 1t is
also gone from the interstices of the
dozen solid granite steps; but these
steps, leading to the front entrance
of the building, stand as firm and
sturdy as when first laid. The paint
on the woodwork, which was thick
and hard, is now being torched, or
burned off, so that the new coat will
lay smooth. All the windows are
to be drawn.
The greatest change to be effected
by the restoration work will come
the sandblast process, which
will be used in removing the paint
from the brick walls, thus restoring
for future generations the original
red brick appearance.
The interior of the building is in
very good repair. A few new fix .
lures will be requisitioned, but the
greater part of the reconstruction
work will be carried out on the ex- 9
,erior. There are still parts of the =
building that remain unfinished, just
Is in the days when Nathaniel Haw
horne presided as Surveyor of the =
Port of Salem and whose office, in
he front of the building. he de-
cribed in his writings as being cob
vebbed and dingy with old paint.
The room occupied by Hawthorne
las since been plastered and painted
white and electric fixtures installed,
tut in many details it remains un-
1t will be preserved as
learly as possible along the lines de-
cribed by the distinguished ro-
nancer in the following words:
Furthermore, on the left hand as
'ou enter the front door, is certain
DOM, or office about fifteen feet
quare and of lofty height, with a
wo of it's arched windows command
ng a view of the aforesaid dilap-
dated wharf, and the third looking c
cross a narrow lane. and along
,ortion of Derby street All three 4
i've glimpses of the shops OF grocers, a
'lockmakers, slop sellers and ship Z
handlers around the doors O. which :
re generally to be seen laughing 6,
nd gossiping clusters If old salts, a
nd such other wharf rats as haunt 0
he Wrapping of a seaport. IL
"The room itself is cobwebbed and