Photo Credit: The Bostonian Society
The Bostonian Society embarked on a multi-faceted preservation project on the Old State House beginning August 30, 2014. Work will include roofing and window repairs, repointing of the masonry on the west facade, and restoration of the building’s lion and unicorn statues on the east facade.
Built in 1713, the Old State House is the oldest surviving public building from the nation’s original thirteen colonies. Constructed of brick, after the original wooden Town House on the site was destroyed by fire, the structure has withstood Boston’s unforgiving weather for more than 300 years, and has survived the installation of two subway lines whose trains still rumble directly beneath the building. All of these environmental stresses, along with the inevitable aging of its materials with time, have left theirs marks on this National History Landmark.
Commodore Builders, a commercial construction management firm headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, has been selected to perform the restoration work on the historic building. Joseph Albanese, CEO and President of the firm, served as the project manager for the last major restoration of the building, along with its sister site Faneuil Hall, over 20 years ago.
“This project is personally very special to me, not only because of its historic significance to the City of Boston, but because it represents a memorable milestone in my own career,” commented Albanese.
The current work will include restoration of the distinctive statues of a lion and a unicorn atop the building’s east facade. This will entail lowering the statues by crane, and transporting them to a conservator’s studio, where they will be resurfaced with palladium and gold leaf. The two animals are drawn from Great Britain’s royal coat of arms – the unicorn symbolizing Scotland, and the lion representing England – placed on the building as emblems of the colonial government house inside.
For more history on the Old State House, visit http://www.bostonhistory.org/?s=osh&p=history
For more information regarding Commodore Builders, visit http://www.commodorebuilders.com/
