Community Book Event: A House Restored by Lee McColgan
In partnership with our friends at Charter Books, join us for a community book discussion with author Lee McColgan, who will speak about and sign his new book, A House Restored— a lyrical, meditative memoir about his journey through restoring the Loring House, built in 1702 in Pembroke, Massachusetts.
Doors open at 5:30 PM for you to explore the Museum, and the talk begins at 6:00 PM.
This FREE event is open to all, but please register here in advance.
To purchase your copy of A House Restored from locally-owned bookstore Charter Books, please use this link: https://www.charterbookstore.com/book/9781682688366
About A House Restored:
Shop Class as Soulcraft meets A Place of My Own in this lyrical meditation of a woodworker steadfastly repairing a historic home.
Old houses share their secrets only if they survive. Trading the corporate ladder for a stepladder, Lee McColgan commits to preserving the ramshackle Loring House, built in 1702, using period materials and methods and on a holiday deadline. But his enchantment withers as he discovers the massive repairs it needs. A small kitchen fix reveals that the structure’s rotten frame could collapse at any moment. In a bathroom, mold appears and spreads. He fights deteriorating bricks, frozen pipes, shattered windows, a punctured foundation, and even an airborne chimney cap while learning from a diverse cast of preservationists, including a master mason named Irons, a stone whisperer, and the Window Witch. But can he meet his deadline before family and friends arrive, or will it all come crashing down? McColgan’s journey expertly examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit, beautifully articulating the philosophy of preserving the past to find purpose for the future.
About Lee McColgan:
Lee McColgan has worked on Boston’s Old North Church, Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, and other buildings. His work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Boston Globe, and Wall Street Journal. He lives with his wife in the Loring House in Pembroke, Massachusetts.
About our partner, Charter Books:
Founded in 2020, Charter Books is a Newport-based business whose mission is to cultivate community and a robust local culture through a broad selection of books, programming, and the free exchange of ideas. We’re committed to exceptional customer service and the values of inclusion, diversity, and independence.