This week I will contacting (hopefully) some folks who can take a piece of the “brick wall” that is still attached to the top of Tara’s roof line and analyze it to tell me what it’s made of. I have a brick that was attached to a cornice and it is made out of particle board I believe….but….I think all the types of wood and construction material left of the Tara façade should be given a closer look so that….IF…I do start building the thing….I’ll know what to build it with.
The photo I have posted this morning is of one of the hinge straps that were attached to a window shutter from the second floor of Tara. The photo is not the best but if you look close you will see possible hammer marks and deformities that make the shutter look hand made. Now, the question is,…is it handmade or was it simply “distressed” to make it look as though it was made by a blacksmith during the 1800’s. After having seen the efforts Selznick’s crew took in “making” knot holes on the side porch steps,…it would not surprise me to know that they did the same movie magic here.
The next part of the project that I want to begin is getting someone to document the pieces of the Fitzgerald House that are in the barn. Phillip Fitzgerald’s (M. Mitchells great grandfather) house (called Rural Home) was also saved by Betty Talmadge and since Margaret Mitchell herself said it was her model for Tara it deserves to be saved and displayed also. So those who claimed they wanted to help better go out and buy a new pair of work gloves cause things are going to get a little busy “round the barn”.
But that all starts tomorrow and not today, so enjoy your time of rest with your family and I’ll be seeing you,…up at the gate.
Peter
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