Brucemore is nearing completion of a multi-year preservation project on the exterior of the 1886 mansion. The final process has begun to reinstall the metal roof crests that were original to the Queen Anne structure. Removal of the crests and offsite treatment occurred in 2019; however, the reinstallation scheduled for late 2020 was delayed due to derecho damage that required the mansion slate roof to be replaced first.
Removal of the roof crests presented an opportunity for the first significant maintenance on the crests since the mansion was built over 130 years ago by Caroline Sinclair. Contractors aided by Brucemore staff assessed each piece of roof cresting for decay, rust, and other damage. While original material was reused as much as possible, advanced 3D technology allowed the creation of exact replicas.
Work on the roof cresting reflects only one aspect of the overall mansion envelope project, which aimed to address water and pest infiltration to the various materials that make up the building’s exterior. This reduces risk and damage to the mansion’s interior collection. The work completed through the mansion envelope project was made possible by the generous support of over 750 donors to the Pride & Preservation capital campaign, The Hall-Perrine Foundation, McIntyre Foundation, Iowa Economic Development Authority, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
