This is not a project for those who are faint of heart, but to those who care about history and preserving it, it's worth the effort. The Friends of the Thompson House members certainly fit that criteria. Although winter has slowed the restoration process, preparations for spring and summer continue. If you would like to contribute to the restoration of the Thompson House go to our website at:
http://friendsofthethompsonhouse.com/donation.html
I am the grandson of Field Thompson. I am interested in hearing about plans to restore this house. It looks like it needs to be taken apart and put back together again as bricks are breaking where mortar has started to give, especially in several sections of the front wall where the wall seems to be caving in. It looks like the walls are two bricks thick. Is that right?
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly the walls are three bricks deep. (The house that we are restoring is three bricks deep and was built in the same county as the Thompson House-see our blog at iceretired.blogspot.com)
ReplyDeleteNot much has happened since acquiring the house except for cleanup. This spring/summer the walls will be taken down to a point where the damaged bricks can be replaced and then rebuilt. Most of the brick damage is due to the felling of a tree that accidentally landed on the house. Repointing will also be on the restoration schedule. The foundation and most of the walls seem to be quite sound, but as I have learned from my own restoration project the unexpected should be expected. Timber (similar to the original timber) has been donated and will be milled and used for roof trusses, interior framing and trimwork. The plans are to restore the house to its original condition which would include rooms that are no longer standing. The house was L-shaped with attached rooms serving as a medical office/hospital. Those rooms will need to be rebuilt. Once restored the organization would like to use the house for educational purposes and Chautauqua(s). The organization’s goal is to preserve a part of history that was instrumental in the settling of Northwestern Missouri.
My wife researched the Thompson family history and does not recall the name of “Field Thompson”. Could you tell me if he is related to William Preston Thompson? and if so, then How?