In which the author describes the surprises (most of them unwelcome) of restoring a 1702 home, using period materials and methods. Many of the repairs were unanticipated: rotten structural supports discovered while working on the kitchen, mold in the bathroom, deteriorated brickwork, and shattered windows. His journey expertly examines our relationship to history through the homes we inhabit, beautifully articulating the philosophy of preserving...