Progress at the historic home of reconstruction-era Gov. George S. Houston is slow but steady. The federal-style structure was converted into a public library in the 1930s and has seen significant wear and tear over the years. The second phase of a multi-phase repair and restoration project costing several hundred thousand dollars began in August.

A new roof, the replacement of a deteriorating chimney that was not original to the house, extensive electrical work, added insulation and the replacement of much of the siding on the back side of the home have been paid for by a combination of Houston Memorial Library board funds and a matching $100,000 grant from the city of Athens.

“At this point, most — but not all — of the $200,000 has been spent,” Houston Memorial Library Board Chairwoman Anita Raby said. “We have been applying for grants and seeking donations from the community to make up the deficit.”

A Houston Memorial Library and Museum Foundation was recently formed to help raise funds for continued restoration.

Despite budget shortfalls, Phase 2 is in full swing, according to city inspector Bert Bradford.

“When we did the chimney work on the west side of the house and started looking at the parlor and how we would repair the plaster walls, we discovered where two original windows had been covered by plaster,” Bradford said. “No one can recollect these windows, so they may have been filled in as much as 100 years ago.”

The replacement of the windows is no small project. The Athens Historical Society requires that restoration projects follow original specifications and materials as closely as possible. After a good bit of research, Bradford turned to the Mennonites to custom-build the windows, which are made of an Australian wood that is weather-proof and most closely resembles heart pine, the original material. A special hand-blown glass with a wavy appearance also had to be ordered.

“The goal here is to make everything look as period-correct as possible, so that when people look at the house, they will not notice you did anything,” Brandon said.

The installation of a bathroom that accommodates visitors with disabilities also falls under Phase 2. Lowes in Athens donated all the fixtures for the new bathroom.

Initial plans to restore the governor’s parlor, where Houston’s grand piano and writing desk still sit, are also part of the second phase. Once upon a time, the room served as the fiction section of the library, but all the books have been removed to make way for renovations.

“The parlor has a ways to go,” Raby said. “The governor loved to entertain his guests in this room, and we want to restore it to it original splendor. Eventually, we would like to be able to open up the parlor for events and to give school-aged children the chance to experience a piece of living history.”

Raby would also like to replace the existing fireplace with the original, which she has a sneaking suspicion may still be in a home here in Athens.

“If they would return it to us, even on loan, it would make such a difference in making the governor’s home as authentic as possible,” she said.

According to Raby, the hanging of the governor’s portrait to its rightful place above the fireplace will “be another major step to returning the parlor to its original state.”

The portrait was in desperate need of restoration, having been blackened by years of exposure to coal, wood soot, dirt, old varnish and tobacco smoke. The restoration committee commissioned Huntsville-based conservator and restorer Bill Lewis to complete the work.

“We couldn’t be more pleased about the result,” Raby said.

When the home reopens, it will continue to serve the community as a public library, but the parlor will no longer house books. Instead, it will serve as the historical centerpiece of the home.

Despite the fact that the home is still a work in progress, Raby hopes that by Thanksgiving, enough progress will have been made for the library to reopen.

“That will be an exciting day for the people of Athens,” Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “The home is a significant piece of our history, and a lot of people don’t realize it’s right here in our community.”