History Under Foot and Under Way

By TIM ANDERSON

March 27, 2008

After nearly 30 years of public wear, the Wilton carpet in the main hall, grand staircase and second-floor hall became threadbare beyond repair. The Curatorial Committee discussed options for replacing the wall-to-wall carpet. Because of the volume of foot traffic and hardwood floors that could not withstand another sanding, the Committee recommended replacing the worn-out Wilton with another wall-to-wall carpet.

The next decision was pattern. The Terrace Hill Societys collection included two Persian runners formerly used by the Hubbell family in the same areas where carpet needed replacement. The Curatorial Committee viewed the runners in place and was very impressed with the Baktyari one.

The challenge then became finding a carpet manufacturer that could replicate the pattern in a wall-to-wall installation. Terrace Hills former administrator, David Cordes, and I researched manufacturers and learned that modern technology would make the process possible limited only by the number of colors looms could accommodate.

Decision-making moved on to selecting either an Axminster weave or a Wilton weave. The Committee analyzed the pros and cons, deciding finally on the Wilton. Only one manufacturer (a company in Great Britain) could accommodate the number of colors in a Wilton carpet, so vendor selection was narrowed. The Committee then wrote the specifications for the state bidding process.

The manufacturer has provided full-scale patterns and three rounds of yarn samples for color-matching to the Hubbell runners. At the time of this writing, the Committee is awaiting a strike off of the new carpet for final approval. Installation should take place before the end of summer 2008. The carpet replacement project is being made possible in part by a generous grant from the Windsor Charitable Foundation.

Passing through Des Moines on Christmas morning on his way home to Garner, Tim Anderson stopped by Terrace Hill with the final round of yarn samples. The officers were a bit surprised to see a Society board member on his hands and knees at 3:00 a.m. on a holiday comparing yarn colors. That kind of dedication to detail and delivery on deadlines is indicative of the care that goes into making Terrace Hill historically accurate and incomparably beautiful.

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