Lecture: Examing Paint Colors

Join us for an afternoon examining paint colors in Historic Odessa! This lecture/ tour by Catherine Adams Masek, will include an hour long power point presentation in the Bank building to acquaint us with the paint colors that were popular c.1700-1900, the usage of such colors in Odessa, and other neighbouring communities with the scientific approaches employed to study such finishes. Before and after images of historic houses, outbuildings, courthouses, and state houses from New Castle, Kent and Sussex County, as well as selected Maryland buildings will be included in the discussion, along with illustrations from historic paint literature and catalogues, showing recipes, machinery, tools, equipment, colors and suggested application. A walking tour will follow that will lead us into the Collins Sharp House, Wilson Warner House, Brick hotel and Bank building to learn about site specific historic paint colors and unusual, unexpected and exciting situations that were encountered! Learn why the paint colors have changed on the exterior of HOF buildings, how such colors reflect their time, how settlement patterns, waterways and communications affected early paint colors, what tools have been used in paints analyses, and how such studies are important to the documentation and restoration of historic structures.