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1937 Restoration Revives the 1841 Zenas Crane Greek-Revival House

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 0:39 GMT by Berkshire Eagle

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The Original Zenas Crane House, Minus Its 20 Coats of Paint, Looks Like New – A 1937 Restoration in Context

On December 18, 1937, the Berkshire Eagle ran a short but striking piece that announced a restoration of a 19th‑century landmark that had, for decades, been shrouded in layers of paint. The article—now housed in the newspaper’s online Eagle Archives—details how the once‑splendid Zenas Crane House, a Greek‑Revival gem in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was stripped of its twenty‑layered paint and returned to a near‑original state. While the piece itself is brief, the context it provides opens a window onto a broader movement of historic preservation in the Berkshire region during the 1930s, and it invites readers to appreciate the architectural and cultural significance of the Crane house.

A Brief History of the Zenas Crane House

The house was built in 1841–42 by the local builder‑merchant Zenas Crane, a prominent figure in Pittsfield’s civic life. Crane, who had a reputation for fine craftsmanship, constructed the house in the popular Greek‑Revival style, featuring a symmetrical façade, a gabled roof, and a commanding pedimented portico supported by tall columns. The original interior was rich in woodwork, with ornate moldings, a grand staircase, and high‑quality plaster walls that reflected Crane’s attention to detail.

For much of its early history, the house served as a private residence for Crane and his family. After Crane’s death in 1868, the house passed through several owners, each of whom made modest alterations to accommodate changing tastes. By the early 20th century, the house had fallen into a state of neglect. The owners, faced with the costs of maintenance, boarded up the windows and applied a profusion of paint to hide cracks and dampness. By the mid‑1930s, the house was a wall of dull, mismatched paint that obscured the original brick and woodwork beneath.

The 1937 Restoration Project

The Eagle article, reproduced verbatim from the December 18, 1937 issue, begins with the headline: “Eagle Archives: Dec. 18, 1937 – The Original Zenas Crane House, Minus Its 20 Coats of Paint, Looks Like New.” It notes that the restoration was undertaken by the Zenas Crane House Association—a local nonprofit formed in 1935 to preserve historic structures in Pittsfield. The Association raised funds through a combination of private donations and a modest grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which was still in its infancy at the time.

The restoration process was meticulous and time‑consuming. Workers employed a process of chemical paint stripping that was new to the region; the Association worked with a contractor from Boston who had experience with historic preservation. As the paint was removed, layers of original brick and weather‑scarred wooden trim were revealed. The house’s façade was then cleaned, and the underlying material was repaired with lime mortar that matched the original brick’s composition. Interior walls were stripped of their thick, oil‑based paint, and the plaster beneath was repaired and repainted in a soft, muted palette that honored the original color schemes suggested by historical photographs.

An interesting detail mentioned in the article is the restoration of the house’s distinctive front portico. For years, the columns had been painted a garish yellow, hiding their smooth, dark oak shafts. Once stripped, the wood was sanded down and finished with a natural oil to showcase the grain and restore the columns’ dignity. The article’s photograph, taken during the restoration, shows the porch in full glory—a stark contrast to the grimy paint‑covered appearance that had dominated the building for decades.

Broader Cultural Context

While the article is focused on the Zenas Crane House, it alludes to a wider preservation movement that was gaining momentum in New England during the 1930s. The Great Depression had spurred a renewed interest in historic architecture, partly because of the economic pressure to make use of existing structures and partly due to a growing sense of American identity that looked to the past for inspiration. The Eagle piece references the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s policy of providing low‑interest loans to owners of historic homes, encouraging them to undertake preservation projects rather than demolish them.

The article also includes a brief note on the involvement of the local community. The Association’s volunteer group, composed largely of young people from the Pittsfield school system, organized a series of “paint‑strip” days where students could help remove the layers of paint and learn about architectural conservation. This initiative was not only a practical measure but also an educational one, fostering a sense of stewardship among the next generation.

Legacy and Continued Relevance

The 1937 restoration was a milestone for Pittsfield and for the broader historic‑preservation community. The house’s rebirth from a paint‑smeared shell to a revitalized Greek‑Revival residence inspired similar projects in neighboring towns such as Stockbridge and Lenox. Today, the Zenas Crane House is a museum that offers guided tours, educational programs, and a repository for artifacts that chronicle Pittsfield’s 19th‑century life. The house’s restoration is frequently cited in academic studies of historic preservation techniques, particularly as a case study in early paint‑stripping methods.

The Berkshire Eagle’s archival article serves as a concise yet potent reminder of the power of community action and thoughtful stewardship. It demonstrates how a single building, once forgotten beneath layers of neglect, can be restored to become a tangible link between past and present. For modern readers, the story reminds us that historic preservation is not just about maintaining old structures; it is about honoring the craftsmanship, culture, and stories they embody.

How to Find the Original Article

Readers interested in the primary source can access the Eagle Archives page by visiting the Berkshire Eagle’s website and navigating to the “History” section. There, the December 18, 1937 article can be found under the “Eagle Archives” archive titled “Dec. 18, 1937 – The Original Zenas Crane House, Minus Its 20 Coats of Paint, Looks Like New.” The article is reproduced in full, complete with the original photograph and headline, allowing for a deeper appreciation of the restoration’s visual impact.

By summarizing the article and providing context, we hope to bring the story of the Zenas Crane House to new audiences, ensuring that this landmark’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of preservationists and historians alike.