Lighthouse Scene mural

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It was in research for the restoration of our present 1790's home that led me to the discovery of Rufus Porter. Journalist, inventor, portrait painter and world traveler, Rufus Porter was an amazing personality. Perhaps his most noted accomplishment was that of his wall murals. Traveling throughout New England in the early 19th century he painted wall murals of simple but breathtaking beauty. Often they gave a striking, panoramic view of the homes, villages and rural life of the times. With gracious good fortune many of those original murals still exist today. Diligent research and miles or travel have led me to find, photograph and document as many of these treasures as possible. It has also led me to recreate those murals with an historical faithfulness to style, color and composition

The journey of discovery began in 1970 with the purchase of our first home in East Barre, Vermont. After years of restoration, that 18th century central chimney cape became the first private home in that area to be placed on the National Register of Historic sites. We now live in Westminster where the central village was deemed so special that the entire broad avenue of 18th and 19th century homes was protected by being placed on the National Register.