Interpretive
Centre: East Block,
1886
The
Red Parlour, or Sisters' Parlour
hese
sombre feelings were appropriate to the other use of the room, which
was to lay out Sisters who had passed away, before the funeral services
in the chapel. Although another Sister was required to remain with
the body during this time, they were sometimes called away, briefly,
for an important reason. More than one curious student was given
a scare, as they peeked into the Red Parlour at the unexpected sight
of a coffin.
When the historic
restoration of this room began, it was the job of the painters to
study the woodwork. They needed to be able to reproduce the texture
of the painted wood grain, which was originally used to give the
inexpensive wood trim in the parlours and entrance area the appearance
of oak. Dan Evans, the foreman from Canadian Paint and Paper, took
courses in Vancouver to acquire knowledge of the woodgraining techniques.
Brushes, special woodgraining tools and metal combs were used in
this craft, to layer colour. Including the other areas of the Interpretive
Centre, almost 400 square metres of grained wood trim and panelling
were carefully restored. The painters felt that the painting technique
itself was not a challenge, but that replicating the brush strokes
of the historic painters was very difficult. Dan thought that by
"trying to get into the heads of the guys who did it originally",
he would be able to capture their woodgraining style.
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The plaster
ceiling in the Red Parlour had suffered damage from the years that
St. Ann's experienced neglect, after the closure of the school.
The building had also shifted over the years, warping the shape
of the walls and ceiling. The central medallions, which were the
mouldings around the light fixture, and the floral work in the shape
of dogwood flowers, were broken, had missing pieces and were water
damaged. The plasterers made rubber moulds of the plaster decorations
and replicated pieces to repair the damaged areas. This was a job
where modern tools were utilized in a traditional craft; not many
people still do plaster work in modern buildings. Other differences
between the traditional and restored plaster work included the rubber
moulds to shape the decorative pieces, instead of gelatine moulds.
Lime and plaster of Paris were used to attach plaster work to the
ceiling.
The walls of the parlour were also re-coated in plaster, which was
given an unpolished finish, according to the instructions of the
architect. Plastered walls are usually given a high polish. This
material was fireproofed for the 1990s restoration, another consideration
of modern building codes.
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This room has
been used by many people, for many diverse purposes. When the Academy
closed and it was no longer a formal parlour, it became a board
room, for the meetings of the Provincial Capital Commission. It
has been used as a set, for the filming of cinematic productions.
Currently, it is open to visitors to the Interpretive Centre at
St. Ann's Academy. Guests can sit quietly, gazing at the paintings,
or, during the Christmas Season, they can sip hot cider after choir
concerts in the chapel and leave gifts for children in need, under
the Christmas tree. This parlour enjoys its modern uses!
More
on the Interpretive Centre
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