“The journey of his old house is a joyous trip well told with warmth, reverence, and curiosity that will delight.”
In A House Restored, woodworker Lee McColgan trades the corporate ladder for a stepladder and takes on the daunting task of saving the 1702 Loring House in Pembroke, Massachusetts, using period materials and methods. What begins as an inspired preservation project quickly turns into a battle against time, rot, and the relentless wear of centuries—a crumbling frame that could collapse without warning, mold creeping through the walls, frozen pipes, shattered windows, and even a wayward chimney cap taking flight. Along the way, McColgan enlists an eclectic crew of preservationists, including a master mason named Irons, a stone whisperer, and the “Window Witch,” each offering lessons in craft and care. Set against the ticking clock of a holiday deadline, his story is part history, part philosophy, and part hands-on grit, exploring how the homes we save connect us to the past while shaping the meaning we carry forward.
Lee McColgan has worked on Boston’s Old North Church, Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, and other historic landmarks. His work has appeared in Architectural Digest, The Boston Globe, and The Wall Street Journal. He lives with his wife in the Loring House and shares his preservation work on Instagram at @helvehistorictrades.
Our Speaker Series is free & open to the public! Light refreshments will be served.
Get A House Restored on Amazon
This series is made possible by our generous sponsor, Christine Mayer, and is presented in partnership with the Wellesley Free Library.