Paris, Tenn.–Thanks to a Tennessee Historical Commission grant, the Paris Academy for the Arts is receiving a much-needed facelift of historic windows. Master Craftsman Pete Lamon of Sevierville has been working at the Academy for his son, Donald, replacing windows in the hallway between the main building and the Ray Harding Lunchroom building.
Lamon is a retired county mayor and restorer. “I do a lot of work with the Tennessee Commission,” he said.
Lamon has been working on the project for some time, ensuring that the restoration is accurate. There are twelve wood sash windows and two wood fixed transom windows that have deteriorated since installation, probably about 100 years ago when the lunchroom was added.
Lamon has been hand-building the windows. Lamon said this week all the windows have been replaced with weighted sash windows that are the same style and shape as those placed in the building. “They ought to last 75 years,” he said.
Academy officials said, “We at the Academy are excited about this significant update to the building, something we have long needed, but finding financial assistance in the form of a grant took a while. The windows are the first phase in a project that will include refurbishing the walls, floor and lighting in that hallway.”
Shannon McFarlin photo.