Restoring historic windows in Beau Jo’s!

January 5, 2012

The building’s original “transom” windows were removed and their frames were concealed for many years behind layers of stucco and sheet rock. Seen from within Beau Jo’s, facing Mountain Avenue, the new frames indicate the location for a new row of transom windows. New awnings over Beau Jo’s outdoor dining area will be pitched to reveal these beautiful windows.

We knew from historic photographs that the south-facing side of the Avery Building along Mountain Avenue – where Beau Jo’s is today – used to include a line of beautiful transom windows above the large storefront windows. But at some point during the last century, they were removed and the framing was covered over with stucco on the exterior and sheet rock on the interior. (If you’re having trouble imagining where this exterior wall has been, just think of Beau Jo’s distinctive red awnings.)

We removed the exterior stucco Monday and discovered the original framing for the windows. Once again, the original architectural personality of the Avery Building is coming to light!

The hidden frames confirmed the location and size of the originals, though after all these years the framing we found was too deteriorated to use. In any case, we also discovered an additional complication: The restaurant’s interior “drop ceiling” is now about 12” lower than the original ceiling. So, the original window framing extended 12” above the present-day ceiling.

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