Welcome to the Front Foyer and Central Stairs
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◼ T.F. Schneider made extensive use of stained glass throughout the home. The Foyer includes the first two of seventeen original stained glass windows.
◼ The famous “Angel Window” is a masterpiece of opalescent glass designed by the Ford Studio in Boston.
◼ Railings are made of carved mahogany, stairs of cherry wood, and panels from red oak. (see picture below). -
◼ The “Standing Lion” Statue is believed to have been removed by Russell Sage College prior to our acquisition of the property. (see B&W photo below).
◼ The lower panel of the “Angel Window” was badly damaged in the 1960s. When Chapman Studios repaired the window, we misread the poor quality photographs and used the word “crying” instead of “sighing.” in the quote from Shakespeare.
◼ There is an obscure link between this house and Andy Warhol. Contact us if you can figure it out! -
◼ The “Angle Window” was restored in the 1980s and has been protected with a layer of glass facing toward the staircase.
◼ Seventeen stained glass windows were restored in the mid 1980s by Chapman Studios.
◼ The current wall coverings were installed during the filming of The Age of Innocence.
◼ Volunteers have replaced many broken and split red oak panels using a custom router bit. -
◼ Refresh the wall coverings with period-correct fire retardant fabric.
◼ Clean, repaint, restore gilded woodwork.
◼ Restore the light fixtures with period-correct finishes and glass globes.
◼ Renovate the windows with energy efficient seals, counterweights and functional storm windows.
Amazing picture of the Foyer after construction from the late 1890s. See the Standing Lion?
Thank you @manly.urbex for this wonderful shot!
The carvings on the stairs above the bench represent the Paine family crest. Below you can see the French "Toujours Paine" or "Forever Paine"..
Angel Window from Edwin R. Ford
Hosts in period costume during Troy's Victorian Stroll Open House
Examples of red oak test panels handmade by one of our volunteers with a custom router bit.
The crest of Rensselaer Technical Society, a local-only fraternity. RTS was only active at Rensselaer. In 1931, the Brothers of RTS joined Pi Kappa Phi and became part of the national fraternity. Click through and check pg. 15 to read about it.
