James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2017 Montpelier_WTP_Spring2017_FINAL-1-web | Page 4

WE THE PEOPLE
HIGHLIGHTS
New Excavations on Temple Ice House
The restoration of Mr. Madison’s
Temple is in full swing, and all of
the Portland cement around the
Temple’s base has been removed.
Because this cement was holding
in moisture, the Madison-era
brick below began to crumble.
Montpelier’s preservation team had
bricks handmade and wood-fired to
match the size of this historic brick,
and has begun brickwork repair. In
the coming months, archaeology
excavations around the doorway
to the icehouse below the Temple
will be complete, and we will restore
the doorway and brick retaining
walls. The final project will be
painting the roof Madison-era red.
This phase of Temple restoration will
be complete in time for the grand
opening of our new exhibition, The
Mere Distinction of Colour.
4