Molding

The plaster came from the fourth floor of Kingston City Hall in the room which was once the live-in caretaker's apartment. John Ballantyne (1903-1928) was one of the longest serving in the post. Other caretakers included Arthur and Caroline Singleton, who lived here for 12 years (1929-1941). The last tenants, Arthur and Bessie Davis (1943-1963), lived with their son Vincent, an electrician with the Fire Department. Floor Plans from early 1900s show three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a dining and living rooms. Renovations in 1973 converted the apartment into offices. The plaster of the crown molding is reinforced with animal hair, a traditional method common in plaster work from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, especially in high-end construction such as the construction of civic buildings, religious buildings, and upper-class residential homes, until the rise in popularity of gypsum and plastic moldings.