06/10/2026
As we begin packing the Lawrence House in preparation for restoration, it's hard not to wonder how these rooms changed over the decades. Historic houses aren't frozen in time—they evolve with the families who live in them. Wallpaper is replaced, walls are paneled, ceilings are lowered, furniture is rearranged, and each generation leaves its mark.
From our collection are a few snapshots that capture moments in the dining room over the years. What makes them especially fascinating is that they all show the same room, despite looking remarkably different from one another.
One photograph, taken on January 17, 1960, shows Onyx L. Summers seated at the dining room table, surrounded by floral wallpaper and draperies. Another, taken in May 1979, shows Fowler and Onyx Summers standing behind Garnet and Opal Lawrence gathered in the same dining room, which by then featured wood-paneled walls and a drop ceiling.
As the house enters its next chapter, the timelapse that follows shows staff carefully packing artifacts and furnishings before restoration work begins. Construction projects create dust and vibration, making it important to secure the collection before work starts.
These photographs remind us that preservation isn't just about buildings—it's about the people who lived in them and the many layers of history they left behind.
1960 photograph inscription: "Onyx L. Summers. Made Jan. 17, 1960."
1979 photograph inscription: "Made in May 1979. In back Fowler and Onyx Summers. In front on left Garnet Lawrence, right Opal Lawrence. Made in Opal's dining room."
