The plasterwork that was done during construction of the famed Capt. George Flavel House on Eighth Street was likely completed in just 30 days by a crew of workers.

On Saturday and Sunday, a group of students and instructors from Clatsop Community College will replicate a small portion of that work by replacing plaster crown molding that was damaged many decades ago.

The Clatsop County Historical Society has been wanting to replace the ornately formed molding on the house since its loss was recorded in 2000. McAndrew Burns, executive director of the nonprofit organization, said the required work was never something they had the expertise to do in house.

Its just good timing and a good partnership, Burns said of the work being done at the museum this weekend.

About 12 feet of molding is missing from an upper corner in the Library Room, which faces Duane Street on the first floor of the house. Directly above the room, on the second floor, was Capt. George Flavels bedroom chamber. It is believed that water seeped in through the roof during a period following World War II when the house was vacant and owned by Clatsop County. It damaged part of the bedroom molding as well.

The captains bedroom didnt lose as much, but Im sure there was a giant puddle, said Matt Powers, the facilities manager for the organizations museums.

To create the molding the group will use a mixture of lime and gauging plaster. The construction material is commonly a mix of a dry calcium powder, sand and water.

About 12 students from the colleges Historic Preservation and Restoration program are expected to take part in the workshop this weekend.

Idea dawns

Powers graduated from the program two years ago and had the idea for the project after working with plaster as a student with Brian Peterson, a plastering instructor with Tongue Point Jobs Corps. Powers has worked for the historical society for about a year and conducted a work study with the organization while completing his courses.

When I started working here, it was in my mind because we had done a project with Brian, he said about replacing the molding. I assumed and I was right that hed be very excited to do the cornice work because they dont get to do it very often.

Thats one of the nice things about this, said Burns. Hes giving back to his program now by finding projects like this.

The public will be able to view the work being done over the weekend. To replicate the exact form of the original molding, Powers and others took precise measurements and created a template last weekend. It is made out of sheet metal and will create the same grooves when placed against the new plaster where the wall meets the ceiling. A separate template was made for replacing the plasterwork in the captains bedroom as well. Students will be creating the bedroom molding separately on a piece of plywood and attaching it later.

One of the things we like to think about or talk about is that these buildings are handmade and they are meant to be taken apart, disassembled and repaired, said John Goodenberger, an instructor in the program.

Ripe for help

In the Victorian-style Flavel home, Goodenberger said there is a greater ability to restore and fix areas compared to modern homes.

The affluence of Flavel who made his money originally from a bar piloting and towing business in the mid-1800s is evident by the presence of the crown molding. At the time of construction, which began in 1885, the interior walls were done using the lath and plaster process, which uses thin pieces of wood held together with plaster and placed against the framing. More plaster is placed on top to create the wall surface.

To add the extra molding youre talking a higher-end house, said Goodenberger.

The Library Room is full of scaffolding and furniture has been covered in anticipation of Saturday and Sundays workshop. Burns said the organization wouldnt think of having the work done during the busy summer, so the timing worked out well and the ability to have the college program work on the restoration is exciting.