Next Restoration Project - Service Gallery

With the completion of the billiard room, we have begun our next restoration project - the east service gallery. This gallery connected the billiard room, and likely two bedrooms with a bathroom at the end. Before 1859, the gallery was essentially an open porch. With the construction of the grand salon in 1859-60 both the east and west galleries were enclosed. In 1913, with the joining of Belmont College and Ward School into one entity, the galleries were totally reconfigured.

An historic photo in our collection hints at the pre-1913 appearance. From 1913 to early in the 21st century this gallery has changed multiple times. With the discovery of an original billiard room door opening to the gallery in 2020, we began to consider a full restoration.

2025 saw significant progress on the Service Gallery thanks to a state grant and private donations. The Tennessee State Museum awarded a grant to do basic construction work including demolition, electrical work, new flooring, new ceiling and framing doorways. Thanks to matching private donations, the space is ready for phase two of the restoration. As of this date the gallery has been stripped of all modern additions and a period-appropriate random width floor has been laid. Next an extension of the original wall (removed in 1913) will be restored.

Pictured here is the space with modern features, two construction images, and the space as it is today, with a new ceiling and floor installed.