A large gilt mirror (74” x 44”) that once belonged to the Royal Governor Thomas Hutchinson (1711-1780) whose home “Unquety” was on Adams Street on Milton Hill, has been restored and will be hung in the Reading Room of the Milton Pulic Library. The mirror was donated to the Milton Historical Society in 1918 by Miss Mary Rivers, a descendant of Barney Smith who had purchased the Hutchinson estate in the early nineteenth century.

The mirror hung for years in the Milton Public Library World War II Reading Room but needed to be crated and stored during the recent library renovations. After the library reopened the Milton Historical Society contacted Susan Jackson of Harvard Art (an art restoration company in Harvard) who confirmed that the mirror was American-made and that it predated the American Revolution. The Board contracted with Harvard Art to repair and conserve the Hutchinson mirror under the supervision of Ms. Susan Jackson.

The Society, curator of the mirror, voted to conserve the Hutchinson mirror in memory of Jeannette Lithgow Peverly (1914-2009). Ms. Peverly was a stalwart member of the historical society and a long time member of many Milton organizations, including the Milton Women’s Club, the Forbes House Museum, the First Parish Church in Milton, Fuller Village and the Milton Public Library. She was a lifetime learner who loved the library and was a volunteer fixture on Saturday’s for many years. The Historical Society is conserving the mirror to honor Ms. Peavey and acknowledge her helpful and generous donations of time, energy and service to the society and the town.

The trustees of the Milton Public Library are welcoming the mirror back with open arms. The mirror to be re-hung in the Reading Room where it can be enjoyed by all. The public is warmly invited to join the Historical Society on September 14th at 7 PM in the Reading Room to celebrate this occasion.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Reading Room / Milton Public Library / Milton, MA

Below are photographs of the restored mirror and Lordes Requena of Harvard Art working on the restoration.