Celebrating Preservation: Fresh Paint Transforms John Paul Jones House

“Watching paint dry has been one of the best things to happen at the John Paul Jones House since the fall, and that’s not because we are closed for the season, but because of how anticipated this much-needed preservation work has been,” said a member of the organization.

The Portsmouth Historical Society is proud to announce the completion of a significant interior restoration project at the historic John Paul Jones House, made possible by a $5,000 grant from Americana Corner’s Preserving America program. This grant has funded the painting of five rooms within the historic 18th-century property, serving as an act of stewardship for this National Historic Landmark.

The John Paul Jones House, a stately Georgian structure erected in 1758 for Gregory and Sarah Purcell, stands as a testament to the rich history of Portsmouth. During the American Revolution, John Paul Jones, the celebrated naval hero, may have rented a room here in 1777 when it was operated as a boarding house. The property exchanged hands several times before finally becoming a museum operated by the Portsmouth Historical Society in 1920.

The recent restoration addressed the challenges of time and climate on the house’s interior. “Humidity has been our greatest adversary, leading to deteriorated paint exacerbated by the home’s age, alongside damage from past leaks,” explained Molly Liolios, Collections Manager. Douglas Grant Painting undertook the restoration work, sanding the old chipped paint, making necessary patches, and applying fresh paint to the rooms.

“Visitors to the John Paul Jones House will no longer be distracted from the incredible history and material on display by peeling paint. I can’t wait to welcome people back once we open Memorial Day Weekend,” said Jessica Kliskey, John Paul Jones House Site Manager, expressing her excitement for the reopening.

The Portsmouth Historical Society thanks Americana Corner for their support in preserving a critical piece of America’s heritage. The public is invited to witness the transformation of the John Paul Jones House when it reopens for the 2025 season on Memorial Day Weekend.

ABOUT PORTSMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Portsmouth Historical Society’s museums and programs connect the community to our past, present, and future through collections, interpretation, education, and preservation. It operates two facilities: the Welcome Center and Galleries and the John Paul Jones House. The Portsmouth Historical Society serves as a cultural hub for Portsmouth, providing visitors and the community with rotating exhibitions, dynamic programming, historic walking tours, and a museum shop of unique Portsmouth gifts and books. Located at 10 Middle Street, they are open daily from 10am-5pm, from April through December. For further information, please call 603-436-8433 or visit PortsmouthHistory.org.

ABOUT AMERICANA CORNER
Americana Corner was founded by Tom Hand in 2020 as an online resource to help others rediscover America’s incredible founding and first century of expansion. From the American Revolution to the settlement of the American West, from the Declaration of Independence to the Emancipation Proclamation, and from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, Americana Corner contains positive stories of the great events, founding documents, and inspirational leaders who helped create and shape our country. Perhaps most importantly, Tom discusses why these events and people from so long ago still matter to us today.