Think Pink, Brown, or Yellow...

Millbury Sutton Chronicle article dated July 3, 2022

Vintage Millbury “Think Pink…or yellow or brown”

By Kristen Livoti

Can you picture the Asa Waters painted pink? Most people don’t realize that the Asa Waters Mansion has been painted several different colors throughout its existence-usually based on the fashion trends of the day. In 1998, an exterior paint study was performed utilizing original paint chips, albeit very small paint chips, that had been preserved when the building was de-leaded. There were five period identified. Period 2 showed that the mansion was painted yellow or gold (think a golden yellow, rather than a gold lamé). This would have been the time of muted colors of the early 19th century. Period 3 shows a move to more creative color palettes. The body of the building was a very pale pink with mauve trim. We are not sure about the shutters but they may have been a darker pink color and you would definitely have found mauve on ornamental features such as the dental trim on the porch entablature. Colors of this type were popular during the mid-late 19th century. Period 4 brings us to late 19th century where brown was color of choice. Various shades of brown were used, including dark brown on the columns and pilasters, which stood out against the pale brown of the body. This color scheme was utilized for many years until a solid white scheme with black shutters was chosen and this latest Period 5 is the one that most people will recognize as the bright white color of the mansion but what color was Period 1? What color is original to the mansion? Well, you might notice that the mansion is currently being painted. With repeated paint studies, the original color has been identified as a cream, rather than a white and this cream is currently being put back on to the mansion. As we approach the mansion’s 200th anniversary, we are bringing the mansion back to its original color. When you look up at this venerable building, give a thought to the many colors that have been applied in the past. Realize how much fashion dictates the color of the house and try to picture the mansion today in a pink or a brown.