our key.

While the house at 315 Thomas Avenue is unmistakably an architectural treasure as a whole, we consider many of the tiny parts that make up that whole to be treasures on their own.  One of those is our beautiful house key.

With the house came a tiny box of keys... and in it was this beautiful key that opens the grand doors at the front entrance (west side) and the side entrance (north side).  After oiling, the locking mechanisms and key still work perfectly together after more than 100 years.

The key is ornate and beautifully states "Sargent & Co" on the back - and "New Haven, Conn" on the front around the ring. It also says "Patented Feb.10 ,91 - Aug.10 , 97" which would be February 10, 1891 - August 10, 1897.

I was adamant about keeping these original doors, and thanks to Mike's ingenuity we were able to preserve the damaged veneer on the front door and it once again looks beautiful. (See previous post : mike's projects  November 2011.)

The trouble has come in having another key made. This old key is shorter and stockier than the key blanks that are made for present day locks.  But low and behold, last month I found a hardware store in Lindsborg, Kansas that did it!  I love Lindsborg anyway, but now I have yet another reason to admire their town.  (I stay overnight in Lindsborg on my frequent trips to Dallas to break up the trip.)  Michael at Lindsborg Hardware located an older blank, and then altered it a bit to resemble our very vintage key - and viola! it opens the doors. 

Even though our family's entering and exiting will happen through the back (east) door, it was uncomfortable to only have one beautiful key to open the other doors.  Thank you Lindsborg Hardware!