Built in 1886 and listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the McConnell Mansion in Moscow, Idaho is a mixture of Victorian-era styles that include Eastlake, Italianate, and Gothic Revival. The Latah County Historical Society has recently embarked on preserving the large, 2-over-1 lite double hung wood windows in its two story bay window towers. Preserving rather than replacing these windows will maintain the character defining features of the openings on both the exterior’s intricately layered trim and on the interior where the trim has a very specific finish called Faux Graining.

At first glance, it looks as if the wood used in framing these doors and windows has a rich, textured grain. If you look closely, however, you can see the grain is actually painted on cheaper wood. This was a common practice in the private rooms of older buildings, allowing the builders to save money on expensive lumber, while still providing a similar visual impression.

By recreating this technique and keeping this delightful detail in tact, the story the Mansion tells remains intact and informs our understanding of both the style and inhabitants of this remarkable piece of Idaho history.