Restoration Round-Up
A 'Round-Up' of the Duncan Tavern Facebook Posts about the Restoration of the Pianos
August 12, 2025
Soon after State Regent Julia Hood took office, a donor pledged a gift of almost $20,000 to restore two antique pianos to playing condition. The pianos, which have been on display on the first floor of the Tavern, were removed today to Schmidt’s Piano Service in Lexington so that restoration can begin. The pianos should be back at the Tavern no later than November. On December 21 at 2:30 p.m., a special Christmas concert will be held at the Tavern, featuring carols and classical tunes. Thank you to this generous donor for giving Miss Hood the first significant lead gift of this administration.
August 13, 2025
Back in June, a generous donor of the Lexington Chapter contacted me, as chairman of the Tavern. She said: It bothers me that those pianos on the first floor are not in playing condition. I told her I would have them evaluated to see if they could be repaired. After weeks of searching and consulting, we settled on Russell Schmidt with Schmidt’s Piano Repair. Russell and his associate came to the Tavern on June 24 and after an hour-long examination, determined that both instruments could be fixed. In the meantime, Site Coordinator Nate Baker and Collections Chairman Sara Elliott launched a research project. At first, the donor planned to only repair one piano, but after learning more about the history of the pianos, she came forward with an offer to repair BOTH. These pictures were taken on June 24, when Schmidt’s first evaluated the instruments.
September 04, 2025
The restoration of two antique pianos owned by the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution is underway! Both pianos have been disassembled. One of them should be returned to Duncan Tavern Historic Center by October 1, the other one about a month later. Russell Schmidt and Dennis Mayhew are performing the work. These two beauties will be back home at Duncan Tavern in time for a Christmas concert on December 21st!
September 17, 2025
It’s NATIONAL PIANO MONTH! Read more about the two pianos now under restoration, owned by the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution and housed at Duncan Tavern Historic Center. Mark your calendars for December 21, when these instruments will be reintroduced to Paris-Bourbon County!