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In Victorian period, technology and art was interlinked in a way that was not previously seen. Owners wanted to have the most innovative appliances in their house starting from the security system and up to the lights. The gears on our newel post tell us that this was not a passive object, and may have been intended for use in the home’s original layout.
Gears found inside a newel post indicates that the residents of the house during construction had an interest in the proliferation of innovation during that era. The 1860s was a decade of progress and innovation, people’s interest in mechanical devices for the practical use grew rapidly during this period. In order to meet the new challenges of the day, producers of homes of the period tried to use these innovations not only for functional purposes, but also as a sign of the intellectual advancement of the time.
In a sense, our newel post gears represent a period of time when houses were built for use and for aesthetics at the same time. They also capture the spirit of discovery and enthusiasm that was rife during this period as people tried to explore further into the unknown with the help of the resources available to them.
Although we are yet to know the specific use of the gears in our newel post, learning about them has somehow allowed us to somehow be a part of our home’s history. It is a message that tells us that houses, especially the century old ones, are not just four walls where we reside – they hold tales, whispers and the creativity of past generations.
In the future as we progress with the renovations we will be on the lookout for more information as to the purpose of this post but for now it has become a great conversation piece for my family and any visitors. The gears have inspired people, started discussions regarding history and have made us remember that there is always wonder to be discovered.
Who knows? Perhaps there exists another hidden system somewhere in the house which has not been discovered yet. However, the beauty of living in an old house is you never know what you are going to find, and that is something which I have come to learn over the years.
