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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 41 Drawings of mid-19th century family parlors invariably show a library table in the center of the room. Resting on such tables was almost always a tall columned oil lamp topped by a round glass shade. Poston found a record of a library table sold from the house in the 1920s. He tracked it down in Atlanta and, although the owners have not been willing to part with it, we now know exactly what was there. Among the many artifacts stored in the house Poston found a broken glass globe of the type used to top columnar lamps. at it was important is evidenced by the family's keeping it even though it was broken. A pair of tued-back Victorian sofas, given to the house by Johnston descendants, was covered with dark plush for use in the green parlor. Poston suspected they were part of a parlor suite of several pieces including matching chairs. When he was calling on a member of the family, he spotted the expected chair in her living room confirming his suspicions. On a visit to another member of the family, he spotted a bronze statue of a goddess. Comparing it to a bronze pictured in a vintage photograph taken in the house revealed that it was indeed the one pictured, one which had long been believed to be a statue of Mercury. Having the correct information about furnishings from the house makes it possible to replicate them for use in an accurate interpretation of the rooms where they were used. And, perhaps, if the owners are willing, those objects may one day return to the house and be restored to their proper places. Poston's skills as a sleuth, his well- trained eye and his passion for accuracy in historical interpretation are serving well the museum house he directs. He is enjoying the adventure and anticipating the new discoveries to be made in the future. M Hay House Director Jonathan Poston stands by the fireplace in the recently refinished green parlor under a portrait of William B. Johnston, who built the house. On the marble mantel is a bronze of Voltaire, which likely stood on that mantel when the Johnston family lived in the house. A Greek-inspired side chair from the American empire era may be the only one le in the house of the original large set of chairs used in the dining room before the Eastlake-style chairs now being used were purchased in the 1870s. e chair was identified from an old photograph and brought downstairs from a bedroom. Returned to the Hay House was this elaborate horn humidor for tobacco. It features a large cut pink stone as an ornament and tiny silver implements for sorting and tamping tobacco. An exuberant Victorian sofa, one of a pair, tued in plush, will sit in the newly restored green parlor. e sofa was returned to the house several years ago as a gi from the descendants of the Johnston family. Poston believed the sofa and its mate were part of a parlor suite. His suspicions were confirmed when he discovered a matching chair while visiting a Johnston descendant.