We have some really exciting news to share with everyone! We budgeted for a lakefront facelift in 2017 and hired a local professional painter, Painting Plus. Dale Cooper, who has owned the company for 40 years and contracts with Adams County to paint the area’s historical buildings, as well as the Adams County Fairgrounds did a spectacular job bringing some color to our pier and picnic areas and brightening up our entrance. Dale was fantastic to work with and, with the exception of Mother Nature getting in the way, he finished in a timely manner. A few years back Maureen and I traveled to Mackinac Island and stayed at the Grand Hotel. The ceiling of the Grand porch was painted “haint blue” and we just fell in love with it. Taking this concept and adding it to our lakefront pavilion was just a natural addition to the landscape! The color has really turned it into a unique and delightful piece of architecture! Haint blue extends the sky and creates a calming atmosphere, it also deters spiders, wasps and other insects from setting up their homes in these areas. And bonus, it is believed to ward off evil spirits! Below, is more information about the tradition behind painting porch ceilings this color. It’s quite interesting and really gives our lakefront area some character. Give it a read and you’ll have some great knowledge to pass on to others…….or you can just tell them it’s haint. It haint green and it haint blue!!!
Haint Blue, a Traditional Paint Color with a Haunted History
Whether you are warding off evil spirits, bugs, or cloudy days, haint blue may be for you! Painting porch ceilings blue is a practice originally adopted in the old South, inspired by several myths and superstitions. The Southern tradition made its way north and has had a revival with new generations of homeowners. There are a few interesting and compelling reasons you might choose to carry on this American ritual and paint your porch ceiling and other parts of your home haint blue or some other shade resembling a clear blue sky.
Ward Off Evil Spirits
The color haint blue got its name from the belief that it could ward off evil spirits. The term “haint” was originally a variation of the word “haunt.” Haints are lost souls or the dead’s restless spirits. According to the Southern belief, blue paint applied to the porch ceiling as well as door and window trim can keep haints away.
If only this porch had a haint blue ceiling, they would not have to worry about the evil spirits lurking on the porch.
It’s reported that haint blue paint was first used by African slaves in the South. According to Gullah culture, the color haint blue is representative of water; and evil spirits aren’t able to pass over water. (Gullah culture is from a group of people in the coastal areas of Georgia, South Carolina, and northern Florida who were of African ancestry.)
Ward off Insects
Haint blue is also believed to have the good purpose of deterring spiders, wasps, and other insects from setting up house on porch ceilings. The myth is that the insects are fooled into thinking that the blue ceiling is an extension of the big, blue sky; and they move on instead of settling in.
There was a time when this belief was more than just a myth. In early days when the blue paint was made with milk paint formulas, an ingredient that was used actually did repel insects. The formula for milk paint lacked durability and has long been replaced with other paint formulas which don’t have any inherent qualities for repelling insects. But the belief lives on that you’ll have fewer insects on your porch with haint blue paint.
Invite Calm
Porches provide a nice retreat, especially if equipped with comfy chairs and ceiling fans. You can enjoy the comfort of the indoors with the pleasure of being outdoors, but without uncomfortable elements of weather. A haint blue ceiling creates even more of a calm atmosphere, making relaxation easy.
Many believe that part of the reason a blue porch ceiling is perfect is because it’s like the natural sky on a clear day. It lightens up the space. Haint blue evokes nature beautifully.
This entire painting project has transformed the look and beauty of our lakefront space! Rounding out this transformation was the addition of flowers not only at our entrance but also at our pavilion. Newest Director and resident green thumb, Betty Anderson, is proving to be an exceptional addition to our Board of Directors and to our community! Stop down to the lakefront and check it out….and as always, be sure to hang your beach passes off of your rearview mirror for all to see. The hill project is next….stay tuned!