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→Restoration and later (1979–): Previous text implies they replaced the large glass windows and put double-hung windows in their place. Per Reuel 1986 page 22: "An example of their dedication is the removal of later large-scale glass windows at the entrance and the replacement of smaller double-hung windows that conform to the original building design." |
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[[File:Monadnock Building East Facade.jpg|thumb|right|Dearborn Street facade in 2008, showing restored granite entryways, entrances to ground floor shops, and [[fiberglass]] replicas of original [[linen]] window shades]]
The Dearborn Street entrances were reopened and their massive granite [[lintel]]s and surrounds cleared of layers of black paint or replaced. A source was found for the molded bricks needed to repair or replace the curved corners. Large plate glass windows at the entrance were removed and
Donnell's goal was that the Monadnock would "not only look as it originally did, it [would] also ''live'' as it used to",{{sfn|Miller|1991|p=140}} and he sought tenants for the street-level shops that were similar to their 19th-century occupants.{{sfn|Walsh|1987|p=52}} Shop windows were cleared of all signs and obstructions to preserve intended view from the corridor through to the street. Fluorescent lighting was prohibited and only gold leaf lettering on the glass was permitted for signage. Shops, all individually owned, were selected to fit the architectural character of the building.{{sfn|Walsh|1987|p=52}} A florist, for example, was chosen that evoked a turn-of-the-century atmosphere, as well as a barbershop with vintage fixtures and decor. A [[tobacconist]] with oak furnishings, a pen shop with glass cases, a shoe-shine stand, and other service establishments represented, in Donnell's words, "the kind of small-scale entrepreneurs who occupied those spaces at the turn of the century, the kind of people who bring vitality and life to a building because they have a stake in it."{{sfn|Walsh|1987|p=52}}
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