Henry Boudrea said he was happy to volunteer to fix up a vintage sleigh that was found last year in the cellar of Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate.
Boudrea, a local retired carpenter, said the sleigh, a Portland Cutter model built between 1833 and 1864 by Kimball Bros. in Boston, was in "terrible shape."
"I kind of felt sorry for that old sleigh," Boudrea said.
Boudrea estimated that some 100 hours last summer were put into refurbishing the sleigh. He had help from a team of volunteers who repainted, reupholstered and put new runners on it.
"I was happy with the finished product," Boudrea said.
The sleigh sits at City Hall but will be on display Saturday at Stonehurst as part of the estate's Holiday Open House, held from 1 to 4 p.m.
The event will feature renditions of holiday standards by Waltham High School's show choir, Music Unlimited.
Among the songs the choir will perform include "O Little Town of Bethlehem," which was penned by Phillips Brooks. Brooks was pastor of Boston's Trinity Church during the late 1800s and was a friend of Stonehurst owner Robert Treat Paine.
Music Unlimited will perform at 2 p.m.
Free tours of the estate and refreshments will also be offered. Stonehurst is also encouraging those who attend to bring a donation of non-perishable food, infant clothing, disposable diapers or women's hats and gloves, which will be donated to local families in need.
For more information on the program, call 781-314-3237.
Richard Conn can be contacted at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
