WHO WAS ISAIAH ROBERTSON?

Isaiah Robertson, a carpenter from Jamaica, moved to Niagara Falls, New York, in 2004. He started renovating and reselling houses, but he soon had a change of heart. He believed that God had given him a special mission: to decorate his home and its surrounding area with biblical symbols and images.

Robertson worked without plans, and he said that "the Spirit" simply took over and animated his hands. He covered his home with intricate wooden cutouts, as well as signs, numbers, and symbols from his second prophecy. He also built a 25-foot wooden cross at the head of his driveway, and he visited a nearby island daily, believing that it was there that the Rapture would occur.

Robertson's home was a colorful and eye-catching sight, and it attracted visitors from all over the world. He welcomed visitors to his site, and he often gave spiritual guidance to those who came to him.

Robertson died in 2020, but his home still stands as a testament to his faith and his creativity. It is a reminder that even though he is gone, his message lives on.

Saladin Allah speaks to who Isaiah Robertson was as a person, and how he came to create such a fascinating art environment.

ABOUT THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH SECOND COMING HOUSE

The Second Coming House is now a preservation project of the Kohler Foundation. Once conserved, the site will be stewarded by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. Restoration specialists B.R. Howard and Associates are leading the effort to preserve the art as much as possible, but also replicate much of it in a detailed and meticulous manner using materials better equipped to withstand the harsh winters of Niagara Falls.

The entirety of the art environment in around the house was documented and photographed using a variety of methods, and eventually disassembled and brought to B.R. Howard's facility in Pennsylvania. There, they processed the thousands of pieces and used them to create replicas matching the exact sizes, shapes, colors and even acknowledging the many imperfections in the work as Isaiah Robertson used a lot of scrap materials.

The re-installation process is equally painstaking, as original drone photos using grids are referenced to perfectly position the returning art to its original locations. While many of the replications were hand-painted at their facility, that work is being done on-site as well. That re-install is currently in progress.

In addition to the preservation/replication work, construction work has been done to the home as well. A variety of improvements and repairs were made, most notably a new roof, new windows, and ramp in the rear of the house to improve access once tours eventually begin.

Brian Howard, of B.R. Howard & Associates, discusses some of the challenges of the project.

Saladin Allah discusses the project.