Wood Shingle Roof
Location: West Redding, CT
Date Completed: December 1999
The project involved the expansion of an early 20th century cape, including a new kitchen, living room, dining room and three car garage. Tecumseh Woodworking contracted the crew to apply a new Yellow Cedar roof, as well as all of the new soffits, rakes and returns. The project, when completed, covered over 7,000 square feet of roof. The house was completed in February, 2000.
The Outbuildings Restoration project restored three vital landscape features of the Weir landscape, including the Pump House, Potting Shed and Chicken Coop. Each building required extensive documentation prior to their restoration, using field sketches, photographs and written descriptions methods. Deteriorated building elements were carefully tagged, removed and reproduced, using the same specie and style as the originals. Also, historical images were employed to ensure proper restoration methods. The skills included: masonry and foundation, vertical tongue and groove siding, wood shingle walls and roofs, framing and finishing. A Record of Treatment was drafted for the project.
Green Animals is a spectacular 19th century Victorian property with gardens and buildings situated off of Narragansett Bay. Part of the Newport public mansions collaborative, this property holds a symbiotic relationship between buildings and landscape. The project was to replace the clapboards on one elevation of the main house, including removal, frame repairs, reapplication of clapboards and painting.
Van Campen Inn Roof Replacement
The Van Campen Inn is one of the most culturally and architecturally significant buildings in this vast national park. Built in 1740, the stone building is the headquarters of the Walpack Historical Society, which provides tours every Sunday. The contract was to replace the decayed wood shakes with a new Alaskan white cedar shingles. Other aspect of the contract included asbestos paper removal and stucco repair incorporated into the contract. The time and materials budget was completed on time and under budget.
Family Services of Norfolk County
Location: Dedham, MA
Date Completed: June 1999
Project Liaison: Andrea Gilmore
Owner: Family Services of Norfolk County
This project involves the complete exterior restoration of these adjoining 1810 buildings turned offices. The intent was to protect and maintain the historic character of the building with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Historic Commission. The crew replaced the asphalt roofs, painted and windows and exterior elements, reconstructed and repointed the brick foundation, rebuilt a front entry porch and reconstructed a period perimeter fence.
Bristol Historical Society Handicap Accessibility Project
Location: Bristol, RI
Date Completed: February 1999
Architect: Lombard Pozzi
Owner: Bristol Historical Society
The project was designed to create handicap accessibility into this 1852 jail turned historical society. The scope was to cut through the 20 inch granite wall, installed a door, bathroom and steel ramp, while maintaining a historic, sympathetic design integration.
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site Barn Restoration
Location: Bedford, NY
Date Completed: September 1998
Engineer: Rich Gromek NYSPRHP
Owner: New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Office(NYSPRHP)
The collaboration with the NYSPRHP and Tecumseh Woodworking to execute a barn restoration project. Steve Hoyt, proprietor of Tecumseh Woodworking, Vista, NY, previously work at the 1997 Summer Training Program in Harper's Ferry. The work was contracted through the Friends of John Jay Homestead, an organization that assists in the education and fund raising for the Homestead. NYSPRHP provided technical assistance for the project. The scope entailed the restoration of the masonry foundation of the main barn using traditional mixes and methodology. The use of lime putty, instead of the usual mix of portland cement, lime and sand, gave the sensitive fabric the room to expand and contract with climatic changes.
Historic Preservation Training Center Collaborative
The collaboration with the Historic Preservation Training Center(HPTC) began in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park(HAFE). The agreement was to assist the HPTC crews on three HAFE projects: Building 5's and White Hall Tavern's various masonry projects; John Brown Museum's masonry and slate roof replacement; the Cotton/Flour Mill's stone arch and wall restoration project.
At Building 5 and the White Hall Tavern, the staff completed: repointing the side wall’s brick and stone; application of a stucco rustication; installation of a herringbone brick walkway and a slate walkway; the construction of two mortar laid stone retaining walls. At the John Brown Museum, the staff assisted in the slate roof application and the restoration of two brick chimneys. The Cotton-Flour Mill restoration provided the apprentice and staff with training in cutting stone and laying stone walls. All of these projects could not have been accomplished without the capable guidance of William Hildebrand, of Hildebrand Construction, Frederick, MD.
John Jay Homestead State Historic Site East Ell Foundation
Location: Bedford, NY
Date Completed: June 1998
Engineer: Rich Gromek NYSPRHP
Owner: New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department(NYSPRHP)
The collaboration was again with the NYSPRHP and Tecumseh Woodworking, to execute the final stage of the barn restoration project, the east ell. The project included the reconstruction of 30 feet of the 12 foot high fieldstone wall, as well as repointing. The mortar joints were filled with a lime putty mortar mix. A lime putty mortar mix is historically appropriate, as well as flexible and self curing of minor cracks.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 1998 Training Programs
Location: Harpers Ferry
Date Completed: September 1998
Architect: Peter Dessauer
Owner: National Park Service
The 1998 Spring Training Program began in March, where two groups of university students participated in a brick repointing project. Two groups of students from Mary Washington University and Roger Williams University sacrificed their spring break to learn about the safety issues, craft techniques and methodology for restoring historic masonry. The student's performance was exemplary, while the project was completed on budget and schedule. The success of the project lead to a formal relationship with Roger Williams University.
The 1998 Summer Training Program at HAFE involving three masonry projects. The program utilized local masons as training providers for the two interns from Mary Washington University. The projects involved the restoration of brick Turbine Pit Walls within the ruins of the Cotton Flour Mill, the resetting of a large shale patio at the Armorer's House, and repointing of miscellaneous brick walls and resetting of brick patios at the Building 10A ruins. The 1998 projects was a success by the collaboration and teaching of Hildebrand Construction, Frederick, MD.
Location: Wilton, CT
Date Completed: February 1998
Architect: Building Conservation Branch
Owner: National Park Service
The Corn Crib restoration project lasted six weeks and encompassed skills such as: detailed documentation; dismantling and reutilization of original fabric; timber frame hewing; vertical slat siding application; cedar roofing. The building was reset in its original position, on locust posts approximately one foot of the ground, and re-erected based on photographs and sketches of the original structure.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park 1997 Training Program
Location: Harpers Ferry, WV
Date Completed: November 1997
Architect: Peter Dessauer
Owner: National Park Service
Two contracts were completed in Harpers Ferry from May to November of that year. The first contract was to replace two wood shingle roofs and all periphery tasks, such as: chimney repointing, flashing, clapboard replacement, and painting on the Tearney Building and the Stagecoach Inn in lower Harpers Ferry. The contract was completed on schedule and budget, and HAFE added the completion of a wood shingle roof on the Armorer’s House. Staff apprentice gained valuable research and craft training, while the first Roger Williams University intern was exposed to the various aspects of historical research, preservation crafts and business activities.
Amos House Rehabilitation
Location: Providence RI
Date Completed: February 1997
Owner: Amos House
This project included several aspects of historic preservation, while utilizing two clients from Amos House. Two dormers from the circa 1850 building were removed, the roof was repaired and new asphalt shingles applied. In addition, two chimneys were re-flashed with lead and rotted areas of the soffit and fascia were replaced.
This walnut paneled "gentleman's" library had original shellac finishes on the woodwork, and a plaster paneled ceiling with a Prussian Blue field and gold leaf stars. The deteriorated decorative finishes were documented and reconstructed to represent the original presentation of the room. The finishes were removed and replaced with in-kind materials and application methods. Work included: finishes removal and reapplication; plaster preparation and finishes application; floor hand sanding finishes application.
Location: Wilton, CT
Date Completed: May 1996
Architect: Building Conservation Branch
Owner: National Park Service
The project utilized local craftsmen to assist in the project. The entire English style timber frame barn complex that serves as the focal point for the Park’s exhibits was restored. The scope for the main barn, two ells, a lean-to and a tack house included: foundation restoration; timber frame fabrication(hewn) and replacement, wood shingle reapplication on sidewalls and roofs; photographic and field sketch documentation; window reglazing and refinishing; miscellaneous carpentry.
With the cost savings from the first project, WEFA added the restoration of the J. Alden Weir Studio. The work included: replacement and restoration of vertical siding; timber frame replacement; window reglazing; painting.
The Art Museum was Richard Morris Hunt's first American commission, designed in a American Tudor style. The main Atrium restoration included: removal and reapplication of the varnish from all of the walnut trim; restored and replaced flooring; plaster restoration and refinishing; reproduction of decorative trim elements; reproduction of historic windows.