1889 Victorian House Restoration

UPDATE Anson Brooks Mansion 2445 Park Ave FOR SALE

2013-05-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Update Readers. For the first time in nearly 20 years the amazing Anson Brooks Mansion is for sale! I had the opportunity to attend an open house last night to again tour this amazing property. If you see this place in person you would be blown away. For a place with 15000 square feet it doesn't seem overwhelming. It seems very manageable. Here is a link to the listing if interested:

Anson Brooks Mansion Listing

Let's find someone GREAT for this home so if you know anyone who is looking for a grand mansion spread the word! Added a few new photos which are the one off the listing. Amazing photography compared to my amateur shots. You get a much better idea of the fantastic property.

Hello readers. Sorry it has been so long since I have put a new post up. With the holidays, working around my own house on small projects which hopefully I will be able to update on here soon, as well as an awful work schedule things have been hellish to say the least. I wanted to share with you another beautiful home on Minneapolis' historic Park Avenue. This home is really an impressive structure. The Anson S. & Georgia Brooks house at 2445 is clearly an impressive structure when one’s eyes are set upon it. A castle set back upon a large green lawn would almost seem more at home in Europe or England. Built in 1907 by Long & Long for the wealthy lumber baron this was one of the last great mansions to be built along Park Ave in the gilded age. The façade is of limestone with quinons and the interlaced arched Gothic parapets puts the icing on this palace. A large row of lancet windows occupy the front and sides of the third floor providing ample light to the grand rooms that occupy this space.

The main floor was a showplace fit for a lumber baron. Entering in off the street one was greeted to a living room 18 f tx 43 ft running the front width of the house and trimmed with mahogany. Beyond the living room the library was done in Cercassion Walnut with a massive fireplace and gothic inspired bookshelves. The dining room and stairs were also done in mahogany. The architect went so far as to actually install a coffered ceiling in the porte cochere between the house and garage. The basement contained a large safe for storing the family valuables, as if the castle exterior wasn’t enough protection. The grand stairs were done in Mahogany. Here and throughout the house the technique of booking the veneers of wood is extraordinary. The grains and colors complement each other dramatically. On the landings of the stairway stands a grand 2 story stained glass window. Done in amber and yellow hues the glass is of a great tree with scarlet and shades of green. The light fills these windows and allows them to shine through the grand staircase.

The home was one filled with modern amenities. The 2^nd floor contained 5 bathrooms and 9 bedrooms alone. The 2^nd floor also contained a billiard room, trimmed in white oak complete with a beamed ceiling and arts and crafts fireplace. This floor also contained a large open court or patio area off the 2^nd floor .

The 3^rd floor was trimmed in white birch except for the grand sitting room which measured 14 ft by 36 feet which faces Park Avenue. This size of this space would allow a diverse number of functions including a ballroom. The third floor also contained bedrooms with closets which had skylights. The 3^RD floor also contained a dark room which is noted as having “sliding glass. Clear inside & ruby glass”. This taste specific room would clearly indicate that one member of the family had a passion for photography. The side of the 3^rd floor was complete with a large side porch behind the lancet windows, allowing a variety of options for outdoor space.

The property has been owned since 1999 by Lemna Companies who has continued the excellent history of preservation by its owners.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

San Francisco Van Ness Ave

2013-05-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post I was in San Francisco for much of April. A city filled with many wonderful buildings, characters, stories and places. I being an architectural lover enjoyed seeing all the classic buildings that San Francisco is known for. While there I heard a short story about Van Ness Ave being a grand residential street. Today there is very little evidence that it ever was such. Large commercial style buildings line much of this street so what happened?

Well Van Ness was names after San Francisco's 7th mayor James Van Ness and one of the widest streets in SF being 125 ft wide. Starting mainly in the 1870s and 1880s sections of the street began to attract the wealthy and their large homes. In the 1870s, according to the planning department of SF, rows of Eucalyptus trees were planted on each side of avenue making it a grand boulevard of wealth and beauty. By the 1890s there were many a fine mansion and well known residents including the Spreckles family, Crocker family and the Giannini family. It's location was ideal being close to downtown and close to the cable cars. The street was lined with beautiful mansions, lush trees and gardens, the sounds of carriages on brick streets and a seemingly simpler time filled with extravagant beauty. First I want to share photos of many of the homes of Van Ness. I won't bother showing what is on the site now because frankly these houses are all gone, but I want you first to imagine this street as it was...

Residence of MR. HENRY E. BOTHIN, N. E. Cor. Van Ness Avenue and Jackson Streets

Residence of Mr. Charles Holbrook, N.W. Cor. Van Ness Avenue and Washington Sts

Residence of Mr. James B. Stetson, N.W. Cor. Van Ness and Clay St

Residence of Mr. R. P. ASHE, Cor. Van Ness Avenue and Washington Streets

Residence of J. H. Neustadter, Northwest Corner Van Ness Avenue and Sacramento St

Residence of Mr. David N. Walter, N. E. Cor. Sacramento St. and Van Ness Avenue

Residence of W. S. Hobart residence at Van Ness & Washington

Wenban residence located at 1920 Van Ness

Residence of Mr. F. A. Frank, Northwest Corner Van Ness Avenue and Jackson Street

And of course one of the grandest mansions, The Spreckles Mansion. See the photos below for AFTER

The avenue was at it's zenith when the famous shake and bake of 1906 happened. On April 18th at 5:14 am an estimated 7.9 earthquake struck. As the earth rumbled and streets shifted so did the gas lines throughout the city. Remember that at this time it was still very common to have your home lit with gas lighting. Thousands of homes had gas lines filling their walls, ceilings and all branching off the main street lines. With the shaking came breaking of these lines. No surprise fire soon started. With much of the city having been constructed from wood the fire had enough fuel to burn everything it touched. The city began to burn wildly out of control. While much of Van Ness was initially intact after the earthquake the fire was spreading quickly through downtown. It burned city hall, and the palace hotel and tried to burn the old mint, but the granite lady stood firm with the help of some brave men.

City hall in ruins.

The city was burning yet the water lines were broken under the street. What could be done to save the city? The officials decided to try to start a fire break. It was unsuccessful on the first attempt and so the decision was made to attack the widest street, Van Ness. So with the quick decision to use Van Ness as a firebreak it was time to remove and fuel for the fire and so all dynamite that could be found was brought to the street. Imagine if you will block after block, mansion after mansion, millionaires pride reduced to rocks and boards.

A story from the book Earthquake by Thomas and Witts in 1971 discusses a diary entry from James Stetson and his mansion on Van Ness (pictured above). It reads " At 2:00 in the morning, James B Stetson sat in a window of his mansion at 1801 Van Ness , alternatively watching the excitement down the avenue and recorded it in his makeshift diary. A pioneer of the gold rush, Stetson disapproved of the way the crisis was being handled and his disapproval increased steadily. The indiscriminate destruction of property by artillery fire and dynamite angered him particularly because the explosions set off the mansion's burglar alarm system. A squad of Funston's soldiers tried to evict him at bayonet point even when "it was clear that the fire was no danger to my property." He stood for a few moments on Van Ness and then sneaked back into his home, confident he could meet any reasonable fire threat. "I had buckets of water in the front and rear rooms with an improvised swab ready to put out any small fire which would be within my reach." Outside the flames were shooting high into the air on both sides of Van Ness. Silhouetted against them were groups of soldiers and firemen, who were showing little more control than the frightened refugees. As Stetson watched, a number a number of soldiers stopped outside a neighboring mansion - the home of millionaire Claus Spreckles.

The Soldiers were a dynamite squad, one of a dozen who had been roaming the length of Van Ness since midnight looking for likely targets to demolish. For the moment they had run out of supplies. Then car dealer Alan Clayton's runabout arrived with a load of explosives. Clayton remembers his horror when he saw that the soldiers intended to demolish the Spreckles mansion, long regarded as one of the most elegant on Van Ness. "As I started to unload the dynamitea soldier suddenly said it wasn't needed. The mansion was on fire."

Just how the Spreckles mansion caught fire is a mystery. At that moment the wind was blowing the flames away from the house. "

So the the great stone structure burned and here are the photos of the burnt out shell.

Gladly the structure was rebuilt after the fire.

Sadly the home then only lasted until 1927 when 2 large apartment buildings were built which still stand today. Here is a photo of the demolition of the home.

After the mansions were blown up everyone waited to see if they had destroyed one of the finest streets in San Francisco in vain. The firemen and explosive teams were successful as the fire stopped at Van Ness after 4 days since the earthquake had passed. . This is why if you visit San Francisco anything past Van Ness is mostly the pre 1906 buildings. However Van Ness was left with little more than ruins of buildings as the photos show:

After the quake and shake many businesses relocated onto Van Ness considering that downtown had been burned to the ground, it was the next location. By 1909 however downtown was once again rebuilt and thriving. Van Ness was still used as a mix of commercial and residential dwellings. In the 1920s apartment buildings began to spring up on the street and the number of automotive dealers on the street had slowly grown. After World War 2 the street was designated as a highway and became a main traffic thoroughfare. This precipitated the explosion of Van Ness being as the place to go shopping for a car. Car dealerships, theaters and restaurants were all here on this busy commercial street. Here are a few photos showing how drastically the street changed by the 1920s

Van Ness in the 1920s showing mix of old houses and new businesses.

As the 1970s and 80s came around many dealerships were moving away from the strip like so many other cities across america. Today Van Ness is a mix of housing complexes, restaurants , shops, car dealerships and opportunities for new development A street that has seen many days and a street that sacrificed its former grandeur to preserve the rest of this beautiful city.

Photos from the San Francisco Public Library

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

My First Published Article in Victorian Homes Magazine

2013-04-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers! I hope you are doing very well. I've just returned home from 2 weeks in beautiful San Francisco to find a large stack on mail waiting for me. In a large envelope I found a copy of my first article in the prestigious Victorian Homes Magazine about etching glass. One of the editors found my blog and contacted me to ask if I was interested in contributing an article I was so humbled and grateful for the offer and now here it is!

For those of you that don't know Victorian Homes Magazine has all sorts of wonderful Victorian related articles. A great read for anyone interested in not only Victorian, but old houses too. Check out their website to learn more : http://www.victorianhomesmag.com/

I'll share more later but thought I would show a photo of me at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. This beautiful structure was constructed in 1915 for the Panama- Pacific Exposition. It is the only building for this exposition left remaining on its original site. Really a beautiful site.

Painting by Edwin Deakin

Photo from 1915.

More soon!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Lost Mansions of Minneapolis IV

2013-03-29T11:14:00.001-07:00

Part IV of lost mansions of Minneapolis.

The residence of Major Christopher B. Heffelfinger 1828 3rd Ave S. A fine and spacious stone mansion on 3rd Ave S and 19th street. The home was a fine Italianate style stone home set back with a large gracious lawn from 3rd Ave. 3rd Ave was lined with many great mansions in the early days and this lot was no exception. With large brackets, curved stone hoods on the windows and a fine railing on the roof line it held a gracious charm over the street for many years. Mr. Heffelfinger did not always live in such luxury and his earlier home, before he made his name and wealth was a much more modest home located at 319 1st Ave N.

By the turn of the century the home was still impressive, but not entirely as fashionable as it once was, so the major decided a renovation was in order. In an article from the Minneapolis paper in 1901 it reads" Major C.B. Heffelfinger is making improvements to his residence on Third ave s and Nineteenth street which will cost several thousand dollars. The first plan was to make minor changes. One improvement led to another. The excavation has just been made for a large stable. The heating plant will be in the basement of this building. A new dining-room addition has been made to the house and over it a chamber was built. The finish of much of the interior has been changed and when the family returns in the fall from Virginia a practically rehabilitated home will be ready for them. The Heffelfinger property is one of the finest old residence sites in the city. Third avenue has many fine homes, but the extremely large lawn around the Heffelfinger home make it an unusually beautiful place." Heffelfinger had a very large shoe company which afforded him a very comfortable lifestyle.

Sadly this along with so many other large homes on this street was doomed. The home was torn down in the early 1920s to make way for an apartment building which still stands on the site and was constructed in 1922.

Heffelfinger Site today.

The H.W. Savage (which may either be a typo or his father) residence on Portland Ave and later referred to as the Marion W. Savage house was another impressive structure on this once grand avenue. This home was located on the corner of 26th and Portland Ave. Mr Savage was president of the International Stock Food Company which was related to horse food, medicine and every other cure all that according to the company's texts could cure both animal and human problems. He is also credited for founding the city of Savage by purchasing a large section of land where he built a 1 mile racetrack and a home overlooking his own little town. He also owned the famous Dan Patch horse that was a national winner in many races.

According to the Hennepin County Library: "The house had 20 rooms with 8 bedrooms, 3 baths and a ballroom and stage. In 1940 the city of Minneapolis launched a campaign to tear it down because it did not meet fire code and housed 10 families. The city lost the campaign but the house finally came down in 1963. The photo in the lower left hand corner appears to be of another house or Savage had a dimensional gateway to a lake and dock behind his house on Portland."

Here is the Savage lot today:

Last up for today is the magnificent home of Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte which was located facing Loring Park. An early article reads " After 1892, Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte removed from Winona, that city wherein so many years of usefulness and accomplishment had been passed by them both; then they became residents of the beautiful western city of Minneapolis, having purchased a handsome mansion in the midst of attractive grounds, in that exclusive and beautiful portion of the city which faces Loring Park. This imposing residence, on west fifteenth street, facing the park, with its exquisite furnishings and elegant appointments, continued the home of Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte until the death of Dr. Tourtellotte and since then Mrs. Tourtellotte has continued her home there."

Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte seen at left of the church.

Dr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte house also? Appears so but cannot be for sure.

Sadly the grand house did not last and the need for apartments in the area was needed. By 1911 this apartment building had occupied the spot of a once grand mansion on Loring Park. Today only a simple single family house stands on W 15th st facing the park of this bygone era.

Lost Chester Simmons Mansion 2741 Park Ave

2013-03-22T09:45:00.001-07:00

The Chester and Fanny Simmons mansion which was located at 2741 Park Ave S was built as an imposing castle of Kasota stone. The home's appearance was similar to several other gilded age castles made of stone with turrets, porte cocheres, copper details and large thick windows. The home was completed and ready to be occupied by 1891 and was built with the money Mr. Simmons had made by being the vice president of local company at a cost of $34,000, which was a massive sum considering many very large and fine houses of the time could be built with only $5,000. His wealth has grown that by the late 1880s he was able to consider moving his family from a more modest home which was located at 1916 Park Avenue. Mr. & Mrs. Simmons along with their 7 children were able to build a much more socially acceptable house for their needs and position in society. The home was no doubt a happy place filled with many family activities and happy occasions. Mr. Simmons passed away in 1921 and his funeral was held at the family mansion. By the time of his death the exclusiveness of Park Ave being a street of wealthy occupants had begun to wane. The growing business district was creeping into the posh area and by 1931 the Simmons family sold the home. According to local census records it was rented out for some time until historian Paul Larson notes that the home was occupied by the College of Traffic Management. Park Avenue continued to decline and by the late 1950s Minneapolis was invested in tearing down the old and building new, modern structures. The stunning home was demolished in 1959 and soon thereafter a modern building was placed on the lot. A disgusting and sad end to a once great home. Like so many others on Park Ave this one had little chance against the mindset of the 1950s and urban renewal, destroying of street cars and the age of suburbs and shopping malls.

Interior of castle from the family archives of fddavidson@charter.net

Site of Simmons Mansion today.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Odd Antiques

2013-02-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

When looking for antiques it's nearly always certain, that you will come across items that are unique, unusual or one of a kind. I thought, however that to be truly odd and unique it should be something that, well..... offends, creeps out or one just finds downright gross. There is a series entitled Oddities which shares many weird items for sale in a shop in New York. I wanted to share a few that I got a chuckle out of.

Hair Art:

Art made with human hair has long been a popular art. It reached it's zenith in the Victorian era and has pretty much died off that. Popular in Europe as well as the US it was a way for someone to have mementos of one not near. They were often used in mourning jewelry or art after someone died but was also used as tokens of the living to have a piece close of a loved one. Here are a few popular examples:

Hair Wreath. Strands of individual hair length were wound around thin wires, often using bobbins on a round table. Once the hair is wrapped around the individual wires it was then bent and designed into wreaths such as above. These were often a genealogical chart too representing many different members of a family tree. Remember these were taking individual hairs around tiny wires. Imagine the time it took!

Pendant with woven hairs.

This is all done with human hair. These are good examples of mourning jewelry. After someone died it was a way to keep something of them close.

Bracelet in gold and woven hair

These examples of the bracelets above and the watch fob below may have been used in relation to mourning, but they were also used as simply tokens of having a loved one close. Imagine a man away for long periods of time, his wife would take her hair from her brush and save it. Then she could make him a watch fob so that every time he checked the time he would have a sentimental reminder of his lady.

So the next items I found while shopping on Ebay. They are known as piano figures because they were simply considered "cute" decorations to have on your piano. I'm not sure I would consider these in good taste for my parlor.

So the last item I found that grossed me out, but at the same time made me slightly want one is an antique bull penis walking stick. For those of you that don't know Bull penises make great walking sticks... I guess there isn't really much explanation needed so see photos below...

This one on Ebay is listed as being "hard and sturdy"

So readers can you contribute to other odd antiques you have come across in your travels? Share!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

DIY Quick Tips for your Renovation Guest Post

2013-02-26T16:34:00.004-08:00

The Victorian era was a great time for building, developing and industrialising for a growing population. We are left with a lot of beautiful, well-built, sturdy little characteristic Victorian terraces as a result of this period. It is a great tribute to this kind of architecture that it is still very popular and desirable today, thanks to the building quality. That doesn't mean, however, that you can't have a great time renovating a Victorian, Georgian, or Edwardian house. In my opinion, there is nothing better than a beautiful period house with a well-renovated, modern interior and updated plumbing and infrastructure. Here are some tips for renovating a house that's been around for a century or more.

• Be generous with your budget

the modern mania for paying the bottom dollar wasn't how your house got built, so it shouldn't be how it gets renovated

• Extend toward the back

Add an extra room toward the back as a part of your update

• Knock out a wall to create open plan kitchen and dining

Yesteryear, because of servitude and a range of other factors, people used to cook and eat in separate parts of the house. Those days are over, so make your home open and welcoming by opening the kitchen into the dining area

• Fit new windows

Larger windows are the way to go now, and it's a great way to let light into your home

• Look to the garden!

Take advantage of the new trend of home growing vegetables and food and use your renovation to transform your garden

For more ideas and tips on renovation, (in Australia) visit http://www.sunlitemitre10.com.au/

Thanks Danielle!

If you would like to write a guest post feel free to contact me!

Tearing down the Library

2013-02-04T09:39:00.002-08:00

The start of a new month is upon us and winter here is still in full swing with no absolute vision of warmer thermometers in sight. So while I am prevented from working outside, I must persevere and go on with some interior work. I had planned to be orderly in the progress and had the thought that I would finish the vestibule, foyer and upper landing. I decided however, to do more demo this weekend. My favorite part about demo is that it doesn't cost anything to do and gives you a good work out. So onto gutting the library. The first thing that needed to come out was the ceiling. It has been dropped down about 6 inches and had a popcorn ceiling on it. I not only hated it but it made the room feel small and dingy. So this was my first task was to destroy the ceiling. It actually came down fairly easy. For some reason (probably for adding plugs in the room) they had simply framed in a new lower ceiling and put a heck of a lot of insulation in the ceiling. I suspect they did this because the room was so cold. Clearly whomever did this didn't realize that it was so cold because there was a fair amount of rot in the corner boards of the exterior of the house where the internal gutters used to be. I can actually see daylight in parts of this wall which is not good news when your high temp of the day only reaches -4, yes that's right the HIGH was negative 4 degrees. Anyways under the ugly ceiling was an interesting textured ceiling, probably from the 30s or 40s. This secondary ceiling will have to go too but right now I was happy to get the first ceiling down.

The missing window on the right with half the ceiling down.

I also knew that there was a window hidden in the wall that had been closed up. You can see if from the outside of the house but no hint of it inside. This window may have been taken out because it was old and drafty and frankly with your neighbor's house being only 3 ft 4 inches from your house, who would want a window that close? Well I do! This missing window does add light to these rooms and also allows air to come in on those hot summer days. So behind the drywall on that wall I found the hole of the missing window. Now to order the window and put it in ! Although I think the install will have to wait just a little bit longer until it gets warmed up.

After taking the ceiling down, I worked a bit on the walls. There was one wall I simply thought was only drywall from the sound of it. So I started working on that wall. Thing was that it wasn't just drywall, but they had put drywall over the old plaster. I HATE multiple layers of trash!!!! So I kept working and saw a tiny hint of old wallpaper. To my surprise, much of the old wallpaper on the this wall was intact behind the drywall. They simply put it over on top. Here is what I found, I'm guessing from the 30s or 40s.

I wish I could describe this wallpaper to you because the top border and all the silver parts on the mail wall are luminescent with a wonderful sheen when the light hits it. I'm sure gave some great color and highlights when light hit these walls. I couldn't believe it was so well intact. If you've noticed from my other posts, this house was FULL of flower wallpaper. I like the pattern I really do, but couldn't live in a house where every room had big bouquets of luminescent flowers.

While removing some old trim I actually found pieces of even older wallpaper. I'm thinking from the 20s or early 30s. I couldn't figure out why it was behind some trim however. Perhaps it was installed after the house was duplexed and before they put some old trim back up in the house. It will remain a mystery, but I thought the paper was rather pretty too and also had that sheen to it.

So I have made a good mess with still more mess to go. I thought I would share a few finds and who knows what will be behind these old walls next!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Guest Post: The Dangers of Home Renovations

2013-01-15T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends! I had a request from a follower to share some thoughts and safety concerns about home renovation, specifically the dreaded asbestos, lead and electrical issues of the renovation. Here are a few items for you to be mindful of.

Dangers of Home Renovations
If someone lives in a newer home, then he or she is less likely to want or need the home renovated. However, this is not the case with older homes. Regardless of the reason for the renovation, people should be aware that renovation does present health risks to them and their families. When people begin to renovate a home, they should be sure to take special precautions with the dangers listed below.
Wiring
Older homes are outdated in a number of ways. One of these outdated materials is wiring. Newer electrical appliances require strong electrical currents. The strength that is needed for these electrical currents is much stronger than the strength of the wiring in the older home currently. If new appliances are attached to the old wiring, several consequences could result. Some of those results are the appliance may not work, the installer may experience an electrical shock, or the wiring may produce a fire.
Lead
Many people know that lead materials can be very dangerous. However, they do not realize the many places that lead can be found within the home. Lead can be found on furniture, water pipes, and paint. The presence of lead can produce problems for the renovator and the other people in the home. Children will be at a high risk for getting extremely ill from the lead. To avoid lead poisoning, the renovator should be sure to not use lead based paint. If lead is present in other parts of the home, a professional will be needed to remove it from the home.
Asbestos
Asbestos presents the greatest health risk to a renovator and his or her family. The reason for this is because people can develop cancer and other serious illnesses from exposure to asbestos. One off these diseases includes, mesothelioma cancer. If asbestos is present in the home, a professional who specializes in asbestos will be needed to remove it from the home. Since asbestos does not usually cause problems until the renovation begins, it is a good idea to have someone inspect the home for asbestos before the renovation begins.
Renovating a home will add a lot of value to a home. Therefore, if a person ever decides to sell the home, the listing price can be increased. Being aware of the renovation dangers will save a person and his family from future illnesses.

By Brian Turner

Thanks Brian for those great tips! As many of us know the renovation process is seldom quick, easy or cheap. Sadly these projects often force homeowners to risk safety by doing projects that can cost quite a bit of money.

House in earlier days. All the white on the house you see are asbestos tiles.

As some of you may know the siding that I removed off the house were asbestos tiles. Honestly I was frighted to touch the touch for fear of the risking my health. I did some research and decided to remove the siding myself. This is not the route many choose, but some like myself had no choice. I will tell you that when working in an old home and either removing old asbestos tiles, stripping paint, or even removing plaster and tearing down walls the #1 MOST ESSENTIAL tool you can have is a really good respirator mask. Don't go out any buy a cheap dust mask no, spend some money on this because it is your health we are speaking of.

A good mask generally consists of a special mask with sealing gaskets that is charcoal filtered. Again I am no expert, but this is absolutely essential if you even remotely care about breathing. The other idea is to buy a disposal suite and gloves so that you can keep any of these nasty old things from getting into your system. I won't try to address site containment and such as this is a lengthy topic. I simply advise that if one is planning to take on a big job do your research and make sure you are protecting yourself, family and the community by doing research and doing safe practices.

Thank you Brian for your post. If you would like to write a guest post about your own renovation story please email me and I would be happy to share it with the world!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Winter is here and the parlor is warming up!

2012-12-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hello dear readers. Did you think I forgot about you? Well I didn't, but life has been utterly swamped. I have however been working on the house trying to finish the front parlor and I am nearly there! I guess the first big accomplishment is that I got my chandelier and ceiling medallion up. What a beast that was, but I must admit it has turned out well. I purchased the chandelier down in the southern part of the state and knew it would look stunning in the parlor. Here it is all put together:

As you can also see I've put the wallpaper up and the picture molding. With it all together the room has the wonderful golden glow and makes it feel very cozy.

The other BIG piece of news is that I had the last stained glass window made for the parlor and I couldn't be more pleased. I again took photos of what my neighbor's stained glass is and had a wonderful company recreate them. After a month of waiting I got this beauty in. I cannot tell you how it adds to character and the feeling of accomplishment to have this baby in. Here is is right after I picked it up before going in the house.

Here is the example they copied it from. Pretty close but with my own original twist!

And here is mine all put in:

Only a few more things to go and the parlor will be complete! I also thought I would share a few photos of the snow we got last weekend. Our first snow storm of the season.

Yes I have little candles in all the windows of the house for the season.

Stained glass all in with a fresh snow storm.

So with that I will say goodbye for now, but I am still here plugging away. I hope to keep updating more and as always please consider donating. It does help keep my projects going. Also feel free to comment because we all can feed off each other's enthusiasm.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

How to hang Lincrusta Paper

2012-10-19T11:06:00.002-07:00

Hello friends. I haven't forgot about you, but I actually have been busy working away on the house with a fair deal of progress. My last large project was hanging the Lincrusta wallpaper in my parlor. For those of you that don't know Lincrusta is an embossed wall hanging with deep details. It is actually very similar to a thin linoleum that goes on your walls or ceiling. It is highly expensive (due to its complicated process and design as well as its durability) and is very fragile to work with making it a wall covering that requires a great deal of patience and care to handle the delicate material. It's only delicate while hanging and after it is put up, will be a long lasting design detail that will hold up well in high traffic areas such as stairways, halls and foyers. The designs, styles and places to hang Lincrusta are endless from walls to ceiling it can go anywhere. With a bit of prep work and help you can turn any wall space into a true work of art.

I first ordered 2 rolls of the Amelia Lincrusta. My plan was to use it as a border below the crown molding and above the picture railing. Since the friezes that are sold in Lincrusta were too small to fit in the area, I needed to buy something larger which is how I choose this pattern. I set up a large work table in the parlor to begin the process. Before hanging the paper I cleaned the walls and had put 2 coats of primer up to ensure a smooth application. Since I was hanging the Lincrusta vertically I had to cut the lengths into manageable sizes. I cut them in 4 to 5 foot lengths. After cutting the lengths I had to cut the top edge to remove the excess material. I did not cut the bottom edge as I had not yet hung the picture rail. I wanted the top edge to go with the level of the crown molding and the bottom edge could be trimmed level to match the picture railing. I cut the lengths and took a sponge damp with warm water and washed the back of the paper. Doing this relaxes the paper and gets it ready to hang. I put to pieces back to back and let them "book" for 20 to 25 minutes.

Linsrusta still on the roll.

After 25 minutes of booking the paper was ready to hang. I used a short nap roller to coat the back of the paper with a special wallpaper adhesive used to hang heavier papers. It is a clay based adhesive and worked very well. Coat a good amount on the back of the paper. Be sure to put enough on so that it won't dry out while you're hanging it, but not too much so that it is falling all over the wall while you are trying to put it up. For extra adhesion I did roller some paste on the wall too to make sure the bond was tight. I positioned the wallpaper and was able to move it around to fit where it needed to go. This is the toughest part in my opinion The paper is very fragile at this point so you must treat it with kid gloves. It is very easy at this point for the paper to bend or crack which can cause flaws to show up after completion. After getting the paper onto the wall I used a dense foam roller to make sure it was on there really well. This also ensures the corners are tight and any seams are lined up tight. Take your time on this part as once the paper and glue dries there isn't another chance to go back and redo or undo any mistakes. Complete this process through out the entire surface you are doing. Take your time and make sure it looks great. If you have a few small spots where the paper doesn't line up or your corners have a gap, don't fret as these can be filled later. Once you hang all the paper fill and gaps, holes or corners with window glazing linseed putty. Yes window putty! Since Lincrusta is a linseed based product the putty works well and won't shrink or warp like plain caulk will do.

Once the paper is up let it dry to 12 hours at least. Next you want to take a damp rag of mineral spirits and wash the surface of the paper to remove any grease or paste that might be left over. Let this dry for maybe 5 hours just to really make sure. Now you're ready to put a base primer on the paper. Use a simple primer and a small roller and depending on the size it should be done in no time. Allow to dry and you're ready for paint.

The great thing about the raised designs on Lincrusta is that you can finish it in many different ways. Just take one Google search for Lincrusta paint techniques and your mind will be boggled as to what type to choose. I actually experimented with several different finished before I picked the final result. I first tried to paint a small section with a base color (which would end up being the raised design color) and after the base coat dried, paint another color over the top and with a damp sponge remove the second paint color from the raised design. After much consideration I decided against this because I felt with the Amelia wallpaper that it wouldn't turn out as nice as some of the other patterns would with this technique, so I simply went for all solid color. I didn't just go for any old paint color, but I went for a gold metallic look. The nice thing with metallic paint is that it gives a beautiful sheen when the light hits it. You can achieve the same effect on the Lincrusta by using and paint that has a high gloss finish. So I painted the whole paper in this gold metallic look which I think will really compliment the room and the wallpaper nicely. Now I just need to hang the picture molding and hang the other wallpaper and I'll be done with the walls! Here are few photos that show what it looks like painted.

So there you have how to hang Lincrusta. A beautiful end result, but after a lot of patience and attention to detail. This is one product that you really don't want to make a mistake on because of the expense, but will last your house for the next 100 years if you do it right and can be painted many many times. So think about it in your entry way or along the wall next to your stairs, it will not get dented or dinged up and will give you many years of enjoyment and beauty.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

How to Etch Glass Victorian Style on the cheap!

2012-08-27T10:35:00.002-07:00

Hello All,

I'm so sorry I've been away for so long from writing. I have been in Italy the past month or so on and off and haven't had any time to write, much less work on the house. I am back home now and have been working on a few smaller projects as of lately. This weekend my latest accomplishment was doing etched glass.

The front doors after I refinished them still had no glass in the window part. It was actually cheap plastic that was broken, drafty and just looked bad. I had wanted to put glass in there for a long time, but wanted to do something etched to add some privacy, and also give that Victorian look.

These were taken before I had the lockset put on, but you get the idea where the ugly plastic was.

Die plastic fake windows!!!

First I purchased some simple sheets of glass for the size of the door I needed. These I got at my local hardware store.

Next I searched the internet for where I could find some Victoria style stencils so I could etch the glass. This was not easy. There were many great businesses that offered to to etched glass, but wanted more than I wanted to spend. Often the only kinds of stencils I could were cheap and inauthentic looking. After weeks of searching I located a place that cut stencils in custom sizes and I ordered them for a very fair price.

Next I set up a work table, got all my supplies together and was ready to go. The stencils need to be burnished first, meaning you have to rub both sides hard to loosen up the stencil. After doing this I cleaned the glass and VERY carefully applied the stencil to the glass. Where the stencil covers will be the clear areas and the current clean areas will be etched.

Next it was time to put the etching cream down over the whole glass. Coat it well and make sure none gets on the back side. Let set for at least 5 minutes. After it has set wash it off with a hose or faucet. Next carefully remove the stencil pattern and you will be left with a beautiful design.

One down one to go

Don't you just love how they turned out? For maybe $150.00 and a days worth of work I think they look well worth it!

I couldn't end this post without showing just a few vacation photos!

Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera. Beautiful country!

Me at the cathedral in Milan.

Well that's all for now but I'll be writing more as I get more time. Thanks for following my loyal readers. You are my support! THANK YOU!!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Lost Minneapolis III

2012-07-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

More beautiful homes lost to time in Minneapolis.

The home of Thomas B. Walker was a fine one located on Hennepin Avenue built in 1874. Built in the second empire style it also had an equally fine carriage house too. With bays and rounded porches it was an elegant home that is now only a memory with photographs. According to records in 1879 he specifically set up a gallery in his home so that the public could see his vast collection. It was open 6 days a week and the house with its 8 additions covered nearly a city block. An article of the 1890s states " A family of eight children were raised, and today the elegant mansion of Hennepin Avenue, with its treasure of art, is the happy consummation of labor and hope." It is recorded that in 1915 the gallery (mind you this was still the man's home) had around 100,000 visitors annually. The popularity grew and grew and Walker soon needed more space and purchased Thomas Lowry's mansion. Walker moved into the mansion around 1917 and opened the gallery in this larger mansion. Walker's collection and popularity were still growing so in 1927 he broke down and had a beautiful Moorish style gallery built right next to the old Lowry Mansion. This architectural jewel lasted until about 1948 when a plain concrete building was placed here. The Lowry mansion was torn down around 1932. Today the Walker Art Center is well known in Minneapolis, but how many people actually know the story of it's birth in a humble home not to far from today's site. Mr Walker also founded the Minneapolis Public Library.

First gallery location in the mansion

The old Thomas Lowry Mansion that the gallery moved into next

As one can see the home soon filled up

The new building provided much more space.

Mr. Walker on the stairs of his new gallery.

The gallery of the 1940s :

Here is what the walker looks like now:

This is the site of T.B. Walker's 1st home and gallery on Hennepin Ave. It is now the State Theater.

Benjamin Franklin Nelson was a war hero and wealthy lumber and paper baron. This was another grand mansion on a lush lot with a great look out tower on the top of the Victorian Eclectic home from 1883. The other home on these corners survived but sadly not this one and the current site is a playground with a modern building pushed in.

The Charles A Pillsbury mansion of 2200 Stevens (Yes that Pillsbury family). It was built in 1883 for John Johnson and only lived there a few years before selling to the Pillsbury family. Charles Pillsbury and his uncle started the flour milling company and when Charles died, he left the mansion to his two twin sons, John and Charles S. The folklore goes that the sons tossed a coin to decide who would be the sole owner of the house, John won and Charles build a house across which is still standing. Sadly this mansion did not make it and in 1937 was torn down and a church constructed on the lot in the 1950s

The house shortly before demolition showing the sign for the wrecking company. The site now:

Charles Pillsbury Mansion today. Charles's father, George also had a fine mansion downtown built in 1879. It was built of brick with white stone trim and full of outdoor space with porches and balconies.

Sadly with the home being downtown the city crept in and the house was torn down. The site is now:

Lastly is the residence of Senator William Washburn. His mansion was the center of the Washburn/ fair oaks park. It was and still is a HUGE lot that many other mansions were built around including the Pillsbury mansions listed above. The mansion was built in 1883 and was a centerpiece of the community. I think the photos speak for themselves. When Washburn died in 1912 he willed the mansion to the Minneapolis parks board. The board foudn the home too expensive to maintain and torn the home down in 1924. Today the space is a large park.

Washburn's driver

That's all for today folks!

Lost Minneapolis Mansions Part II

2012-06-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hope you all won't get sick at looking at lost mansions of Minneapolis but there are some great sources of information and I thought I would share. Besides not much is going on at my house project but hopefully soon.

Honorable John M Shaw mansion built in 1889 out of brick. Shaw was a prominent lawyer and built this fine mansion in 1880. By 1905 it had already become a detention home for boys and girls. The site of his mansion is now adorned with a modern office building.

Nest is the home of the honorable John B Gilfillan who constructed a house on the corner of 4th street and 10th ave SE. Built in 1856 and enlarged in 1874 the structure is an early one for Minneapolis. This one is a surprise because it actually still stands! Much of it still intact. Take a little look for yourself:

Showing the 1874 enlargement from this photo in 1936. Residence of Judge John B. Gilfillan, 400 Tenth Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis; house built by B.O. Cutter A beautiful Gothic cottage style.

The mansion of Mrs. Louise McNair was a fine red stone mansion to say the very least. Set on a large gracious lot with heavy details, turrets and bays this home contained every amenity one could desire. Mrs. Shaw's husband was a well known lawyer and judge before becoming mayor of St. Anthony in 1869. He also helped with establishing a large gas company for the needs of Minneapolis affording his family great comfort. Her husband died in 1885 shortly before completing the great mansion at 1301 Linden Ave. It was started in 1884. Sadly today the lot cannot even be found as it is a freeway on ramp.

Parlor

The site today.

The site of Mrs. H.G. Harrison located at 1112 Nicollet Ave. Built in 1861 in the Italianate style with a striking tower. By the 1920s it was already looking run down and the downtown was eating away at all residential property in this area.

Site today

That's all for today. More to follow!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Lost Mansions of Minneapolis

2012-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers! I've missed you. I have returned from a very long and needed trip to Italy. Perhaps I will share some photos in a later post, however I will tell you all I had a wonderful time studying what Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre and Genoa has to offer. So many amazing buildings and items of architecture that simple photos and words could never describe. I am hoping to begin work soon on the front gable of the house as mentioned in the previous post, but I thought I would share some great mansions which have been lost to time in Minneapolis. Hope you enjoy.

Vincent Whitney Bayless House at 308 Ridgewood Ave was built in 1887 and was still standing until at least 1983. Sadly it was replaced by a modern building around 1999.

Here is what replaced it:

Luckily most of the other homes in this block are still retained.

Samuel Gale Mansions. Mr. Gale first resided at this modest house at Marquette and Fourth street. The home was located in a growing downtown and by 1889 was demolished to allow commercial development.

The house shortly before being torn down.

Mr. Gale built a fine, newer and larger home at 1600 Harmon Place near Loring Park. A fine residence almost a fortress appearance in the amount of stone used in it.

The interior shows the finest finishes and finely carved woodwork. Sadly the mansion did not last and here is what the site looks like now:

J.H. Thomson Residence at 1516 Hawthorne Ave. Built in 1883.

This entire block is gone, cut away by the freeway and modern buildings. Here it is now:

The George Brackett residence at 625 south 5th street in downtown was built in 1856. Mr Brackett was president of the Minneapolis stockyards and packing company and was for a time mayor of Minneapolis. He was a strong advocate in regulating liquor laws. The home while simple on the exterior had a large, gracious lot with a beautiful wrap around porch and nearly floor to ceiling windows on the first floor.

Sadly with a home in the growing downtown it was only a matter of time before it was demolished. One can hardly recognize the site now:

Robert B Langdon had a very fine house on 29 South 10th street which was built in 1879. A Fine stone palace with beautiful details. Mr. Langdon was a railroad builder and dabbled in politics.

The lot was too close to downtown and soon became too valuable. Today the site is part of the University of St. Thomas.

Henry T Welles had a very fine mansion built in 1888 at 1731 Hennepin Avenue. He was another railroad baron and his wealth afforded him to live well.

Another great mansion lost to "progress". One cannot even find the lot where this great mansion once stood.

Lastly for today is the residence of Honorable Charles E. Vanderburg. His simple yet elegant home was another downtown property at 923 7th Street South. Built in 1871 it featured hoods over the front entry and windows and heavy brackets typical of Italianate style. Mr. Vanderburg was not only a judge for Minneapolis but was later appointed to the supreme court.

His home now only a memory and a fine parking lot fills the space of this once great man's abode.

Work on the Front Gable.

2012-05-31T15:54:00.001-07:00

Hello readers. I have been gone for nearly two weeks from the blog and I'm sorry to have to say that I am no new blog posts until mid July, but I have good reason! First the last few weeks have been full of work at my full time job and preparing to work on the front gable of this Queen Anne beauty. I had the carpenter build a large deck on the porch roof. I had to do this for several reasons, but mainly it is to hold the scaffolding level and secure on a sloped porch roof and to allow ease to move the scaffolding around when doing the carpentry on the top. I'm really excited on the thought of finishing up the actual front of the house! So with the deck built the scaffolding has been put up and time to examine all the work there is yet to do. While this will be much work to restore, it is going to look fantastic. The front gable has these amazing pattern cut clapboards (which I suspect I am going to be having to make many reproductions of these) and the beautiful arched windows. Simple yet very elaborate.

My French and Czech Republic flags and the front boulevard garden is looking good!

Now we can start to see the damage those asbestos tiles did. When they nailed them up it nicked up all the gentle curves of the cut clapboards.

Trim aroudn these windows is the same profile that is on the other windows on the house only in a different arched configuration. Sadly very rotted.

You can see here that the arched windows aren't actually arched at all. They are square sashes with only the glass section and the siding cut into the arch.

Looking tough to save any of them. I think I'm going to have to make a pattern of these and cut all new ones, unless someone has a better idea? Just can't figure out how to save them. Piecing in the curves at all these points doesn't seem right. Any ideas?

It appears that that there was a little tin above the arched trim to try to keep water out, but didn't work too well.

MASSIVE chimney of the house. Not in such good shape.

Turret crown view from front gable

View from the top

Looking the other direction over the house

Roof lines

Trim of one of the arched windows removed.

That's the update around here. I will update again in mid June as I am headed on a wonderful adventure so wish me luck. When I get home there will hopefully more time to work on this big project I have just shown you. Until then I will speak to you all soon! If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Victorian Porch

2012-05-15T10:52:00.001-07:00

Sorry readers about the delay in writing a new post. Sometimes things don't get done as fast as I would like. My job keeps me fairy busy and at the end of the day I am often too tired to even think of working on the house. I have however, been enjoying some of the warm weather here and have once again put up my famous scaffolding on the front porch roof to tackle the front gable (photos and info to come). With the nice weather I have been lacking any character for my front porch. Part of me hasn't wanted to invest much time or money into the 1920s or 1930s porch because, well frankly I would rather have a Victorian porch than a later, plainer porch on the house. I ended up breaking down and decided to get some nice porch furniture for the front.

My Czech Republic and French Flags

Front porches were really a staple of the American life and our history. They were our most public and private gathering spaces. Seldom a Victorian home was without a front porch. Porches were used not only for simply relaxing to watch the world pass by, but were also meant to be extensions of the house. Porches were furnished with wick furniture resembling what you might find inside the house. They were also furnished with rugs, cushions plants and the most elaborate planters money could buy. They were meant to be an oasis to escape the heat of the house, they were gathering places for friends and families and ways to interact with your neighborhood. They were used for sleeping and games. They were the center of life in warm weather. Sadly their decline came as porches began to be enclosed with first screens and then storm windows. People discovered their homes could sometimes be warmer if the front porch was enclosed and made into a 3 seasons porch. Radio and television came and the these inventions drew people more inwards and sucked up free time. Now it seems porches are simply decorations or ghosts. I have hardly seen any of my neighbors using their front porches. Traffic and television have scared people away from them. They seem to only to be used for decoration or a passing through area to get to the front door. Quite sad of the demise I must say, but I intend to bring my porch back, which brings me to the point of my story, I bought some porch furniture. I had been looking for the typical white wicker for the porch. The set of a chair, rocker and sofa that I had known as a child in my grandparents house. I had been searching for vintage, but of course did not want to spend a fortune. Seems people think they can charge close to $1,000 for an old and in bad shape set just because it is summer and it is "antique". I took my time to see what I could find and a few sets slipped by. I did however, become successful in my quest in finding an old wicker porch set with its original paint from probably the 19teens or 20s.

Can you believe that the wicker matches the house and trim color exactly? What are the odds? I think it was meant to be! So I'll be dressing this up in the next few weeks/ months and will keep readers updated. Just wanted to share a new addition to this old house.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Regression of Minneapolis

2012-05-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

I often find my eye catching projects in Minneapolis that make me rather sad at the lack of preservation efforts in Minneapolis. There are, of course some beautiful restored buildings and structures throughout the city, but too often I sense there isn't as much importance placed on historic architecture of Minneapolis then there is in St. Paul. Maybe I'm biased. I'm not suggesting that every old building be saved and restored, that's not useful and we must weave preservation with progress, but there has to be a limit. Removing a bay window here or a chimney there erodes the fabric that makes up this city as a whole. Who are we to destroy something that has been fine and intact for 100+ years? We are just a speck in the time such buildings have stood and yet we think we can do as we please. Often we do not think of what these actions can mean to future generations or preservation efforts.

I am too often disheartened by the lack of compassion for preservation here. I sometimes feel what is the point of fighting a battle that so few care to bat an eyelash to. I can only do what I can to restore a building and document the changes that I notice. Hopefully future generations will find some of this information useful. If I had an unlimited budget I would restore countless, important structures in the cities, but sadly I cannot. Preservation should be praised and considered as the very first step to revitalize a building. Our structures of this century cannot even compare to what was built even 50 years ago. We have turned into a disposable society where buildings are built and torn down in a lifetime. We have mass produced houses like a xerox machine has gone into hyper mode and didn't know where to stop. We build commercial buildings with plain, unadorned facades of boring brick. No details, no identity, but boxes made out of cement and steel with the personality of a Jersey Shore cast member. Where will preservation be in 50 years? Will it even be here? I can only hope that my those who fight for preservation will have their work honored, respected and cherished in the future. Otherwise we condemn ourselves to plain, mass conformity

Beautiful 1880s building that retained so much character, until recently.

It's nice they put the arched windows in but they completely removed the bay windows and put in these very poor substitutes. With all the money they spent on these new windows why not restore the old ones? Would have saved cash, but sadly people often think new is easier.

This house doesn't look like much. A early 1900s - maybe 1920s home in the uptown area. It still held some interesting details and was still structurally sound and nice looking.

Now just an empty lot waiting for some modern home to stick out like a sore thumb in a neighborhood of classic buildings.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Finding Lost Photos of the house

2012-04-25T06:52:00.000-07:00

It has been nearly 2 weeks since I last wrote, but I have been productive. Today is my 29th birthday and I got a wonderful present that I wanted to share with everyone, old photos of the house. I tracked down the desendent of the family that owned the house and she shared with me a treasure chest of old photos of the house from the 1960s and 1970s. How lucky was I?? How did I track them down one might ask? Well with the release of the 1940 census I was just browsing through the information on my house. It was what I had already known but gave me more information about the families. So I went onto Ancestry.com and searched the family trees. Lone behold I got in contact with the family that owned and lived in the house and she had some albums she wanted to share. She drove down here, not being inside the house in nearly 30 years and was able to answer a few questions for me. It gave me some more information on the house and neighborhood that I didn't know. So I want to share a few with you.

How can you not love this photo from the 1940s?! It shows the back porch when it was still open and more than likely its original posts. The railings and balustrades I suspect are from the 1920s remodeling of both porches. The size of the porch footprint enlarged slightly to allow 2 doors on the back of the house rather than the one door and one window.

Here is the porch shortly after it was enclosed as it shows it unfinished in 1959. The house at this time had been covered by the asbestos tiles.

Kids on the back porch. Shows that the other houses up the block had similar back porches.

Back porch today. Still to be restored, hopefully soon!!!

Front Porch Steps. 1940s or early 50s

Cute kids on the steps. 1962.

The house with its front steps in much worse times..

Looking up East 6th Street. The street was still paved in brick. The boulevards were full size and had beautiful tall elm trees that made a tree canopy over our peaceful street. Sadly dutch elm disease struck in the 1970s and they all had to be cut down. The descendant said she and others were crying at how bad it was and how it really changed the feel of the street.

Notice 771 East 6th St. at this time had already lost the tower cap roof

Again on the from the front steps. One can see the sidewalks were just blocks. You can also see the origional Sacred Heart Church with its beautiful steeple. Torn down in the 1940s to be replaced by a more modern church. I'll see if I can't dig up a photo of the old church but here is what it looks like now with the new building:

So with a little luck I found some great photos. More to come!

Searching the Classifieds for House History

2012-04-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those people that enjoys reading the real estate ads for fun. I like to know if any of my neighboring houses are for sale or anything unique pops up and such. There is always something interesting you can find in the classifieds from help wanted jobs, to rentals, to sales. I really don't think that much about classified after that usually. They appear daily in the newspaper and the following day a new set is in its place. This is the cycle that goes on and on and on. I thought wouldn't it be interesting if I could find out if any classified ads had ever been written about my house, 100 years ago. I thought it would be fun to find out, but sounds like looking for a needle in a haystack right? WRONG! Turns out the US Library of Congress has some cities newspapers digitized and you can search by keywords! So I typed in my address and look what I found!:

Looks like the Schlenk Family was looking for a maid. Either they couldn't find good help or they went for an extended time without help.

After the Schlenks moved out the Keller family found rental agent J.W. Shepard to lease the house. Nice marketing on the house Mr. Shepard! $30.00 a month is a good deal for rent!

Seems 1897 was a tough year for rentals. But eventually it was filled.

During Mr. and Mrs. David Backer's stay at the house they had a yard sale and appears they didn't need all the rooms in the house.

1904 was the latest I found thus far. Who knows what else will be out there hiding in the newspapers. The website to search the newspapers is http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ . You should try different variations of your address and street name, as the digitizing process can sometimes make a mistake. I would also suggest putting your search keyword in quotes as this can help narrow down the searches. This can also be very helpful for genealogy searches and such. Who knows what you might find reading the newspapers of 100 years ago. Try it and see how much fun it can be!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

The Burning of St. George

2012-04-05T12:04:00.001-07:00

St. George apartments was a charming brick building built in 1919 and contained all the modern amenities of the day. Units had charming bathrooms with small hex tiles, clawfoot tubs and pedistal sinks. The units were cozy with hardwood floors, divided light windows in the bungalow style, beautiful maple cabinets and simple, dark wood trim profiles. This building survived a lot throughout its 93 years of faithful service, but on the morning of March 9th 2012 disaster struck. A fire began in the basement in the early morning hours and soon spread to the upper floors engulfing the roof entirely. This old brick beauty burned for close to 20 hours before it was finally put out. Luckily no human lives were lost, but tragically many animals did not fair as well. The building itself was soon just a fragment of its shell with no roof and covered in ice and soot. The building is a total loss and restoration seems highly improbable. The site I suspect will be torn down this year and this charming building will be just a distant memory on the skyline of Stevens Square.

Moorish Revival and Onion Domes of Minneapolis

2012-04-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

I have always had a fascination and a love for the far east architecture and styles, and apparently so did the Victorians. The Moorish revival style was popular in the gilded age and popular not only for public buildings, but also private homes, exotic parlors, smoking rooms and Turkish inspired baths. Minneapolis many be cold and have snow for half the year, but a little bit of Moorish revival came here and survived the past 100 years. Here are two lovely examples that also have the beautiful onion domes on the buildings as well.

The Bardwell-Ferrant House.
This stunning and aged beauty has a survived despite being abused and neglected for many years. It has been moved, embellished, restored, vandalized, lost to foreclosure and now sits clinging on to it's beauty loosing bits of its fabric as the days go on. The home was first built in 1883 for Charles Bardwell as a much simpler Queen Anne home and was located at 1800 Park Avenue. Bardwell was a carpenter and co-owned a lumber and sash company which some suggest account for the heavily carved woodwork throughout the interior. After only a brief stay at the home Bardwell sold the home to Emil Ferrant, who in 1890 decided the house needed a bit of flair. Ferrant hired Norwegian architect Carl F. Struck to create his fantasy. The addition of Moorish towers capped with onion domes, delicate spindle work and flowery inspired front porch were all more typical of Moorish style, however there are some influences of Scandinavian design with hearts and birds on the house. The home was complete and Mr. Ferrant was free to enjoy the beautiful jewel box that had been created. In 1898 he moved the home to its present location at 2500 Park Avenue and a bank was built on the lot of his former home. Good thing the house was moved because today the freeway runs right in the middle of where the home was, and could have easily been lost to history. As the gilded age came to a close and the years of wars and depression come on the home and the once grand neighborhood this home was in went into steady decline. The home was in bad shape by the early 1980s. There had been interest in the home and adding it to the list of historic places but this task was not accomplished until 1983 at a price around $150,000. In 1984 the home had a little luck and purchased by a two owners who undertook the renovation and restoration of the home and sensitively turned the home into 4 apartments. After years of detailed restoration the home was complete and it won a preservation award from the city in 1986. The two owners then decided it was time to sell the home in 2001 and sadly it was purchased by poor landlords that cared little for the precious building. The wood began to rot from lack of maintenance and some of the renters who resided in the house cared little for its significance. In 2008 the house was foreclosed on and while vacant vandals got into the house. Stealing the stained glass, mantles, copper lines and anything else they could get a dollar for to supply their drug addictions. Currently it is owned by someone, however the exterior is still in poor shape and the interior is unknown. This precious home's future is unknown as the the neighborhood it resides in can be troublesome and the home has few full time watchmen to keep an eye on it. Let's all hope this treasure is one day again restored and kept that way for the future to enjoy.

Detail of porch post and restoration (From Rolf Lokensgard)

Stair Landing (Photo by Douglas Madeline)

Showing stolen fireplace (Photo by Douglas Madeline)

Stair Detail (Photo by Douglas Madeline)

Stained glass detail in back 2nd floor bay (Photo by Douglas Madeline)

Another wonderful example of Moorish Revival, albeit it much later is the Despatch Laundry Building from 1929. Despatch commissioned Louis Boyton Bersback to design an office building for the company and their rug and fur cleaning machines. As one can see the beautiful onion dome done in copper, the brickwork, the fantastic tile and rising from the parapets are smaller domes on brick piers. Not to mention the fantastic bay window below the dome.

Detail of tile on building

Perhaps a few others are hiding around the cities?

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Hluboka Castle

2012-03-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Czech Republic is full of amazing castles and chateaus in various states of restoration. I thought I would share an amazing example everyone should visit if they come to the Czech Republic, Hluboka Castle. Hluboka nad Vltavou is a charming town in Southern Czech Republic and the castle is a popular day trip from Ceske Budejovice. It is very easy to reach via train, but it drops you off a bit of a ways from the castle. The walk from the station to the castle is about 50-60 minutes and the last 20 minutes are up steep (and I do mean steep) cobblestone streets. The hike however is well worth it. When my friend and I arrived after the journey we sat down in the English park around the castle and ate the wonderfully fresh sandwiches we had purchased earlier in the day when we left Ceske Budejovice. After a comfortable lunch we decided to check out the castle. When you walking up to the place it is something you can't describe. It's more than a fairy tale, it's almost a dream like experience or a Tim Burton film. One can imagine themselves in a carriage 100 years ago riding up to see this impressive structure of something that was created for a princess, her prince and their closest 200 or so staff members to keep the place tidy. Walking up to the admissions office the scale dwarfs any human being. I stand a healthy 6'3 and entering under the carriage way which is at least 20-30 feet tall made me feel diminutive. While the tour was conducted entirely in Russian (and I speak none) it did not diminish the home, it's history or its presence not understanding the entire history at the time. The home has its current appearance from the 1840-1871 remodeling in the Neo-gothic style. It was designed and inspired in the style of Windsor castle in England which was a typical fashion of 19th c nobility. The home is an endless array of dining rooms, salons, libraries and bedrooms, over 140 rooms to be exact. The Schwarzenberg family owned the castle until 1939 when they were forced to flee from the Nazis. Ever since the end of WWII it has been owned by the Czech government and a museum. With different parts open in the winter and the summer it may just be worth a few visits to see it all! Here is their website: http://www.zamek-hluboka.eu/en/

Exterior view from the English Park

This hills and countryside around Hluoka.

Little 6'3 me at the gate

Here's a few images from the Hluboka website to give you an idea of the awesome interiors:

Enclosed glass staircase.

This symbol if found throughout the castle. Apparently it is an old political symbol against the Turks and their rule.

Yes many animal antlers but until you visit you have no idea. This castle holds nearly EVERY animal killed since the 1700s and has been mounted on the walls detailing when and who shot them. There are thousands throughout the castle.

Staircase

China Room

One of the informal dining rooms

Great Hall

Greenhouse

Hopefully I have convinced you to visit. You will never find another one like this place! More photos can be found at: http://www.zamky-hrady.cz/1/hluboka-e.htm
If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

Hope Chests

2012-03-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some reading about the history of hope chests or dowry chests. In their most traditional sense they are a trunk or chest which would hold the items an unmarried woman would bring to her married life from her old. Things such as clothing, linens, silver, family memories and so fourth. These boxes also known as glory boxes were in themselves works of art and often made in pairs. During the renissance era these boxes were often more expensive and more important than what the piece of artwork actually held. Called cassone in Italian, the box was decorated with paintings, sometimes inlaid with fine woods and covered in gesso and gilded. This showy item was then placed in the bride's suite and would hold her most prized items. Essentially her life and her most important things were this box. Here are some beautiful examples:

Florence, 15th century. Oil paintings and gilded gesso

The Nerli wedding chest. 1472. This is very rare as it has its backboard. The scenes on the chest were to inspire and teach the newly married couple lessons about life.

15th C. Birth of Venus

Another beautiful gilded example.

Not all chests were so rich and fancy however.

Much simpler, but still stunning hand painted Dutch chests from the 18th century.

American Example with the couples names:

This tradition has deep roots, and they still exist today, although not as frequently. I have heard stories of a girl given a chest when she was 12 or 13 and filling it until she was married. I think it's a really charming and sentimental custom that transcends cultures and should continue to live on. This box, a woman's only link to her old life introduced into a new, unfamiliar life that will soon shape her future. Whether simple or ornate, gilded or simply painted each one is a work of art. Imagine the stories each of these chests could tell.

Australian examples.

Swedish examples

Treasures in the Walls.

2012-03-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

During the gutting of walls and ceilings little things are bound to have fallen in and been forgotten for many years. When you start a renovation on an old house it's almost as if it's an archaeological site where you never know what you will find, and what you do find can tell you a great deal of information. I think in my house the greatest bulk of the items found came when I tore out the ceiling on the 2nd floor to the attic. As you can imagine many things got lost in that big old attic and were never though of again, until I opened them up. Along with all the wonderful treasures was 120 years of dust, dirt and grime. I cannot tell you how many times my dad and I were covered in such think dust and dirt that our skin looked black and even though we wore masks the stuff still irritated us a bit. Nonetheless the majority of this is done. Only a little bit more to gut and since it is on the 1st floor it's much less dirty. So I have been saving pretty much everything that has fallen out of the ceilings and I thought I would show a few.

Here is pretty much everything I have found in the walls. Looks like a lot of junk until you look closer...

A Halloween Party Invite to Julia Geusch

"Halloween has arrived once again. Let us gather to make a scare. Sat Eve Oct 20th 1909 at 707 Bedford to have a good time"

"Please Bring Olives"

Newspapers from 1903

Wallpaper types found throughout the house

Beer Bottles, Victorian girls boot, tin covers, drawer pulls, sewing needles, tobacco tins, christmas tree candle holders, an empty purse.

Smokes

A few photos, sadly none of this house. I think I will get the negatives developed, while they may not be my house perhaps they were shot elsewhere in the neighborhood?

Mini mirror/ advertising item

Chocolate X lax

Postcard of National Vandeville Artists Inc 229 West 16th Street , New York City

The back says " Mr. Milo Neely postmarked 1922. Dear Papa, Received your letter and I am sure glad you are feeling better again and hope you continue so. I am feeling fine. With Love (can't read the daughter's name) Starts with B

Old Bill for Coal.

So you never know what you will find. These clues can give you names of old occupants, little glimpses into the history of the house and just fun to feel like you're on a treasure hunt. So when gutting your home do it carefully and you will be rewarded.

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!

If you like what you read and want to see this blog and projects keep going PLEASE feel free to donate something, even if it's only a little bit. Every little bit helps on this restoration project. Thanks again!