We are always the same age inside...

24Nov13
Funny how pervasive the internet is. Our contractor received info from a friend about our house. Turns out it is likely older than we thought. From the Connecticut State Library archives comes the following:

Title.  Killingworth historic building 007.  
Town.   Killingworth. 
Subject - LCSHDwellings; Killingworth (Conn.).
Keywords. Historic homes; Old houses 
About the survey dataThe text in the following fields, up to the Tell Us More field, is transcribed from a survey form that accompanies the photograph.
Date [built] (Source)1767 (marker); c. 1780-85 (?) (EDK)
Present Owner [1935-37]Griffings
LocationFaces east on the west side of Route 81;.1 mile north of Congregational Church.
Description [Material]WoodRoofGambrelChimney Type/No.ofStone / central
HeightStory and half
Fenestration2 windows each side of front door. 2 small dormers on eastern slope of roof. 12/12 and 8/12 sash.
OverhangNone
FoundationStone
Condition - PhysicalGood
AuthenticityOriginal
ExteriorThe gambrel is an unusual type in Killingworth - by far the greatest number of old houses are one and one half story peak.Clapboarded walls. The upper pitch of the roof is very flat, and the lower pitch quite steep. The two small dormers on the front areoriginal. The moulded cornice has small dentils.DoorwayPlain casing and new door at entrance doorway
Tell Us MoreTell us more about the building, its history, its address, etc. mailto: CSL.diginfo@ct.gov Put the Title in the email Subject line.CreatorW.P.A. Federal Writers Project, State of 
ConnecticutDate - Created1935-1942Date - Digital2010 June 28
CollectionWPA Architectural SurveyTypeimageFormatjpegLanguageengSource - OriginalPhotograph, b&w, 4 x 6 in.; Pre-printed form, b&w, 8.5 x 11 in. with typescriptSource - LocationConnecticut State Library, State Archives, RG 033:28, WPA Records, Architectural SurveyRelationResearch Guide to Old House Resources at the Connecticut State Library: http://www.cslib.org/OldHouse.htmPublisherConnecticut State LibraryRightsDigital Image © Connecticut State Library. All rights reserved. Images may be used for personal research or non-profit educational uses without prior permission. For permission to publish or exhibit, see Reproduction and Publication of State Library Collections,http://www.cslib.org/repropub.htmFile Namewpa_archsurvey_kilw007.jpgHeight1232

So suddenly, we may have a pre-Revolutionary War house where possibly Longfellow stayed and wrote The Birds of Killingworth. A lot more work has to be done on this, and though it is hard to see, the date marker over the door does say 1767.

Progress update: new insulation to basement of addition has been or will shortly be in place. We are still working on plans for kitchen changes and readying the addition for occupancy. 

Bucket list...and a mystery!

17Nov13
               Yes, two weeks since the last post. Instead of working last Saturday, we headed it NYC to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Dead Rabbit, a destination bar on everyone's top ten list.  Specialties are old drinks from the late 19th and early 20th century.  Ward Eight or a Maiden's Blush anyone?
              Sunday we did go the house just to get more accurate measurements since we are now planning to move the kitchen to the front parlor, use the former powder room as a butler's pantry, move the powder room space back into what was the kitchen and make a den out of the rear bump-out addition with the stone fireplace. Got it?  Also this past week five large and mostly ailing trees were taken down.
              Yesterday was spent taking care something that I guess snuck onto the bucket list--removing the popcorn from the popcorn ceilings in the addition. A slow but reasonably easy process using a spray bottle to moisten the surface and a scraper to remove the popcorn.

And then there is the mystery.  I found the following on a website about Killingworth:

The Birds Of Killingworth

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote The Birds Of Killingworth http://www.hwlongfellow.org/poems_poem.php?pid=2047  while staying in Killingworth Connecticut many years ago. It is said that he stayed in the house across the street from the town trash compactor (the dump). I thought it would be fun to document the many birds living in Killingworth. I will be adding to this collection as time goes on. Feel free to send me any photos you may have and if you'd like I could add your name below any photo sent.

These two fotos are of one of the fireplaces:

So someone wrote "Birds of Killingworth" on the stone lintel.  We are planning to contact the historical society to see if can get any additional info.  Our contractor should be back from vacation this week and the structural repairs will begin in earnest. 

Now you see it...

3Nov13

            Restructuring continues.  I am going to try like the devil to post some before and after shots with captions. This does not seem to be intuitive on an ipad.

Above left, kitchen in place, and on the right after its removal including removal of powder room behind cabinets at rear.  Note additional brace supporting beam at rear of original structure, taken
from the back addition.

Kitchen fireplace before and after. Stone chimney continues to roofline, becomes brick above roof.  Go figure.

Bathroom in the 1907s addition, totally gone leaving about a nine foot square space to configure.  Input welcome.

Left above is a shot from last week of recently exposed original door in front parlor--which will 

become dining room.  On right is follow-up after original plaster was removed showing chestnut 

panels.  Note temporary braces for impending front girt repair; fingers crossed.  

West side of addition showing studs being sintered due to water damage where handicapped ramp was removed.  Much water damage due to lack of flashing. 

BONUS POSTING

Found objects, an occasional feature.

One of a pair of handmade oil lamps found in the attic.  Research has not found any markings except those on the actual wick and oil resovoir from the Edward Miller Company.  Brackets on the back show it could have been mounted on a ship's mast. This was suggested via email from a lamp expert. They are quite heavy with solid construction and thick glass.  Convert to electric, yes or no?

Is " Demolition" a judgemental term?

27Oct13
We have acquired a new Transfer Station Permit. This, of course, used to just be a Dump Sticker, but times change.

This will come in quite handy during our current deconstruction phase.  The story so far...

Bathroom demolition in the addition has begun.  Entire room to be gutted and redesigned; much water damage to shower and adjacent areas.

We have also begun exposing original wide wall paneling and plaster walls that were covered possibly in the early 1950s by Homosote wallboard, a cardboardish material reluctant to be displaced.

Left foto above shows front parlor, south after ceiling removed.  Right foto is same shot after Homosote was removed. Yes, there was an original door under the wallboard. It was visible from the outside.  This room abuts the keeping room and the dividing wall will likely be removed to create a dining room sharing the space of these two rooms.  Below, shot from keeping room to parlor showing current wall.  Smallish opening with table lamp may have been a cabinet for the parlor, or it could have been planned and abandoned during original construction. But this is the wall we plan to remove.

In other news, Judy exposed a section of the keeping room wall that had a chestnut panel measuring 26" at its smallest width and also removed the wallboard covering the stone and clay chimney in that room.  

Coming attractions, dismantling of the kitchen addition to include removal of walls and cabinets covering stone chimney.  Below is an image found on the internet which is very close to what we have.  Bedroom nearest kitchen is a powder room also scheduled to be reconfigured. 

Stay tuned...

HV Heat?

Anybody out there have first-hand experience with a high-velocity heating system?  Any thoughts appreciated. Thx.  

Holy cathedral, Batman!!

13Oct13
               Ok, in a nutshell, our ceilings are gone on the first floor.  This was done over this past Thursday and Friday.  It may make only a slight difference in usable or perceived height but it opens up the wonders of construction. A variety of posts and beams were used. Some are obviously hand hewn, while some are water sawn, meaning they were cut at a water-powered sawmill.  In any case, here are a few pix:

These three shoes the beginning of the removal. The visible wire mesh hanging down appears to be the results of an updating likely in the 1930s when a second plaster ceiling was added to the original one. 

Here are some shots after removal. Note stone chimney exposed in kitchen and potential for a true cathedral experience.

Let the wild rumpus start...

10Oct13
             Who'll stop the rain?  Who cares!  Due to imminent foul weather our contractor will be looking for some inside work.  Commence removal of ceilings on first floor.  This is being done to both access the front girt and increase the headroom. Two front rooms are original plaster, rear keeping room and kitchen addition have beaver board set between the joists.  If we are lucky we will be able to cathedral the kitchen.  Current kitchen area:

Galley kitchen is actually to the right and opposite the fireplace, currently with only old dishwasher and sink.  Will we move it all to the keeping room?  

By the way, here are a couple of pix taken after we ripped up the addition carpeting and started to  disassemble the bookcases:                            Hmmmmmmm, not posting, stay tuned...      

A meeting...

10/6/13
6Oct13
              Yesterday was an important day. We had a lengthy meeting with the person who will be doing most of the critical restoration.  Of prime concern is a structural evaluation as it is obvious that there are sags and bulges in places where there shouldn't be--sort of what appears in aged humans.  It likely that there is some kind of failure in the upper story front girt--the transverse beam that carries much of the roof load.  There is evidence of long-term water damage to the two dormers including the window frames.  (Note to self, call Tom Hanks and Shelley Long for tips.)
             In addition,  most(all) of the windows will need to be replaced due to similar damage to the frames and many broken or missing panes.  There is some original glass left which we would like to find a use for.  The  next step will involve large gasps when we see the cost details.
               So after the meeting we went to a recommended breakfast place to have a dialogue with each other about the possibilities as well as with some spinach quiche and pastrami eggs Benedict.  Split decision on whether there should be a restaurant called Arnold's that only serves varieties of eggs Benedict with sides.
               Here are some pictures about the rest of the day.  Calling these "Before" pix. These are shots of the bed/bath area in the addition.  This was likely built in the 70s for the owner to alleviate the problem of stairs.  It is connected to the old structure by a breezeway where there is a laundry area and where there will be a wine bar in the future. Decent sized bedroom with bookcases and two separate outside doors.  Handicapped style bath with large shower.  Both areas fully carpeted--a huge mistake for the bath, but was probably a safety concern. There is long term water damage around the shower, evening extending to a adjacent closet.  So we spent the rest of the day removing the carpeting and disassembling the bookcases which will be reused in the area.

"Before" pic of what will be the living room.

Fireplace insert has been removed. Somehow this was posted somewhere else; not quite comfortable with the intricacies of the process yet. 

Clean-up initialization.

Status report:

            Two days post commencement of work.    

             Day one consisted of essential cleaning and stop gaps of critical issues.  Severe kitchen scrub. Internal plastic sealing of windows with missing panes. Removal of carpet in bathroom chronically damaged by litter box arrangement. Removal of fireplace insert and ashes in main fireplace. 

             Day two. Continued kitchen scrub, steam-cleaning and removal of lower cabinets on one
wall, resulting in destruction of numerous small residences. Excision of range hood.  Exploration of uncleaned attic. Anyone need travel brochures from the 60's and earlier?  Pull down classroom map?
Vintage Christmas items?
Judy's 2 cents...(yes, I was invited!)... OK, let me be on the record that I jumped into this with Jules whole heartedly, actually as usual, as instigator. So as I bitch and moan through this process, deep down I really love it. With that being said, the last 2 days were smelly, gross, filthy, disgusting, well, you get the picture. Let the games begin!

27Sep13
             Through tough negotiations, and after a unanimous decision by the Finance Committee to raise the debt ceiling, we have purchased a new property.  It is inland from what is considered the Connecticut Shoreline--the area that begins ostensibly at 'Shtaven(East Haven to non-natives) and runs sort of to the Rhode Island border.
             Property in question is a circa 1800 post and beam gambrel colonial. The main house is a classic center-chimney colonial.  Massive stone chimney with three fireplaces on the main floor and one in the master bedroom above.  There have been two additions.  The older and more traditional one is a bump-out to the rear to create a larger kitchen.  This includes another fireplace with a brick chimney.  The newer addition is sort of a handicapped suite with bedroom, bath, two entrances from outside and a laundry.  Oh, and electric heat--just what one looks for in New England.
             It is in rough shape. Why else would we have bought it?  A blank canvas needing restoration and a creative hand.  Most of the main house has its original features--eight over twelve windows that all need attention, wide board floors, classic wide paneled doors in crooked openings, dirt-floored basement and a stone foundation.  Previous owner was an elderly animal lover documented via Google and evidenced in various areas in the house.
             We will be attempting to restore and bring this to the 21st century. As on our last adventure, we will be doing much of the work ourselves. But there are things that we will be using professionals for.  There are issues with some of the framing.  There may be basement water issues--two sump pumps are present and the electrical panel needs to have upgrading due to damage from dampness.  Windows may be beyond simple repair--seems to be much rot, especially on the north side. Furnace may be at end of its life, and there is no second floor ductwork; although there is central A/C in the main house and a separate system on the addition. Kitchen basically nonexistent--this will be our personal project once the major professional issues have been addressed. Upstairs bath probably predates the 1940s, cast iron tub.  This is on a raised floor which allowed for plumbing, also really low ceiling--how to re-do?  Currently not part of the curriculum.
              Outside. There is a large barn with an attached "garage". No door, no floor. Our structural person said those classic words so beloved by homeowners--"Tear it down". We plan to look at creative ways to have it perpetuate.  Most recently, examined structural reinforcement in Venice. Cross braces with turnbuckles.  Also two paddocks--she had horses--and a storage shed.  All on a little over two acres, half wooded. Speaking of which, numerous dangerous trees must come down, all too close to structures and all unmaintained.