Before: An elegant
Victorian built by his grandparents in Wilcox, PA in 1902, had seen better
days. Time, neglect, and a 1975 fire had taken their toll. Trees grew
through the porch and roof. When a tree fell and destroyed the chimney,
the owner decided to save the home. With the help of a local contractor
specializing in restoration, a neighbor who knew the house’s history,
landscapers, a mason, and a number of old photos and original pieces, the
owner went to work restoring the 103 year old.
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After: The work
crew duplicated the original roof, including the spire and crown molding.
They repaired the soffit and fascia and removed the Yankee gutters. The
siding was scraped, primed and renovated. The porch was jacked up and its
many parts—seven columns, 76 spindles, circular handrail and regular
banister work, tongue and groove ceilings and flooring, dentil work, post
pillars and pads—were re-fabricated and replaced. A craftsman did the
metal work in the appropriate style, era glass was replaced and re-glazed,
and sashes were built and repaired. the Owners found the original house
colors when the crew tore off a porch addition; a year after restoration
began, the house was finished with a final coat of paint that matched its
very first hue.
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