Pictures of Home

[phil]

This is like watching old house porn. Everyone is gazing with wide eyes, marveling over her age Thanks for posting the pics, it looks like a really interesting project.

[mjt]

Also having a brick house, I'm interested to see what you end up doing with yours.

[Gothichome]

Now that you have that siding off it looks like you have a bit of rehabilitation to do on top of your windows. Are you hoping to replace with original size windows?

[Central Passage 1832]

Hello and good day to all. Thank you for all the nice words. A book I had ordered came in today. A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester. A really good reference book. However it is showing my house to be a Greek Revival more than Central Passage. I had been told that my house was built "about 1832", the listing agent had it at 1900, and the recorder says 1853. So as it's a little bit of everything I will be restoring to the 1853 period. Most Greek Revival are two story (or more) but there are some like mine around. It's perfect for me and my dog. We're both old and slow so one story is good for the two of us. I am currently fixing the kitchen. I'm sure you've heard of the Mushroom Factor. I'll start another post with pictures of what happens when you have a little "give" in a section of the kitchen floor.

[Central Passage 1832]

Mushroom Factor: First you check out a little "give" in the floor.

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. Then you keep going...

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Apparently at some point in it's history the water line broke at the sink. House must have been empty at the time because there was a lot of water damage. Thankfully it is "just" the plywood sub floor (the kitchen is the "new" part of the house). As it is just sitting on a concrete block foundation there won't be much room between the floor and the dirt, right?

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Maybe an old cistern?

Anyway while I am repairing the floor I might as well get rid of the old flooring (4 layers). And I know for a fact that there is no insulation in the walls so off comes the wallboard. All the electrical outlets are loose so I'll replace them. Oh and the 220 outlet for the stove is just dangling back there. Apparently it has never been attached to anything since someone drilled a hole in the ceiling and dropped the line straight down. I suppose that should have been a clue..

In the end I've gone from one little hole to a completely gutted kitchen. And I couldn't be happier. I LOVE being the owner/caretaker for this wonderful old home. I'll be tearing out and building back inside this winter then back on the outside come Spring.

[GinaC]

Ok, I need to borrow some of that courage! I need to demo a few small walls to enlarge a closet into a powder room, but I've been just too scared. Also it's 1939 drywall, which means asbestos and maybe lead? You know how everyone just freaks out about that -- but it's not a huge area that I'm dealing with.

Those old stones that you found are like buried treasure. I'm sorry you have to deal with some rot, but yeah, a new kitchen will definitely worth it at the end!

My little house is just big enough for me and my two toy dogs because the rooms are so small. I can't believe the original family raised three children here and also had a servant! It was definitly a different time. The extra bedroom I turned into a sewing room/office space and I also have the added bonus of a studio room for my jewelry making (the solarium). I looked at some bigger homes when I was house shopping up here, but they just seemed so huge, and at the end of the day, more to clean and maintain, right?

Realtor listings like to exaggerate, sometimes a lot, in order to attract people who don't like small old houses. I've learned that you really can't go by them at all. The listing for my house said 1,282 sq ft and built in 1940. The city records say 868 sq ft and built in 1939. I don't know how to measure sq ft, but upstairs is a half storey, so the actual walking space is very limited. And the other 4 houses around me were all built in 1938/39. I think you're right to go by the city records.

[1918ColonialRevival]

Around here, city records are meaningless. For example, the city records here say my house was built in 1915. Through independent research, I verified it was 1918. The city records say my house has asbestos shingles. It still has the original cedar shingles and was never clad in asbestos shingles. It says my roof is asphalt and it's slate. The square footage is wrong. The number of rooms is wrong. I could go on with other discrepancies.

Greek Revival architecture took hold in this area in the 1830s, but was still fairly popular in the 1850s, so I could see either date or somewhere in between being right for your house. I would definitely say it is pre-Civil War. Looking at the old deeds is a place to start, though you will likely find some gaps depending on how well records were kept in that area in the 19th Century. I would also recommend looking for old maps of the area that has buildings on it. Old newspapers and even census reports can be a source as well. The 1850 and 1860 census will be worth looking at. It will help you determine the possible accuracy of the 1853 date.

[Gothichome]

CP, while you have that floor opened up, get down there with a metal detector. You will probably find lots of rusty nails but there night have been a coin or two or other interesting things that had sipped past the floor boards.
Also, judging from the joists and style of construction, what you see is definitely not the original floor framing.
This little write up on identifying nails might be of help.
https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Nai ... ues-to-age

[1918ColonialRevival]

+1 on the metal detector, though as Gothichome pointed out, there's going to be a lot of iron down there. But, it's not uncommon to find old buttons, coins, or other small objects that slipped through the cracks.

I agree that the floor joists look relatively new compared to the rest of the house. It wouldn't surprise me if that was done within the last 30 years or so.

[Central Passage 1832]

Hi all,

GinaC there are far more experienced people than I on here that can comment on asbestos drywall. But if it were me with the small place you are talking about I would just go for it. Buy cheap gloves, good eye protection, dust mask, and a Tyvek suit. All can be picked up at a big box store. When you see clean ups of drug labs on the news the white baggy things they are wearing are Tyvek suits. Cost around $15 if I remember right. Then let your inner warrior loose, give her a sledge hammer and have fun. Finish the job by putting broken drywall and other debris in contractor garbage bags (thicker plastic so they don't rip) drop the gloves and Tyvek suit in the bag and tie it shut. After that go take a long hot shower and plan your new powder room.

!918 Colonial and Gothichome yes the framing under the floor is newer. This was the addition for kitchen and laundry room. I smiled when I read the suggestion to take my metal detector with me when I go through the floor joists. You bet I am! I love finding this old stuff. Also Gothichome you asked the other day if I were going to try to restore the windows to their original height. Yes, if I can find them. If not I will make them. (Slowly and with a lot of down time staring at drawings)

And finally Gothichome I owe you an apology. When I first started reading these post last year I misread yours as Gotcheehome. When I saw the pictures of your beauty I thought "You certainly do." A beautiful home indeed.