What's New

VAF New England visits Fogg-Rollins and Gilman Garrison Houses

Caitlin Corkins — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:20:00 -0400

: Historic New England Carpentry Foreman Bruce Blanchard (on the scaffolding) at Gilman Garrison House discussing ongoing preservation work at the Exeter, New Hampshire, property.

Twenty members of the Vernacular Architectural Forum (VAF) New England recently visited Exeter, New Hampshire, to take an insider's look at two historic properties: the Fogg-Rollins House, one of the most recent additions to Historic New England's Stewardship Program, and Gilman Garrison House, a Historic New England property open to the public.

Architectural historian Laura Driemeyer, Ph.D, presented Elizabeth Hengen’s 2000 baseline documentation report about the known history of the Fogg-Rollins property, which is protected by Historic New England through a preservation easement. New Hampshire State Architectural Historian James L. Garvin discussed the architectural features of the property’s house, barn, and wheelwright’s shop. At Gilman Garrison House, Historic New England Property Care Manager Jodi Black and Preservation Carpentry Foreman Bruce Blanchard discussed the building’s unusual log construction and ongoing repair work, and New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources National Register Coordinator Peter Michaud led a tour of the building.

Historic New England staff can create a custom group-tour itinerary for many of our properties. Learn more.

Stewardship property among Acton's "lottery houses"

Caitlin Corkins — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:35:00 -0400

: John Robbins House, Acton, Mass.

One of four "lottery houses" in Acton, Massachusetts, is part of Historic New England's Stewardship Program. In 1794 Harvard College announced it was holding a lottery for the construction of Stoughton Hall, a new residence hall to be located in Harvard Yard. Four Acton residents, Abel Conant, Abraham Skinner, John Robbins, and Calvin Heywood, jointly purchased a single five-dollar lottery ticket and won. Their prize is believed to have been $10,000. Each winner used their share of these winnings to construct a fashionable home for themselves and their families in Acton, and after more than two hundred years all four lottery houses are still standing. Among them is the John Robbins House, which entered Historic New England's Stewardship Program in 2005.

Carpenters install ultraviolet film at Historic New England properties

Ben Haavik — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 -0400

Historic New England's preservation experts are always discovering better ways to preserve our buildings and the collections within. This week our staff carpenters learned about the benefits and installation of ultraviolet film.

UV protection is important for preventing damage from sun exposure. Past installations of UV protection, however, have produced unintended negative results. The large sheets of UV-protected acrylic we used in the past often trapped air between the UV protection and windows, creating environmental conditions conducive to condensation. The water would ultimately deteriorate the substrate (wood, metal, etc.), paint, and glazing putty. Ultraviolet film, which is applied directly to the window pane, eliminates the need for the sheet of acrylic, eliminating the potential for condensation. UV film is in place in several rooms at Beauport, Gropius House, and Otis House.

Learn more about protecting collections from ultraviolet rays in our white papers.

Historic New England makes Salem a little greener

Melinda Huff — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 -0400

For the past two years the Phillips House Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, has received an honorable mention in the Green Salem Business Challenge . The museum staff continues to encourage green practices both in the museum and in the wider community. In a recent newsletter to the tourism community, Site Manager Julie Arrison encouraged colleagues to “learn the easy ways that you can be a greener organization in 2013." The Green Salem Business Challenge is one of a number of initiatives encouraging Salem businesses and residents to be environmentally friendly.

Stop by Historic New England’s table at Salem’s fifth annual Living Green Fair May 19, where our historic preservation team will share tips for homeowners who want to make their homes more environmentally sustainable.

Wolf's head returns to Beauport

Kasey Beckwith — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:05:00 -0400

A driftwood carving of a wolf's head has returned to the south elevation of Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House.

The carving was removed in 2010 due to its deteriorated state. After careful consideration of conservation versus replication, Historic New England staff decided to archive the historic element and recreate the wolf's head from a denser wood material that could withstand the harsh exterior elements. The recreated wolf's head was carved based on the original and has been reset on the south elevation of the house, keeping watch over the terrace gardens.

The wolf's head is one of many collection objects on the exterior of the house. Other exterior pieces include ceramic decorative birds, other driftwood carvings of mythical creatures, and stone landscape elements.

Exterior collections can be just as problematic as exterior building elements because they are exposed to the same harsh conditions, and are often more susceptible to those conditions due to their intricate designs and details. Sometimes objects become too deteriorated to leave on the building for fear of complete loss. In these cases, items can be removed and archived, and a new piece can be manufactured out of a substitute material.

Please consider supporting essential preservation projects at our historic properties with a gift to the Preservation Maintenance Fund.

Members take an insider's look at historic Richmond

Youme Yai — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:25:00 -0400

This April members of Historic New England's Appleton Circle traveled south to Richmond, Virginia, with President and CEO Carl Nold for a four-day excursion to the historic city. The capital of Virginia, Richmond is rich in American history, from the earliest days of English colonies, to its influential role leading up to the Revolutionary War, and to the Civil War when it served as the capital of the Confederacy.

The group met with Alex Nyerges, director of the newly expanded Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and visited the museum's beautiful exhibitions, including the Fabergé collection and the Art Nouveau and Art Deco collection. Members also spent a day visiting two plantation homes in Charles City by the James River. Located about twenty-five miles southeast of downtown Richmond, these establishments are some of the earliest successful settlements after Jamestown. The continued existence and operations of these plantation homes and grounds today is a testament to the dedicated families who have made it their mission to preserve their ancestral home and share their passion and legacy with the next generation.

Appleton Circle members enjoyed private receptions at the homes of Richmond collectors and a private estate on the National Register of Historic Places. The travelers stayed in the iconic and historic Jefferson Hotel, built in 1895 by Richmond benefactor Major Lewis Ginter. The New York firm Carrère and Hastings designed the Beaux Arts-style hotel, complete with a statue of Thomas Jefferson by Edward Valentine under the stained-glass domed skylight of Tiffany glass.

Learn more about Historic New England's Appleton Circle membership.

Browne House roof replacement begins

Kasey Beckwith — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:00:00 -0400

: Removal of wood shingles on the Browne House roof marks the beginning of the roof replacement project this spring.

Historic New England has begun a roof replacement project at Browne House in Watertown, Massachusetts. The project includes the removal and replacement of wood shingles, repairs to rafters, re-pointing chimneys, and the installation of new gutters and downspouts. Learn more about Historic New England's approach to roofing projects in our white papers.

This work was funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Massachusetts Preservation Project Fund and through Historic New England’s Preservation Maintenance Fund. Please support essential preservation projects at our historic sites by donating to the Preservation Maintenance Fund.

South Berwick guides meet at re-acquired Jewett-Eastman House

Melinda Huff — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:20:00 -0400

Guides at Historic New England's properties in South Berwick, Maine, enjoyed a sneak peak at the interior of the newly re-acquired Jewett-Eastman House. The Jewett-Eastman and Sarah Orne Jewett Houses sit side by side. The combined properties made up a family compound in the center of downtown, acquired together by Historic New England in 1931.

In the 1970s, the Jewett-Eastman House was deaccessioned to serve as the town's public library. The library has recently moved to a larger space, allowing the house to come back into the Historic New England fold. Historic New England is currently assessing the building and exploring ways to utilize the house's two lovely parlors for public programming.

Interns take a behind-the-scenes look at collections and conservation

Nicole Chalfant — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:00 -0400

On April 30, three Historic New England interns toured two floors of our collections storage facility, photo studio, and conservation lab in Haverhill, Massachusetts, with Registrar Megan MacNeil. The interns, two working with Historic New England's development team and one working with our education team, learned about the organization's founding principles, collecting policies, deaccessioning projects, loans to other institutions, and new gifts to the collection.

Historic New England offers internships to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in American studies, American history, museum studies, arts administration, preservation studies, art and architectural history, library and information science, and related fields. Learn more about internships at Historic New England.

Stewardship property seeks redevelopment partners

Caitlin Corkins — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:55:00 -0400

The Town of Weston, Massachusetts, is seeking redevelopment partners for adaptive reuse of the historic Josiah Smith Tavern and the Town's Old Library. The Town has issued a request for proposals to bring new life to this rare set of buildings that occupy a highly visible, park-like site at the edge of Weston’s village center and its expansive Town Green. Historic New England holds preservation easements on the Josiah Smith Tavern through its Stewardship Program.

The request for proposals is available online. Proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. on June 7, 2012. The Town plans to offer two site visits: one on April 25 at 10:00 a.m. and the other on May 3 at 3:00 p.m. Questions are due on May 10 no later than 3:00 p.m. Written responses will be provided to all registered respondents and online no later than one week prior to the date of submission.

Affiliate members to gather for 2012 Forum

Youme Yai — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:30:00 -0400

Historic New England convenes small to mid-sized heritage organizations from around New England May 9 at the Affiliate Members Forum.

The Forum allows Affiliate members to hear from Historic New England staff on topics of interest to historical societies and other proprietors of historic properties and to network with other Affiliate members. This year’s Forum sessions include:

An Open and Shut Case: The History of Wood Windows and Why You Should Preserve Them
Learn more about the origins of the double-hung sash, its history in New England, and how wood windows contribute to energy efficiency and historic character.

Designing Innovative School Programs for Historic Sites
Learn about Historic New England’s school and youth programs and the process behind creating them. Issues covered include working within state curriculum frameworks (and looking ahead to the Common Core), including classroom teachers at all stages of development, and designing activities appropriate to all learning styles.

Energy Efficiency and the Historic House Museum: The Historic New England Approach to Weatherization
Learn how Historic New England is making its sites more energy efficient while staying true to its preservation philosophy and retaining the historic integrity of the properties. Case studies look at both large and small historic structures.

This year’s Forum attendees will be among the first to receive a tour of the newly re-opened Lyman Estate, which underwent a weatherization and energy efficiency project in 2011. Through window conservation, insulation, and more efficient equipment, Historic New England's goal is to reduce energy use by fifty percent at the Lyman Estate without sacrificing the historic integrity of the building. Learn more about the project and our progress.

The Affiliate member program is designed for small to mid-sized historical societies and proprietors of historic properties whose mission align with that of Historic New England. Affiliate members enjoy benefits for their organizations and members including access to best practices for the preservation of their collections, landscapes, and properties.

To learn more about the Affiliate member program or to register for the 2012 Affiliate Member Forum, please contact John Bradley at 617-994-5935.

Lyman Estate nears opening after weatherization project

Rob Watson — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:05:00 -0400

The large-scale weatherization and energy efficiency project at the Lyman Estate in Waltham, Massachusetts, is wrapping up in anticipation of the site's spring re-opening. As Historic New England's property care experts work to reduce energy consumption in the 1793 mansion, we have recently completed several key projects:

Plastering repairs in the kitchen and basement
Exterior repairs and painting, including to the columns, deck, and rear stairs of the veranda
Roof repairs to help alleviate water leaking
Chimney flashing repairs and replacement of broken slates

The Lyman Estate is a popular venue for weddings and other private events, and its newly upgraded catering kitchen will provide a more energy efficient environment. A new custom-made stainless steel cover protects the soapstone sink and provides additional counter space. Other new features include a two-bay sink with grease trap and hand-wash sink, a new convection oven (one of the most energy efficient models available), and a new counter-height refrigerator and freezer. Elsewhere in the mansion, the chandelier and sconces have been re-installed after conservation work, all in advance of the first wedding in the mansionon April 28.

You don't have to be a guest at a wedding at the Lyman Estate to see the mansion in its newly restored condition. Historic New England offers tours of the mansion beginning in June.

Funding for this project was secured through the Department of Energy Resources, Community Preservation Act funding through the City of Waltham, and Historic New England's Preservation Maintenance Fund. Learn more and consider supporting projects like this at our thirty-six historic properties.

Warm weather allows for winter landscape projects at Codman Estate

Kasey Beckwith — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:05:00 -0400

: Historic stone walls at the Codman Estate are being cleared of brush for easier maintenance.

New England just experienced one of the warmest winters on record, allowing a greater than usual amount of winter landscape work at the Codman Estate. The stone wall between the handicapped parking lot and the carriage house, along with the entire length of historic stone wall enclosing the Codman Community Farms' pasture land, were cleared of thick stands of brush. This brush mostly consisted of invasive species such as honeysuckle, bittersweet, and buckthorn. The farmers at Codman Community Farms helped by taking the cut brush and using it in a bonfire.

We plan to make it easier to maintain these areas and prevent the expense of another major clearing event like this. Our landscape team will cut down tall stumps in the cleared spaces or remove them, rake the ground to expose fresh soil, and sow grass seed. Once the ground cover has grown, it will be easy to mow and trim, which will help prevent growth of new or re-sprouting weed species.

Help support preservation of our historic properties and landscapes with a gift to the Preservation Maintenance Fund.

Guidelines for improving energy efficiency in historic buildings published

Caitlin Corkins — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:55:00 -0400

The Maine State Planning Office recently commissioned Maine Preservation to write energy guidelines for older homes and buildings, which are now available to the public. Preservation professionals from around the region weighed in, including Sally Zimmerman, manager of historic preservation services at Historic New England. The project was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

These guidelines have been incorporated into the Maine Uniform Building & Energy Code. The complete Guidelines for Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings are now available online. Read more about building codes and historic buildings in our recent Hot Topic.

Further reading on this topic is also available in a National Park Service Preservation Brief, Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings.

Learn how Historic New England approaches energy efficiency at our own properties.

Explore the Codman Estate online

Rob Watson — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0500

Historic New England invites you inside the Codman Estate from your computer or mobile device. Our new virtual tour allows you to navigate the first floor of the Codman family's c. 1740 country house and take a closer look at the art, furniture, and objects within. Newton-based company EveryScape developed the tour for Historic New England.

Take the tour on your desktop computer or on your mobile device.