Like all homeowners in New England, there are seasonal tasks to prepare for the upcoming colder weather. With 167 buildings, more than 200,000 square feet of roofs, 70+ heating systems, and miles and miles of gutters and downspouts spread over 38 properties, winterizing at Historic New England is an all-hands-on-deck endeavor.
The landscape crew in our property care team are among the first staff to “batten down the hatches.” Their winterization projects range from removing outside garden and landscape items and protecting evergreen shrubs like rhododendron from hungry deer to helping other property care staff with preparing HVAC systems for the heating season and installing storm windows.
Supervising Landscape Manager Anthony DeAngelis has years of experience prepping for winter at Historic New England. He says the best advice he can provide is to start early. “Make sure the snow blowers are ready to roll, boilers are tuned up in advance, and that plenty of winter supplies are on hand.”
Staff start their work early. The to-do list includes shutting off outside water, clearing gutters and downspouts, and installing storm windows. An especially important task is staking the long driveways that need bigger plows for snow removal. This is essential to ensuring safe visitor access to tours and programs at the Eustis Estate, Gropius House, the Lyman Estate and Greenhouses, easy entry for schoolchildren attending on-site education programs, and for the many volunteers tending to the animals at Historic New England’s farms.
For more information on winterizing historic buildings and some tips you may be able to use with your historic house, visit our white paper on the topic.
Media Contact: Susanna Crampton, [email protected]
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