The Samuel Noakes House, Part 12

We continue our journey through the renovation process at the Samuel Noakes House at 101 West Cork Street/201 South Braddock Street. Updates are posted each Tuesday through the PHW blog, following the progress with virtual hardhat tours.

The previous entries may be found at the PHW blog at part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, and part 11.

Last time, we saw some revisions for the meter relocation plans in the exterior work to the building caused by the solid limestone outcropping incorporated in the foundation. Because the meter location changed from the Board of Architectural Review’s approved application, the updated plans for the meters needed to be submitted to the BAR again. To make the application to the BAR more efficient, plans to restore the cornice facing Braddock Street and the exterior paint color selections were included with the meter relocation discussion.

The cornice restoration in particular required additional research. The original cornice had been removed at some point after 1976. Photographs of the Samuel Noakes house were not particularly clear, but appeared to show a bracketed cornice with molding. To identify what type of molding was once installed, the 1976 Winchester Historic District architectural survey sheets were consulted. Although the photographs were still unclear, the written description confirmed the cornice had modillions and an egg and tongue cornice.

The last item brought to the BAR was the exterior color selection. The plan was to differentiate between the Braddock Street side and Cork Street side with complimentary but contrasting colors. Braddock Street will remain red and white, and Cork Street will become blue (Kensington Blue or Evening Sky) with green trim (Central Park or Greenwich Village). The BAR approved the blue and green combinations, leaving the final selection between the four colors to the owner.

Inside the building, the Cork Street side fireplace was partially dismantled, cleaned, and rebuilt. As you may recall, the fireplace had been bricked in and an alternative heat source used the chimney for ventilation. The bricked up portion of the fireplace was opened once more, uncovering a deteriorated but partially legible fireback. The opening made for the later stove was filled in during the reconstruction, restoring the original appearance of the fireplace.

Cornice reconstruction research

Cork Street side fireplace rebuilt