PHW – Page 96 – Preservation of Historic Winchester

The Samuel Noakes House, Part 17

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, part 11, part 12, part 13, part 14, part 15, and part 16.

Last time at the Noakes house, we saw some interior work. This time, we take a look at some of the exterior changes to the building. The Braddock Street side has a new cornice and new paint scheme. There are other exterior changes taking place as well. The porch facing Cork Street has had the access stairs removed from the east side, and new tread installed to the west. The wall has been patched from where the old meter stack was removed, and drainage has been worked on at the entrance to the former barbershop. You can tell the exterior looks almost complete now.

The new red paint scheme on Braddock Street
The replicated cornice goes up
Additional exterior details, including the porch stairs, patio, walkway, and other minor touches.

Hurricane Sandy Closure

If the hurricane is as bad as predicted, the office will be closed tomorrow, October 30. That doesn’t mean PHW work will stop, though! If the electricity and internet stays on, you can look forward to another post on the Noakes house. Even if we are without electricity, there are house sketches and thank you notes that can be done by candlelight tomorrow. Stay safe and dry, everyone!

Memberfest is Coming

November 2 is almost here, and that means First Fridays downtown! Remember to stop in the Eugene B. Smith Gallery at 25 North Loudoun Street between 6-10 PM to meet up with the folks from PHW while you’re taking in the other activities. Downstairs in the gallery space will be a reception and live music surrounded by Eugene Smith’s artwork. Upstairs will be PHW central, with information on the organization, membership signups and a special slideshow highlighting “Vanished Winchester,” a look back at some lost buildings both inside and outside the Historic District. You can also try your luck at an assortment of door prizes, with the most special prize being the “door table.”

The table is made from reclaimed wood from three buildings in the Winchester Historic District that were recently renovated or are undergoing work currently, including 427 North Loudoun, 507 South Loudoun, and 201 South Braddock Street (the Samuel Noakes house, which you have seen undergoing a transformation here at the PHW blog). This is a once in a lifetime chance to own a special piece of Winchester history, and it could be yours for just a single raffle ticket. Bring some dollar bills and take a chance – tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.

This event is the perfect opportunity for you to socialize with other PHW supporters and introduce your friends to PHW as part of the membership signup contest. While you have until December 7 to sign up new members to PHW to be in the running for the Beyer print “A View of Winchester” OR the $300 store credit to the EBS Gallery, you’d better hurry! December 7 (and Holiday House Tour) will be here before you know it.

The Samuel Noakes House, Part 16

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, part 11, part 12, part 13, part 14, and part 15.

Although it has been a while since we last checked into the Noakes project, work is ongoing at the house. The project is starting to wind down to the cosmetic touches, but we’ll have a few more updates on the house before the work is completely finished. This time, enjoy some images of the new meter stack installation, some concrete work, and interior wiring installations.

The meter stack is moved to its new location
Concrete work continues around to the side and underneath the house
Interior wiring for networking is installed
Electrical wiring goes in too
Another look at some of the new wiring installations in the Cork Street side

History Teaches Us to Hope – October 17

Looking for something to do on Wednesday evening? A free lecture entitled “History Teaches Us to Hope: Drawing Inspiration from the Shenandoah Valley’s Civil War” begins at 7 p.m. in Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium, Shenandoah University. Assistant Professor of history and Director of the Center for Civil War History at Lord Fairfax Community College Jonathan A. Noyalas is the guest speaker.

Jonathan Noyalas is the author or editor of eight books on Civil War Era history and has also written scores of essays, book chapters, articles and reviews for scholarly and popular publications such as America’s Civil War, Civil War Times, Blue & Gray, Civil War News, and Hallowed Ground. In March 2012 he served as chair of the sesquicentennial conference on Stonewall Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign and will chair the National Historic District’s Sesquicentennial conference in 2013. He is currently under contract to write a book about the Battle of Fisher’s Hill and is also continuing his research on postwar reunions and reconciliation in the Shenandoah Valley.

Click here for a PDF copy of the lecture flyer. Contact the coordinator of the Center for Lifelong Learning, Jo Miller, at 540/665-5442 or jmille3@su.edu for more information on this event.

Susan Beemer House Update

The public hearing for the demolition request at 110 W. Boscawen Street is proceeding. It appears that the applicant wants to demolish the existing structure for “high end apartments or townhomes.”

If you wish to attend the meeting or make a public comment on this request, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 18, 4 PM in Council Chambers in Rouss City Hall. The public hearing is the first agenda item.

Demolition Request at BAR on Oct. 18

Word has reached PHW that a demolition request will come before the Winchester Board of Architectural Review on October 18 for the Susan Beemer House at 110 West Boscawen Street. The house is a ca. 1823 Federal-style structure altered for commercial use. We wanted to let you know PHW is aware of the proposal. We will update you as information becomes available.

Memberfest Updates

It has been just about a week since PHW announced Memberfest and launched the Membership Signup Campaign. We’ve already received some new member signups at the office — thank you very much! Remember, the more members you sign up, the better your chances are for winning the grand prize, a framed print of Edward Beyer’s “A View of Winchester” or $300 in store credit to the EBS Gallery. If you haven’t started yet, don’t worry! The signup contest runs until December 7, so you have plenty of time.

We also have a bit more information on the special table which will be available as a door prize at Memberfest on Nov. 2 at Eugene B. Smith’s Gallery. This table is made from reclaimed wood from the Winchester Historic District. The table legs were made from an oak rafter from 507 S. Loudoun St. The table top was made from a board and batten door of heart pine from 427 N. Loudoun St., while the table skirt was made from a heart pine doorjamb from 201 S. Braddock St. Tommy Beavers of Beavers Carpentry and Nancy Murphy have been working on this project for us. We’ll be sure to share pictures of the finished table when they’re available.

PHW Launches Membership Campaign

Preservation of Historic Winchester is launching a membership campaign this fall to reach more people passionate about preserving the history and architecture of Winchester and Frederick County. To that end, PHW is hosting a membership signup contest with a grand prize valued at $300 – a limited edition framed print of Edward Beyer’s “A View of Winchester” OR $300 in store credit to the Eugene B. Smith Gallery. The membership signup contest is open now until December 7, 2012. Although you need not be a PHW member to participate in the contest, we invite you to join PHW and use your membership as your first referral.

As part of the membership campaign, PHW invites you to come to Memberfest with your prospective new members to learn more about the organization. Memberfest is a celebration of our current supporters and an opportunity for prospective members to join PHW. The party will be held on November 2, 2012 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Eugene B. Smith Gallery, 25 N. Loudoun Street, in Winchester. It is free and open to the general public. This “First Friday” event, jointly sponsored by PHW and the Gallery, will feature a reception with live music by the Robert Larson Trio. In addition, the second floor of the Gallery will be open. Visitors will be able to view the building’s original fabric as well as a special slide show presentation on “Vanished Winchester”. Information on PHW activities and membership benefits will be available. Door prizes, including a very special table made from reclaimed wood, will be available to win.

Good luck in the contest, and we hope to see you at Memberfest this November!

The Samuel Noakes House, Part 15

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, part 11, part 12, part 13, and part 14.

Today’s blog will shift back to the work in the basement area. A hatch door to the basement received some attention to make it useable and secure. The stairs to this area will be reversed for easier access, a larger concrete pad poured for the floor, and both water heaters for the Braddock and Cork apartments moved to one location.

Perhaps the most interesting discoveries are in the artifacts uncovered in this portion of the cleanup. The items include a Winchester-labelled Coca-Cola bottle, milk bottles from Sanitary Dairy and Winchester Creamery, matches from Duff’s Restaurant, and medication bottles from the dentist Dr. Fuller and druggists Berry(?) & Manning. The items give a glimpse into the lives of the previous occupants and bring a sense of immediacy to the past.

Reworking the basement layout
The concrete pad was also extended in the former barbershop area
Artifacts uncovered in the basement
Even more artifacts in the basement