Reconstructing history: Job of rebuilding fire-ravaged 1743 home captured in documentary

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David Adams' house at 210 Gates St. in Portsmouth's South End, built in 1743 and gutted by fire in 2012, is the scene not only of a painstaking reconstruction process, but also a documentary. To make a pledge at Kickstarter.com to support the documentary project, go to http://kck.st/1isbvs1.Courtesy photo

February 08, 2014 2:00 AM

David Adams' house at 210 Gates St. in Portsmouth's South End has come a long way since 2012, when a fire left it considered a "total loss" by the insurance company.

But Adams was not willing to give up, especially after spending more than 30 years restoring his 1743 home in the style of the craftsmen who originally built it. From structural repairs to plumbing, wiring and insulation, there was a lot of work. Throughout it all, Mike and Dottie Lockhardt were there capturing every moment with their cameras.

From day one, the husband-and-wife team has filmed Adams' re-restoration. It started as a Web series called The Craftmen's Journal. With more than a year's worth of footage, Adams and the Lockhardts are now hoping to create a 13-episode series to be broadcast on Portsmouth Public Media (PPMtv), but they need your help.

The Craftmen's Journal is taking pledges on Kickstarter.com through Feb. 21 to help fund the venture. It is seeking $4,500, enough to help fund the series' first episode. If the goal is not met by the time limit, all money will be returned to the backers.

While Mike Lockhardt said Channel 11 expressed interest in seeing the finished product, the station does not have resources to help fund the project. That is why Adams and the Lockhardts turned to Kickstarter.

Money from Kickstarter will help produce a 30-minute premiere episode to air on PPMtv. With the first episode, Adams and the Lockhardts hope to find local supporters to help sponsor 12 more episodes to broadcast on PPMtv.

The series will explore the re-restoration process, the story behind the home, how to get through a fire loss, and the tools, economy and history of the time in which it was built.

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Reconstructing history: Job of rebuilding fire-ravaged 1743 home captured in documentary