Posted: Jun. 28, 2017 10:50 am

QUINCY -- Establishing a facade program for residential properties is a request that Quincy Preserves has received during the last several years.

Quincy Preserves President Vicki Ebbing said the organization not only has received requests from homeowners but also has fielded inquiries about programs to help make exterior improvements to historic residences.

"It's an ongoing process for anybody that owns an older home," Ebbing said.

They will now have options. Quincy Preserves announced at its annual picnic last week that it is starting the Private Home Facade Renovation Funding Program to offer $1,000 matching grants to restore period architectural design details and characteristics of building facades, as well as correcting property maintenance code violations relating to the building facade.

"After seeing the demolition of the 421 Jersey building, we decided that we needed to do something to help prevent that sort of thing from happening, where the building slides to the point where people demolish it," Ebbing said. "We've come up with this program to hopefully circumvent that in the future."

Quincy Preserves has offered a commercial facade program in downtown Quincy for many years. Properties that have benefited from the program are 648 Maine, 111 Jail Alley, 833 Kentucky and 117 Hampshire.

The organization also has a donation program through which it helps nonprofits with historic buildings, such as the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County with the History Museum at 332 Maine, the Quincy Museum at 1601 Maine and Villa Kathrine at 532 Gardner Expressway.

The new program is restricted to private homes within Quincy historic districts -- the East End, the Northwest, the German, the Downtown, the Zwick Row, Brewery Area and the South Side Bungalow historic districts. However, other significant historical architectural residences outside the district may be considered by the Facade Committee and the Quincy Preserves Board of Directors.

The grant must be matched and will be made annually until the program's budget is depleted each year.

To participate in the program, homeowners must be paid members of Quincy Preserves for at least 12 months prior to the date of their applications. The residences must have been constructed between 1830 and 1950, and funding can't be used for roof repairs.

Priority preference will be given to applicants who agree in writing to open their homes for one of the Quincy Preserves Tours after the work is finished. The revenue from the tours helps support the grant program

Preference will also be given to Quincy Preserves plaqued structures and properties that have been made local landmarks by the Quincy Preservation Commission or the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Applications will be available at the Quincy Preserves' website, as well as at the Preservation Commission office at 706 Maine.

For additional information on the program, visit quincypreserves.org, email info@quincypreserves.org or contact Ebbing at 217-257-9909.

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Quincy Preserves launches new program to assist private home facade restoration - Herald-Whig

Emily Clark eclark@wickedlocal.com @emilyOCM

A layer of green fertilizer covers grass seeds on the Simes House lawn, creating the illusion of a green carpet. The icon of a bygone era looms in the sea of green, dazzling in the June sunlight like a mirage from the past. The Simes House, for all the drama it has generated, has revived from its 150-year-old slumber like Sleeping Beauty, kissed awake by a community that decided it was worth the effort to save.

The Simes House looks just as it did back in 1863 when Joseph A. Simes built the home at the height of a Civil War that pit American families against one another.

The stately home and its 200-acre spread were dubbed a gentlemans farm in the English sense of the term, and construction followed suit. It was an act of faith at a time when no one really knew which side was going to win.

Community Preservation Committee Chairman Bill Keohan leads a tour through the grounds and restored interior, noting that, back in the day, the Simes property extended all the way to Taylor Avenue and into downtown Manomet.

Italianate Gothic Revival is what the historians call the design, with its mansard roof, sweeping porch and massive windows. Simes was a Bostonian with a British flair, incorporating striped wood floors popular at the time across the pond, as well as English tile manufactured by the same company that renovated the United States Capitol Building in 1856. The original finish of much of the woodwork was relatively untouched in spite of 150 years, such was the glorious isolation of the Simes House at 29 Manomet Point Road. Most fireplace mantels and surrounds in old houses have suffered the indignities of countless paint jobs, but most of the Simes Houses mantels boast their original varnish, just as the crown moldings were relatively untouched.

Paint analyses were performed with the aid of microscopes to determine the precise colors of walls and the exterior, Keohan explained. The results include the brown exterior and an interior of dusty rose hues, an almost indefinable purple and a room with decidedly pink walls. The Victorian Era, for its serious reputation, was replete with vibrant colors and elaborate and intricate designs.

This project was about balance, about historical preservation and adaptive reuse thats functional and financially self sustaining, Keohan said. For the first time, the three components of the CPA are represented with historical restoration, housing and open space coming together in one project.

The story of the Simes House is a rescue story, because this historic home was a whisper from the wrecking ball back in 2010 when the town took the property in tax title. In 2011, Precinct 7 Rep. Randy Parker assailed Town Meeting with pleas, and the local legislature agreed to spend $1.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds to shore up the aging relic as repairs were made. The Simes House Foundation was given the reins of managing this work, and Vereika Construction restored the exterior.

Infighting on the Foundations board of directors, however, slowed things down and led to the historic project being handed back to the town, which has managed the subsequent restoration, armed with an additional $2.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds Town Meeting approved for it in 2015. Northern Construction is in the process of completing restoration of the interior of the building, which includes first floor conference and function rooms, two handicapped accessible bathrooms and an elevator.

Rooms feature floor to ceiling windows and fireplaces with wood mantels. The dining room boasts its original pantry with built-in drawers for cutlery and utensils. Space is available for a kitchen, but it will be up to the group that manages the property what type of kitchen. There has been such debate over this issue, Keohan said, the town determined the best approach was to leave it up to the management team.

The sweeping central staircase takes you to the second floor where four office spaces await. Fireplaces are, once again, features as well as more large windows that broadcast views of the grounds.

During renovation they installed new heating and electrical systems that are based on a computer system that is voice activated, Keohan said. And you can see that that technology is complimented by a fire suppression system, cooling systems and lighting systems that are best suited for the 21st century. Also, all the technology someone would need for the office space is here.

A second staircase to the third floor was added as a secondary egress to bring the two third-floor affordable apartments to code. And the rear staircases, used back in the day for servants only, have been preserved. One of these stairs, which climbs to the third floor, has been blocked off due to necessity, but the staircase remains as a blast from the past.

They were going to get rid of the stairs, Keohan said. But Pilgrim Hall Museum Executive Director Donna Curtain advocated that they be saved. The stairs tell a story of how people lived at the time and how people worked at the time.

The second floor also features a handicapped-accessible bathroom, kitchenette and break room. The organizations that will occupy the four offices will share a reception area, conference room and kitchenette. Keohan stressed that the building is energy efficient with all the technological hookups needed for todays business.

These are Class A office spaces, he added. So its kind of an interesting project where youre combining 1863 Abraham Lincoln with George Jetson.

The town is hoping to attract nonprofits with community-based services like veterans, seniors or housing organizations to rent these office suites.

Another set of stairs leads to the third floor where one-bedroom, affordable apartments feature recessed windows, galley kitchens and bathrooms with shower and bathtub. Applicants that meet the income restrictions will be able to put their names into a lottery for these units. While the states income guidelines for these rentals maxes out at a rent of $1,100 per month, Keohan said the organization that winds up managing the property can opt to reduce that price.

Rents collected from the offices and affordable units are designed to cover the cost of maintaining the building. A management company will oversee these aspects and the use of the Simes House.

The only entity that has responded to a request for proposals to manage the property is Manomet Village Common Inc., a local nonprofit organization formed last year with Advisory and Finance Committee Chairman John Moody as president. Selectmen have yet to award the management, Keohan said, but noted that this time the town will maintain ownership of the property and simply lease it to the entity for increments of five years at a time.

Another staircase beckons as Keohan gestures to a metal hatch above that leads to the widows walk atop the Simes House. Spectacular views greet the climber as Race Point and the Provincetown tower are clearly visible on this glittering June day. Its hard for Keohan to contain his excitement as he notes the powerful force behind this restoration project and Manomets new and glorious jewel.

It is a great example of a community getting behind a historical building that was scheduled to be demolished, Town Meeting members like Randy Parker who rallied the community, who asked Town Meeting not to tear the building down, Keohan said. The exciting thing about the Community Preservation Act is it gives the legislative body the ability to do some very interesting projects throughout the town. They come from the neighborhood up. The residents of Manomet wanted this to happen.

Follow Emily Clark on Twitter @emilyOCM.

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Restoration of the Simes House is complete - Wicked Local Plymouth - Wicked Local Plymouth

Armed with a deep rooted interest in history as well as years of experience in carpentry Dale Edlund, of Edlund Construction, was extremely excited to take on his latest log house restoration project at the Faribault County Fairgrounds.

There, Edlund's mission was to restore the Krosch Log House. This log house happens to be registered as a state historic building by the Faribault County Historical Society.

The Krosch Log House has vast historical roots as it was originally built during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and in the midst of the Civil War. Constructed by Casper Lampman in 1862, the two-story pioneer farmhouse was moved to its current location in July of 1985.

Faribault County Historical Society president Bill Paul stands in front of the refurbished Krosch Log House.

The main goals for the Edlund Construction team was to get the chinking work completed in order to fill the gaps in between the logs. Applying a clear top coat over all of the exterior wood surfaces for weather protection was also a part of the restoration efforts.

Given its age, Edlund feels this particular log cabin has held up remarkably well through the years. This is not usually the case with restoration projects on cabins of similar age.

"The [log cabin] we did for the Crow Wing Historical Society in Brainerd, we actually tore down three walls and we had to duplicate about a dozen logs," said Edlund. "That cabin was actually built in 1868, so it was slightly newer than this one."

Edlund Construction spent a total of three days on the Krosch Log House, from June 14 through June 16. This included roughly 12 to 13 hour work days each day, all while battling the summer heat and humidity. Although Edlund admits battling the elements is difficult, he and his team planned their work strategically in an attempt to beat the heat.

"We start on the sunny side and just follow the shade around the building as we go. That helps minimize the tough conditions."

Dale Edlund, of Edlund Construction, remains hard at work with various log home restoration projects throughout his busy summer schedule.

Located in Richmond, Minnesota, Edlund has been a professional contractor for 30 years. It wasn't until 1999 that Edlund decided to specialize in log home restoration. As Edlund explained, he stumbled upon the idea of log cabin construction simply by talking to a buddy.

"About 18 years ago, a friend of mine asked if I would build a log house. I told him that I really didn't know how to do it, but I'll give it a try and that was it. Since then, we've done nothing but log houses."

Edlund Construction offers a wide variety of services that can help restore any log home to pristine condition. Half log construction, full log construction, planning and design services, and preliminary site visits and site evaluations are among the bevy of assignments conducted by Edlund construction during their log home projects.

In addition, the Edlund staff also specializes in turnkey construction, lot clearing, and driveways and culverts. Edlund Construction arranges for soil tests and also assists with septic design, landscaping, staining, painting, and caulking.

Up next for Edlund construction are four different refacing projects within the state of Minnesota. Rotten log replacement will be the main objective during these particular assignments. Although the majority of Edlund Construction's work is done in of Minnesota, the team does venture into parts of North Dakota and Wisconsin as well.

After the project was completed, Bill Paul, president of the Faribault County Historical Society, couldn't be happier with the finished product. He explained that moisture was affecting the integrity of the structure and that restoration of the cabin was sorely needed.

"Wasp nests and yellow jacket nests were collecting inside the cabin," Paul said. "We can't have that because we want visitors to enjoy the building. Dale [Edlund] did a very thorough job with the coating and chinking and he even chinked the end caps too. He did a phenomenal job."

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Working to preserve historic log cabin - Faribault County Register

EEBE PLAIN, Vt. (CBS) Brian DeMoulin inherited a home 30 years ago and is reluctantly putting it on the market.

Have a look at my stone house, he told CBS News. Theres the border post.

He also showed us what makes the residence so special.

This is the stairway that leads to the Canadian apartments, DeMoulin said.

You heard him right. His house is literally in two places at once: Beebe Plain, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, Canada.

The tape on the floor in the upstairs room indicates approximately where the border runs through it. Selling a home that straddles two countries is proving to be quite a challenge.

Realtor Rosemary Lalime spoke with CBS News. She said her ideal homeowner has dual citizenship.

It makes it more difficult because I have to make sure they have the right customs papers to own the property, she said. Ive had calls from Lebanon, Ive had calls from Cuba, L.A. Most of the people are interested in a restoration project.

The historic home was built in the early 1800s as a place to ease commerce between both countries. The nine-bedroom, five-bath estate is listed at $109,000 dollars.

There is one sticking point.

DeMoulin says one door in the residence has to absolutely stay bolted shut at all times.

You step out that door and youre in Canada off the property and subject to be arrested, DeMoulin said.

Border patrol offices for both nations are right across the street. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agent Troy Rabideau spoke with CBS News.

Its always something we need to be cognizant of whos coming in whos going out. We do a pretty good job of monitoring it, Rabideau said.

I have a wonderful relationship with both sides, DeMoulin told us. I feel equally U.S. and Canadian.

DeMoulin has dual citizenship, but that perk wont come along with the deed.

And there is no avoiding property taxes. Both the U.S. and Canada will come calling.

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A home that straddles 2 countries: Unique house for sale - Wink News

LANSING Consumers tackling restoration of their homes damaged by recent flooding are urged today by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to first check online to verify the individuals and businesses they hire are legitimate.

Make sure you know up front who youre doing business with and trusting to work on your home, LARA Director Shelly Edgerton said. Consumer caution is the best way to help avoid problem situations or disputes.

Verify a Builder/Contractor License. Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors: An online license search is available at http://www.michigan.gov/licenselookup or by calling LARA's Bureau of Professional Licenses at 517-373-8068. Electricians, plumbers and mechanical contractors are licensed by LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes and must have a license that corresponds to the work to be done. Mechanical contractors also must have the proper license classification. To verify license information, go to http://www.michigan.gov/bcclicense or call 517- 241-9316. Consumers are also reminded to:

Ask the individual to show you his/her pocket card, which will contain the license number.

Ask for and verify references.

Get at least three written estimates to include detailed job specifications on the materials, labor, timeline, and total charges for the work. Don't automatically choose the lowest bidder.

Obtain a detailed written contract stating exactly what work will be done, the quality of the materials used, warranties, start and completion dates, total cost of the job, and a payment schedule.

Never sign a contract with blank spaces. Know your cancellation rights.

Protect yourself by asking the contractor, subcontractor, and suppliers for a completed and signed "waiver of lien" form. This may provide you additional protection should a subcontractor or material supplier place a lien on your home if the contractor doesn't pay the bills. This can happen even if you paid the contract in full.

Make sure your contractor is insured and carries personal liability, worker's compensation, and property damage coverage. Ask for copies of current insurance certificates. If the contractor isnot properly insured, you could be held liable for any injuries and damages that occur during the project.

Check with your property insurance provider for the extent of your coverage.

Avoid paying for the entire job upfront. Consider paying one-third in advance; one-third halfway through the job and the final payment upon satisfactory completion. Avoid paying with cash. Pay by check or credit card and get a receipt.

Keep good recordscopies of the contract, change orders, and correspondence.

Dont forget your permitif neededby checking with your local or state building department. The proper permits and inspections help to guard against defective work or costly mistakes. If homeowners plan on doing the work themselves, they are also responsible for obtaining building permits. MORE Information

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Beware of home restoration scams after flooding verify licensed contractors and legitimate businesses - Gladwin County Record & Beaverton Clarion...

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Water Damage Restoration and Water Removal | Servpro ...

Dr. Dauer is a leader in the field of Hair Transplant procedures utilizing Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation to create completely natural results for thousands of patients worldwide. Dr. Dauer graduated with honors from New York Medical College and trained in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Dauer received specialized training in the field of Hair Transplant Surgery and has been a published author in textbooks and medical publications. More on Dr. Dauer >

Dr. Sword has been an M.D. exclusively devoted to Hair Transplant Surgery for 23 years. Dr. Sword is one of few physicians in the country to be named a Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery and Dr. Sword has performed ONLY hair restoration for over two decades. and whatever other text for this paragraph about Dr. Sword. More on Dr. Sword >

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Follicular Unit Extraction is the state of the art procedure for Hair Transplantation where naturally occurring follicular units are transferred from the donor region in the back and sides of the scalp and moved to the areas of hair loss. We typically harvest the follicles by taking [ read more on F.U.E. ]

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Hair Transplant Doctors | Sword and Dauer Hair Restoration

Welcome to Historic Houseparts, where you can find all the parts to make your house a home. Whether you're an architect, designer, contractor, or homeowner, we've got all the parts you'll need to complete your project. We've got a unique selection of both antique and new parts to appeal toevery taste and budget.

Salvage of an 1870 Lake House

An electrical fire recently devastated a beautiful 1870's mansion in the Finger Lakes of New York State. The beautiful home lost most of its roof and subsequent heavy rains damaged much of the gorgeous woodwork. But our crew has been working to try to save as much as possible, and there is still so much beautiful woodwork left

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Salvage of an 1890 Queen Ann

We recently salvaged an 1890 Queen Ann style house in western New York that fell victim to a combination of long-term neglect and disuse as well as owner apathy towards restoration. We always encourage property owners to rethink the decision to demolish a historic home, particularly one with the level of character that this home was graced with. Rarely are we able to change an owners mind once they have decided to demolish a property but we do make an effort.

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The "Switch" to LED: Options for Antique Lighting by Electra Abernathy

Want to save on your energy bills but keep the historic look of your vintage light fixtures? Decorative LED light bulbs may be just what you need. You may think of energy-saving bulbs as ugly, but we now offer varieties that look quite similar to incandescent bulbs.

In recent years, several countries, including the United States, have created new standards regulating the manufacture of incandescent light bulbs. These standards are intended to phase out the incandescent bulbs that exceed 40 watts, and to encourage the development of more energy-efficient lighting alternatives. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 required that light bulbs become increasingly more efficient in the next few years. Under the law, incandescent bulbs that produce 3102600 lumens of light are effectively phased out between 2012 and 2014.

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Here is one antique lightfixture that we recently restored to its original beauty and saved it from a landfill. We repaired bent and broken arms, polished brass, rewired torn and frayed wiring, and added antique glass shades. We offer restoration services on antique stained and leaded glass, hardware, and lighting.We have afull-service restoration facility on-site and our knowledgeable, experienced, and friendlystaffcan help you figure out the best solution to get your antique items looking like new again. Our available services include:

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Mortise Lock Straight Talk!

With Xavier Blaine

Oh, the front door It is the most evocative feature of every home, a thing of both beauty and security, a silent sentinel of architectural devotion. Its intricate carvings or stark panels, the comfortably oversized knob and backplate, the swing of the hinges, even the species of wood, all were carefully considered to create that most engaging of thresholds. In truth, what good would a home even be without a good front door? And yet the most important feature of every door, its entire raison detre, is not even visible, for what good would a front door be without a good lock?

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The Fairfacts Company

The Fairfacts Company was based in New York City in the 1920s. The company created The Perfect Bathroom brochure in 1924 where they put a catalog together with all of their Biltin accessories. Their Biltin accessories were very popular in the tiled bathrooms of the 1920s. The bathroom consisted of recessed toilet paper holders, soap niches, and tiled-in cup holders, toothbrush holders, towel bars, shelving, and sponge holders, all designed to fit seamlessly among the tiled walls. The accessories were made of such durable china that many of them still exist today and have made their way to our store. The company is, unfortunately, no longer in existance. They, like many others did not make it through the Great Depression.

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