HISTORIC VERMONT
An On-line News Journal about the Preservation of Vermont’s Historic Architecture and Landscape
September 2007
Published by the Preservation Trust of Vermont, 104 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
http://www.ptvermont.org
(802) 658-6647

In This Issue....

News from the Preservation Trust

  • Final Lake House Retreat: October 15-16
  • 2008 Preservation Conference, Save the Date!
  • Robert Sincerbeaux Funds Grants Awarded

Vermont News

  • Growth and Character: Having It All, October 23-25, Burlington
  • State Matching Grants for Historic Buildings
  • National Register News

National News

  • Preservation Matters! National Preservation Conference, St. Paul, October 2-6
  • The Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference, October 16-20, New Orleans
New! For Historic Homeowners

  • John Leeke's Historic Homeworks': New Hope for Endangered Windows

  • Inspection Checklist for Historic Buildings

  • Rehab Do's and Don'ts

Publications & Resources

  • Funding Available through the National Preservation Endowment
  • Vermont Directory of Foundations Now On-Line
  • Ten Tips for Managing an Historic Preservation Project

Historic Vermont is available free to subscribers. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit our website http://www.ptvermont.org/ptv_news.htm. To submit something for publication, please contact Meg Campbell at ptv@sover.net

NEWS FROM THE PRESERVATION TRUST

Final Lake House Retreat: October 15-16
The deadline to register for this year’s final Grand Isle Lake House Retreat is October 2.  This retreat is open to any group working on an historic preservation project, arts initiative, creative community project, or particular issue and looking for some support. 

The agenda is structured—actually unstructured—around case studies.  Each group is asked to present a 10-minute case study that describes a particular problem or challenge; participants then offer suggestions and recommendations.  We invite specific resource guests to each retreat in response to the registered projects, so please let us know early on if you are thinking of attending and what you are planning to talk about.

Cost for overnight and all meals is $50/person for a shared room; $75/person for a single.  We are grateful to the Claneil Foundation for sponsoring the retreats!  For a preview of the Lake House , visit www.ptvermont.org.  For more information or to discuss a project or presentation, please contact one of the Preservation Trust staff. 

Reservations are on a first come basis (space is limited to around 20).  To reserve a space, please mail checks to Preservation Trust of VT, attn: retreats, 104 Church St. Burlington , VT 05401 .  Please include for all attendees: name, address, phone, e-mail, and special needs; i.e., diet or mobility.

Check-in at the Lake House is 2:30 on Monday.  The retreat begins promptly at 3:00 and finishes by 2:00 Tuesday afternoon.

Ann Cousins  802-434-5014; ann@ptvermont.org
Doug Porter   802-644-2815; doug@ptvermont.org
Meg Campbell 802-442-8951; meg@ptvermont.org ( Bennington County )
Paul Bruhn        802-658-6647; paul@ptvermont.org
Elise Seraus      802-658-6647; elise@ptvermont.org

 

2008 Preservation Conference: Save the Date!
Please save the date for Vermont's annual historic preservation conference, this year to be held on Friday, May 2nd in Brandon. More information coming soon!

Robert Sincerbeaux Fund Grants
Robert Sincerbeaux was Preservation Trust’s first benefactor.  We’ve named our project development grants after Bob as a way to honor his approach to preservation.  Bob understood that people all around Vermont are passionate about their communities, countryside, and special places. Through the foundations he managed, he was able to provide a little seed money and a lot of encouragement, and then he watched the remarkable progress. Similarly, our project development grants, up to $500, are used to hire a consultant to provide technical assistance for projects. For more information, please visit:  http://www.ptvermont.org/sincerbeaux_fund.htm

The Preservation Trust awarded the following projects RSF grants in the 2006-2007 year:

Pawlet Masonic Lodge
St. Johnsbury Railroad Depot Buildings
Holley Hall
Rockingham Area Museum Project
Copley Country Club House
Hardwick Firehouse Bell Tower
Partners for Sacred Places
College Street Congregation Church , Burlington
Jericho Church
Vermont Historical Society Bell Tower
Ripton Methodist Church
Trinity Episcopal Church, Poultney
Clarendon Grange Community Center
Gayesville Community Church
Washburn Masonic Lodge, Danville
Duxbury Congregational Church
United Church of Putney
Bradford Public Library
Monkton Barn, Willowell Foundation
Goddard College , Plainfield
Town of Shelburne
Jeudevine Library and Townhouse, Hardwick
Hubbard Park Tower , Montpelier
Center Congregational Church, Brattleboro
Burlington Carriage Barn, AGR Fraternity
Adams House, Fair Haven
St. Paul ’s Church
Vermont Historical Society
Greensboro Town Hall
United Church of Putney
Francis Ford Cabin, Isle LaMotte
College of St. Joseph , Rutland
Universalist Parsonage, Derby Line
Fort Ethan Allen, Essex
Pownal Community Church
Bennington Town Office Building
Greensboro Culvert Project
Warren Library
Haskell Library and Opera House
Vermont Council on Rural Development
First Congregational Church of Peru
Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield
Williamstown United Federated Church
Essex Railroad Building
Lavalley Store, Cornwall
Cornwall Town Hall
New Hope United Methodist Church , W. Topsham
Bartels Lodge, Pownal
Vermont Forum on Sprawl
New Have Baptist Church
Vershire Town Center Building
Chaffee Center for the Visual Arts, Rutland
Willey Building , Cabot
First Congregational Church of Lyndon
First Unitarian Universalist Church , Burlington
Roxbury Union Congregational Church
Morristown Centennial Library
Peacham Community Housing
Stowe Land Trust
Granville Schoolhouse
Salisbury Old Town Hall
Pratt Hall, Montgomery
Pomfret Town Offices 

 

 

VERMONT NEWS

Growth and Character: Having It All, October 23-25, 2007
Main Street Landing, Burlington, Vermont
A collaborative conference hosted by the Orton Family Foundation and PlaceMatters

The COMMUNITYMATTERS07 conference is coming to Burlington, Vermont—the heart of New England—during the height of fall colors, for three days of collaboration and engagement with fellow citizens and professionals from across the country.

Additional conference highlights include:

  • Sixteen stimulating panels addressing relevant case studies of planning successes and challenges. 
  • Demonstrations of the newest tools for planning and engagement, including eParticipation, GIS, 3-D visualization, community arts and multimedia tools.
  • Conference activities held on the Burlington waterfront in a new facility that showcases re-development and sustainable building techniques.  
  • Collaborative agenda setting and problem solving using the “Open Space” format.
  • New “fast track” panel session to offer more take-home ideas and inspiration.

For more information: http://www.communitymatters.org/

 

State Matching Grants for Historic Buildings

Historic Preservation Grants
Vermont ’s historic buildings are important to communities and organizations across the state. Since 1987 the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has had a 50/50 matching grants program to assist municipalities and non-profit organizations in restoring important historic buildings across the state. Each year grants of up to $15,000 are awarded to help preserve and repair buildings that will promote the public’s awareness and appreciation of Vermont ’s cultural heritage.  Town halls, municipal buildings, churches, historical societies, granges and many other kinds of buildings have been funded. Eligible work includes restoration and repair of roofs, structural elements, windows, foundations and other important components of historic buildings. Due to a reduction in funding the maximum grant amount will be awarded only in special cases.

Barn Grants
Vermont ’s agricultural buildings are an important part of our working landscape. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has had a 50/50 matching grants program to assist owners of historic agricultural buildings (barns, corn cribs, sheds, grist mills, etc.) since 1991. These can be in private ownership. Up to $10,000 can be awarded to assist the restoration and repair of these endangered buildings.  This program encourages the continued use of farm buildings. Eligible work includes restoration and repair of roofs, structure, windows, foundations and other important components of historic agricultural buildings. Due to a reduction in funding the maximum grant amount will be awarded only in special cases.

Applications and manuals are available on the Division’s website: www.historicvermont.org Applications are due October 2, 2007 or mailed on September 29, 2007.  Awards will be made by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in December or January. Please contact the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation 802-828-3043 for more information.

Historic Preservation Grant Funds Awarded in 2007:

Sacred Heart, St. Francis de Sales Church, Bennington: $15,000
Pawlet Town Hall, Pawlet: $11,000
Brookfield Town Hall, Brookfield: $15,000
Academy Building, Cavendish: $10,000
Wilder Club & Library, Wilder: $10,200
Roxbury Community/Senior Center: $8,000
DAR John Strong Mansion Museum, Addison: $8,261
Chandler Music Hall & Cultural Center, Randolph: $15,000
Guildhall Public Library: $12,500
Solid Rock Church, Barton: $15,000
Jeudevine Memorial Library, Hardwick: $9,000
Old Alburgh Firehouse, Alburgh: $7,500
Belcher Memorial Library, Stockbridge: $1,800
East Barre Congregational Church, Barre: $15,000
Galick Farmhouse, West Haven: $10,605

National Register News
The National Park Service has recently listed the following Vermont property on the National Register of Historic Places: 

Bellows Falls Historic District (Boundary Increase)
This nomination increases the boundaries of the original Bellows Falls Neighborhood Historic District that was listed on the National Register in 2002. The increase area has a total of 48 contributing and 8 noncontributing structures.  The amended area is located on what is known as the “Old Terrace”, a well-preserved late nineteenth century urban residential neighborhood that was an area of residential expansion in the last quarter of the 19th century. Homes served residents that were an integral part of Bellows Falls’ commerce and industry. This densely settled neighborhood has quiet, tree lined streets and closely spaced buildings with uniform setbacks. Many of the properties include an attached or detached carriage barn or automobile garage.

Foundry Bridge, Tunbridge
This bridge was built in 1889 and carries Foundry Road across the First Branch of the White River in North Tunbridge. It is a single span Warren pony truss bridge that combines post Civil War and late 19th century fabrication techniques. The bridge is exceptionally intact and is a rare surviving example of a 19th century wrought iron truss bridge. It is the state’s sole surviving example of a highway bridge fabricated by Vermont’s lone manufacture of iron truss bridges, the Vermont Construction Company of St. Albans. The bridge continues in limited highway use today.

Linden Terrace on Grove Street, Rutland
This distinctive, gambrel roof, Shingle style-Colonial Revival style summer mansion was built in 1912 for Herman Vaughan, a director of the Hollingsworth and Whitney Paper Company in New York . This large house with similarly styled carriage barn and associated garden house was designed by Rutland architect, Arthur H. Smith. The first floor of the building’s interior retains much of its original fabric and layout, with the upper floor and a half having largely been adapted to serve as dwelling units.  Since 1977 the building has been used as multi-unit housing and is well maintained.  It is being rehabbed for continued use as affordable housing using the Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit.

 

NATIONAL NEWS

 

Preservation Matters! National Preservation Conference, St. Paul, October 2-6
Minneapolis and St. Paul offer an enormous range of preservation success stories. The revitalization of urban neighborhoods, the rediscovery of a long-ignored riverfront and the imaginative reuse of many landmark structures make the cities a showcase of what preservation can do. In nearby towns, Main Street commercial districts have been given new life, and vigorous smart-growth and land conservation initiatives are helping put the brakes on sprawl and conserve open space. In short, the Twin Cities area offers much from which we can learn – and we’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so.

The conference program includes an array of educational sessions on this year’s theme, "Preservation Matters!" In addition, more than 30 field sessions will allow you to explore preservation projects and meet the people who are making them happen. And as always, lively social events – including a final gala at the award-winning Mill City Museum – will add to your enjoyment of the conference.

The National Preservation Conference is the premier preservation conference in the United States for professionals in preservation and allied fields, dedicated volunteers, and serious supporters. It is the single best source for information, ideas, inspiration, and contacts.  For more information, visit: http://www.nthpconference.org/ or email: conference@nthp.org

 

 

The Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference, October 16-20, New Orleans

The Traditional Building Show, the largest tradeshow in North America dedicated to historic restoration, renovation and traditionally inspired new construction, will be the first design and construction show to return to New Orleans since the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

 

Choose from over 80 seminars, workshops, and tours. See Live Demonstrations of traditional building techniques as old world craftsmanship comes to life.  Visit hundreds of exhibitors and suppliers of historically accurate products and services you won't see anywhere else!

http://www.traditionalbuildingshow.com/index.shtml

 

NEW! FOR HISTORIC HOMEOWNERS

John Leeke's Historic HomeWorks™
This is the second installment of a regular question and answer column on the maintenance and preservation of historic (and just plain old) buildings by John Leeke, American Preservationeer. As an historic building specialist, Leeke has been helping owners, tradespeople, contractors and architects understand and maintain their historic buildings for 20 years. he has been restoring historic buildings in New England for over 35 years and still spends a good part of his time "with hammer in hand". He has written on restoration and preservation topics for Old-House Journal magazine, Fine Homebuilding, The Journal of Light Construction and other national publications. He now writes and publishes the Practical Restoration Reports.

Back issues of Leeke's Q & A's are now posted on PTV's website: http://www.ptvermont.org/homeowners/historichomeowners.htm

New Hope for Endangered Windows, Q & A 37
Copyright 2007 John Leeke

Three preservation organizations recently proclaimed their states’ historic windows as endangered. Are these promotional efforts doing any good?

Maine Preservation announced its 2007 list of Maine ’s Most Endangered Historic Properties.  Historic wooden windows are listed as a statewide thematic property type due to alarming destruction and replacement with aesthetically and environmentally inferior windows across Maine and nationwide.

“Historic wooden windows across Maine and nationwide are being replaced and destroyed at an alarming rate. Windows are key character defining features of historic buildings, yet many property owners elect to replace their historic windows unaware of the environmental, economic, historic and aesthetic impacts of their actions. Replacement windows seldom compare aesthetically or for cost/value to original windows. Historic wooden windows are simple to repair, and when properly maintained or restored will generally far outlast replacements. The reason: old growth lumber is much more durable than new growth lumber from which modern windows are constructed. Bottom line: maintaining and retaining historic wooden windows makes good “cents” and helps save the Earth.” – Maine Preservation

In a similar move Preservation Virginia places Historic Wooden Windows, Statewide on their Most Endangered list. “Historic wooden windows are destroyed daily in lieu of new, inferior windows. Salesmen convince owners and architectural review board members that replacement windows are superior to historic wooden windows when the truth is, in many cases, historic windows have lasted over 100 years. With some maintenance, these historic windows can be airtight, weather resistant, and can last another 100 years -- longer than any new wooden window or vinyl clad window.” And, last year the Preservation League of New York State did the same.

Here in my office I get calls from homeowners and tradespeople who want to save their old wood windows. In past years I might get one call a month, but this spring and summer I’m getting a dozen calls a week. People are not only thinking about saving their windows, they are out there scraping paint and spreading putty.

What could be causing this surge in action? These promotional moves by the preservation organizations help spread the word, but I think there is a more fundamental movement afoot.

Some homeowners feel like they have been hoodwinked by the window replacement industry. Vinyl windows that were promised to be “forever” and “maintenance free” break down, fog up and fall apart after just five to ten years. Homeowners are getting over the embarrassment of their past poor decisions and neighbors are talking to each other, spreading the word that vinyl windows are not all they are cracked up to be.

Homeowners tell me they know something is wrong with ripping out all their old windows and throwing them away, but they don’t quite know what the alternative might be. They cannot fine tradespeople to do the work. Over the past decades the replacement industry has quietly eliminated the knowledgeable craftspeople who could help us take care of our fine old places, and substituted the sales and installation of products. What is the alternative? Wendy, a homeowner in New Orleans recovering from Katrina, knows. She confides, “It makes my heart JOLT when I see my neighbor’s nice windows replaced with plastic. I know that’s not going to happen to mine, NO WAY. I’m keeping my windows and will be doing the new putty and paint myself.”

Dana, a do-it-yourselfer Worcester , MA , had all vinyl replacement windows in his fine old four-square home. When a “sister house” in his neighborhood faced the mis-fortune of window replacement, he latched onto all the old sash, which fit right into his window frames. He fixed up each sash, then gleefully ripped out the vinyl windows and installed the fine old sash. His wife just loves to look out through that nice old wavy glass. Dana reports, “I just wanted to let you know that I've finally finished restoring all the windows in our house in Worcester , MA . I even learned how to build a frame for one of the windows, with weight pockets, pulleys, and parting beads. A previous owner had put in a door where a window originally was, so my wife and I are especially thrilled to have it back the way it was when the house was first built. It's been a great learning experience for us, and makes us appreciate our old home even more now. Now it's on to freeing the house from it's vinyl siding straight jacket. Yahoo !!!!!”

If you are not a do-it-yourselfer don’t worry. More and more savvy tradespeople are recognizing this new market for traditional window maintenance and repair services. I personally know of twenty-one new startup companies or tradespeople who are shifting over to full time window work. They are even organizing. The Northeast Window Restoration Alliance members are experts in window restoration and preservation. They blend traditional and modern materials and techniques to maintain the window's original practical function and architectural design.

So, there is hope for you and your fine old windows. If you want to do it yourself, there are training manuals and workshops to help you learn. If you are not inclined to do it yourself, search for those knowledgeable craftspeople who will help.

Resources:

Northeast Window Restoration Alliance
www.WindowRestorationNE.org

Save Your Wood Windows
Fifteen specific step-by-step treatments to repair weathered sills and deteriorating sash, includes a directory of window specialists. 59 pages, 119 illustrations, $15.  Available at www.HistoricHomeWorks.com or call 207 773-2306

Windows on Preservation
This booklet includes a description of window making and development of woodworking machinery
through the 19th century. And a homeowners guide to restoring historic windows. Published by American Precision Museum, Windsor, VT, 76 pgs. $12.00.  Phone to order: (802) 674-5781

Workshops and Training
www.HistoricHomeworks.com

Contact Leeke directly for answers to your questions and more information on techniques for restoring and maintaining your historic building. Write to John Leeke, Preservation Consultant at 26 Higgins St. , Portland ME   04103 , 207 773-2306; or by E-mail at johnleeke@HistoricHomeWorks.com or visit his Internet Web Site at www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

Also available for Homeowners from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation:

Inspection Checklist for Historic Buildings

Rehab Do's and Don'ts

 

PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES

Funding Available through the National Preservation Endowment
The Preservation Funds provide two types of assistance to nonprofit organizations and public agencies: 1) matching grants from $500 to $5,000 for preservation planning and educational efforts, and 2) intervention funds for preservation emergencies. Matching grant funds may be used to obtain professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, fund raising, organizational development and law as well as to provide preservation education activities to educate the public.

The postmark deadline is October 1, 2007. Use this link to access the Word version of the Preservation Fund application and to learn about grant guidelines and restrictions:

http://www.nationaltrust.org/funding/nonprofit.html#endowment.

 

Vermont Directory of Foundations Now On-Line
The Vermont Directory of Foundations can be used to find new funders fast – or to research information on your current donors or prospects. The Directory contains information on grantmakers that have a primary address in Vermont, as well as those that are not located in Vermont but have a geographic focus that includes Vermont.

http://fdovermont.foundationcenter.org/

 

Ten Tips for Managing an Historic Preservation Project
From the Staff of the Preservation Trust of Vermont

As you start down the path of saving and using your historic building, here are a few tips to help you along the way:

  1. Always thank your contributors.  Have you ever not been thanked by an organization you contributed to?  Remember how you felt?

  2. Keep careful records about your project.  Maintain a list of contributors and the chronology of your effort.  You'll need this information to tell the story of your success.

  3. Make sure that everyone connected with your effort knows the history and chronology of the project.  They should also know who contributed.

  4. Involve as many people as possible in the effort.  Teams do work!

  5. Saving great historic buildings is hard work, so be sure to find ways to have fun along the way. We can tell what other organizations have done.

  6. Find an important use for the finished building.  The more the building is used, the more people will appreciate it and help maintain it over the long term.

  7. When hiring an architect and contractor, be sure to get people who appreciate old buildings and have a lot of experience working on them.  Visit some of the buildings they have worked on.

  8. If you are lucky enough to receive a grant, be sure to understand and follow all of the conditions required by the donor.  If reports are required, mark the dates on your calendar and be sure to submit them on time. Be sure to say thank you!

  9. Keep in touch with your supporters. Let them know how the effort is moving along.

  10. Publicize your progress.  When you receive a grant or large donation, celebrate by letting the local paper, radio station, and television know.  Be sure to recognize the donor, and be sure to get their name right!

Historic Vermont is available free to subscribers. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit our website http://www.ptvermont.org/ptv_news.htm. To submit something for publication, please contact Meg Campbell at ptv@sover.net

 

 

 

 

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Phone: 802-658-6647 | Fax: 802-658-0576
email: paul@ptvermont.org