ModVic - Modern Victorian Home Restoration

Week 22 of the Restoration (11/26/2007 – 11/30/2007)

Dec 3

Written by: Bruce Rosenbaum
12/3/2007 5:00 AM 

You know what… I can’t put my finger on anything major to talk about this week. Here’s some “minor” stuff: posting down into the basement from the 3rd floor ridge beam; 3rd floor rafter sistering, wall and ceiling demolition in more rooms; chimney removal; electrical work, basement door framing, landscaping and hardscaping.
 
We did have a nice problem and we came up with a clever solution. As part of posting down from the 3rd floor ridge beam – the beam came smack down into the mantle in the dining room. We ended up removing the mantle (in pieces) and pushing out the chimney build out 8 inches.This also gave us more room for the gas insert pipe to make the angle up into the chimney chase. We just need to put together the mantle puzzle at the finish. We also had to remove the remaining obsolete chimney chase in the library and master bedroom suite to make room for the gas and electrical fireplace inserts.
 
All the posting and sistering on the 3rd floor has been finished.Next week we’re cutting into the roof for the skylights and hopefully the roof shingles will finally go on! We’ll also finish with the 3rd structural steel beam in the kitchen and install the ridge beam into 2nd floor carriage house portion of the home.
 
We did have to make the decision to gut most of the walls and ceilings of the home (approx 95%). Putting in all new electrical, plumbing and HVAC did not give us much choice to save any original lathe and plaster. Once we cut holes in the walls and ceilings to install pipes, vents and wires – most of the walls/ceilings fell apart and created a patching nightmare.We were able to save some original walls in the 3rd floor hallway and staircase. The new homeowners will now be able to enjoy new walls and ceilings (sheetrock and wet plastered) to start the next 100 years of life at 390 Mount Hope Street.
 
Dimitris got the electrical hard part over with putting in one brand new electrical meter box(replacing 6) bringing 400 amps into the home. We’ll be able to power a small town with all the juice that will be available!
 
Rob, the landscaper gave us nice graded mulched beds for the front bushes and plants. Eric started to lay the salvaged bluestones down near the side door entrance.We were also able to get real cobblestonesthat came out of a Chelsea MA street that we’ll be able to use for the two front driveway entranceways. We also finally got the structural steel basement door frame in place.We’re almost done with all the ‘outside’ work – just in time – it’s suppose to snow over the weekend.
 
One interesting coincidence… Melanie and I were just thinking it would be great if we could find a local barn or structure we could salvage to replace the missing barn that was at our home. Amazingly, we found out that the Mere Farm Barnin Attleboro is going to be demolished if someone is not able to move it to another location (Barn Sale $0 – Moving cost approx $40,000). The barn is 36’ x 50’ and looks similar to the barn that was at our property and the Mere Farm Barn was built around the same time as our home. Do you think it would be crazy to try to move it to 390 Mount Hope Street to use as a garage, business, media room, workshop, living space…? Most people thought we were crazy to do the restoration of the home in the first place. Stay tuned.

Trackback Print
Location: Blogs Diary of a Restoration 390 Mount Hope St.
Tags:

Your name:
Your email:
(Optional) Email used only to show Gravatar.
Your website:
Title:
Comment:
Security Code
Enter the code shown above in the box below
Add Comment   Cancel 
Neighbor Comments

2/27/08
I read about the Houdini thing at the jail in North Attleboro. I was born and raised there in North Attleboro and I remember my grandfather telling me about a magician that had a floating lady in one of the store fronts in downtown for a week. I not sure if that was Houdini, for some reason I think it was Blackwell. Not sure if he was around the same time or not. Just thought I would give you that info in case it helps you out. By the way, what a beautiful job you have done with the Freeman house. If I win the lottery, I would buy it in a second. Keep up the good work there and will come to open house in April.
John Amaral

1/27/08
Hi Bruce and Melanie,
My Great Grandparents were Annie and Herman Theile who lived at 390 Mt. Hope Street (Mt. Hope Manor) in the early 1900’s.  I would love to talk with you and your wife about the house and the history I know from my Great Aunt Mrs. Bell and my mother who was born there.  As a young girl I used to polish the mahogany banister on the circular staircase to the third floor.  I have a lot of fond memories regarding that house, and I would love to reminisce and share what I know about its history.  Sincerely, Donna Jurdak, N Attleboro MA

8/27/07
Just wanted to tell you we are watching your progress with great enthusiasm and excitement!  We are only one house away and my ten year old son is fascinated with your progress and checks on your work several times a day.  We can't wait to come in and see your progress. Thank you for bring this house back to life, I have been waiting for its rebirth patiently for years. Julia Wheatley (juliawh@comcast.net)

7/24/07
Hi Bruce :My cousin Dorothy Forbes just called me to tell me about the Victorian Home in North Attleboro . My great great grandparents owned and lived there many many years ago. Dorothy was thrilled to of had the opportunity to go thru the home. My name is Albert Berard ,my age is 83 and I don't remember too much about the house other than what was told to me by my parents and grandparents on the Berard side.I once had a photo of some relative by the name of LaPlant that was recently discarded because I have no other living sister or brother that could explain to me who the person was . In past years I've seen the house many times and remember the servant quarters and also a carriage house that I believe is no longer there. the years have taken a toll on my memory.I still have an old brownish grey photo of the home .It's been many years since the relatives lived there. I seem to remember something about a Priest by the name of LaPlant living there after his retirement. I'll have to talk to Dorothy about that when I see her in a couple weeks. Albert J. Berard.

7/23/07
I drove by the house on Mt. Hope Street earlier this evening. I read about your project in the Sun Chronicle, Sunday. I am an artist and one of the pieces I did a few years back was a pen and ink drawing of North Attleboro center around 1900. I was going to drop off one of the prints, if you'd like it. I can appreciate your undertaking. A friend of mine and I gutted his Queen Anne Vic close to eight years ago and remodeled it. Neither of us had ever done something that involved before. We have since parted ways. I work for a landscape company now and do some remodeling/ fix up jobs in the winter, if the opportunity comes along. I'd like to see the work you are doing, just curious and if you need a hand (weekends, rain days, evenings) let me know. Learning and gaining experience are always of interest to me. If you'd like the print, free, let me know. Best wishes to your success.
Sincerely, Peter Clarke.
  
 

For further information, or to schedule a personal visit of a property with Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum please call 781-784-0250 or email bruce@modvic.com. Thanks for visiting!
  
Developed by the Swanzey Internet Group