Rich's House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

RichZ · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

Thanks, Bob. We replaced the sills with a few layers of PT 2 x 6's. There wasn't much vertical damage, and like you, we spliced in what we needed to. The foundation was fieldstone, and in excellent shape.

Right now we're leaving the gravel pit open. We may need more gravel as the project goes on, and I can get it out with the loader on my Oliver. We're also letting our friends, whose land we use for our farming, take some of the gravel for their driveways. Since we communnally farm, I thought it was only fair to shair our gravel. So far the vein of gravel is still strong, but it will probably run out soon. We'll figure out what to do with it then.

s1120 · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

Looks REAL nice Rich. Looks like you are moving right along there. I like to see these old houses kept up. To much of our old history is getting torn down these days, it is good to hold onto what we can. I know it killed me to sell my old house[not as old as yours, built in the teens] that Michele, and I spent so many years rebuilding.

So have fun, take lots of pictures, and leave a little something inside the new construction, to show the people in the next 200 years what you did. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RichZ · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

I love old buildings, too, and I'd do anything to save them. It kills me that during parts of the renovation, we have to take out some rotted pieces of siding or beams that were there since the house was built. I feel like we're tearing apart history, but we have to do it to protect the whole house. All of the nails are handmade nails, made by blacksmiths. And we've found some wood that, so far, no one has been able to identify, from the small unrotted pieces that were left.

It's interesting that you said that about leaving something for the people of 200 years from now. Karen, Tim and I have been writing all sorts of messages on beams that we hope will be read during some future renovation. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

rancar · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

<font color="blue"> "Karen, Tim and I have been writing all sorts of messages on beams..." </font>

Very good Rich!! This is what they call historic archeological branding where marks are left on structures to provide a historical accounting of a building's age and progression in its development. Builders in ages past would use dates and other marks and images to date their handhewn barn and house beams. I have dates in my barn cupola that (first date reads 1878) that tell me when the barn was painted. I know the barn is at least that old. I have in turn left similar marks that indicate each year when I've painted the barn. You may also want to leave behind within the structure somewhere a small time capsule that includes a current copy of the New York Times or similar paper and a few other artifacts to let a future homeowner a hundred years from now know what life was like in the year 2003.

...Bob

Von · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

Rich,
The photo's look great. But who is that hiding in the bushes?.... Oh wait, never mind its just your local tax assessor! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Good luck with your project, and hope the rains stop for you soon! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

RichZ · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

Thanks, Bob!! Thanks EXACTLY what we intend to do!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Sometimes it scares me how much we TBN'ers think alike!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

RichZ · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

Thanks, Von!! Actually I WAS worried about that. But, when I spoke to our town officials, they told me if I could document that what I was doing was replacing original parts of the structure, I was in the clear. We are basically replacing a very old addition to the building that was removed. Some was removed before we bought the house, and some we just removed. We called them to show them what we were doing, they came by looked at it and said "OK." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The nice thing about living in a small town is so many people know what my house used to look like years ago. I have people stopping by all the time telling me that I'm returning it to it's older condition. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

s1120 · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

<font color="red"> It's interesting that you said that about leaving something for the people of 200 years from now. Karen, Tim and I have been writing all sorts of messages on beams that we hope will be read during some future renovation.
</font>

Messages for yourself huh? Isn't that kind of like talking to your self over space, and time? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RichZ · Jun 4, 2003

Re: Rich\'s House AKA Wampecack Creek Farm

Well, Paul, I don't really think we'll be alive 200 years from now, when I figure the house may need some sort of renovations again. Nice thought though!!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif