Traditional joinery is a term we’ve all heard as a hallmark of historical millwork. But what is it and why is it so important in preservation of historic buildings? What is Traditional Joinery? Joinery in general is the woodworking technique that joins together two pieces of wood. What a joint looks like, how strong …
Traditional Joinery: What it is and why is it important in preservation? Read More »
“The past is not the property of historians; it is a public possession. It belongs to anyone who is aware of it, and it grows by being shared. It sustains the whole society, which always needs the identity that only the past can give.” – William J. Murtagh You might have guessed by now, but we’re passionate …
Do you know the architectural styles of Pennsylvania? The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has an excellent field guide on the architectural styles found in Pennsylvania. In it, they’ve assigned key periods of development (listed below) – from the Colonial period in the 18th Century to the …
This post is by our Guest Blogger House Crazy Sarah. It was originally posted on her website, www.house-crazy.com. She’s writing about Shotgun Houses – an architectural style most commonly found in the Southern states, but she does reference a few examples found North of the Mason Dixon line. I searched a bit for examples …
Kitchens are more than just a place to cook our food. They are usually one of the main family living areas where we gather, commune, play, break bread with family and friends, and sometimes even work with laptop and files plopped on the table so we are sure to stay abreast of all the …
Don’t miss the dramatic before & after pictures at the bottom of the page! The Franklin Street Train Station in Reading, PA was originally built in the 1920’s as a station along the Reading Railroad shipping and passenger “Main Line” between Pottsville/Shanokin and Philadelphia. The station served rail and bus service for decades. In 1972 …
[social_share/] Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the page to see all the before, during, and after pictures! The Mylin House project was a complete interior restoration project that we had been very much looking forward to doing. The Willow Valley Retirement Community hired Historic Restorations to restore the first floor of both the …
[social_share/] History of the Harris-Cameron Mansion in Harrisburg, PA In the early 1700’s, Harrisburg’s founder John Harris Sr. immigrated to the area from Yorkshire, England after receiving a land grant. When he first arrived, Harris Sr. built a homestead on the bank of the Susquehanna River and established a trading post, and then a successful …
John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, Harrisburg, PA Read More »
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation: cr.nps.gov National Center for Preservation Technology & Training: ncptt.nps.gov (Report testing the performance of wood windows in cold climates) Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency: phfa.org (Renovate and Repair Loan Program) Keystone Home Energy Loan Program: keystonehelp.com (Financing for energy efficiency improvements) Preservation Green Lab: preservationnation.org/information-center/sustainable-communities/sustainability/green-lab/ Antique Homes: https://www.antiquehomesmagazine.com/ (Online real estate magazine for historic …
Resources The past is not the property of historians; it is a public possession. It belongs to anyone who is aware of it, and it grows by being shared. It sustains the whole society, which always needs the identity that only the past can give.” William J. Murtagh You might have guessed by now, but …
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