Exterior Restoration Phase One |
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Poe Restoration Company at work using a pressure washer to remove stripper. |
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Poe Restoration Company has been applying a non-toxic stripper to the bricks and power washing it off to remove the sealant applied many years ago. The sealant was applied to stop the bricks from spalling (crumbling). Instead, the sealant held moisture inside the brick where is froze in the winter, expanded, and dramatically accelerated the deterioration of the brick. Severly damaged brick is being removed and the inner wythe examined. Historically accurate, soft brick and mortar will be used to repair the structure.
The crumbling, modern era, poured cement porch has been removed. A limestone, cement and brick reproduction of the original staircase and porch will be built. Much of the east side of the building was obscured for many years by a long wooden ramp that made the building wheel chair accessible. Phase II interior restoration provides a barrier free entrance to the building on the south side and an elevator to all levels within.
The window design over the east door is well preserved. The elaborate use of curved muntins arranged in a repeated arch motif is characteristic of the late century devotion to patterned decoration. The windows of the east wall display a great variety of size and shape. Their purpose was to illuminate the double grand staircase and landing within and that was accomplished with an almost playful spirit.
Decades ago the basement was used as a meeting room. Although there were two exits is place, a third exit was created by cutting through the south facade and building a small brick structure to house the stairs leading out. Restoration has removed that addition. The stairs will be pulled out, the gap filled in, and all brick and damaged limestone will be replaced. Without this obtrusive addition it will once again be possible to admire the great arch theme of the south side.
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The east entrance minus the modern, crumbling cement porch. |
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The "dog house" is gone. The obtrusive entrance to the basement meeting room is now history. |
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This is an intact "bonding brick", so called because it served to anchor the exterior wythe to the interior. It was manufactured with two rectangular holes through the body of the brick. One is open and visible on the left side and the other is obscured by a smear of mortar on the right side. Two "ears" were roughly trimmed back to create a point. This is not the red brick that originally formed the stripes encircling the building
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A pointed "bonding brick". |
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