Heritage Conservation Network

http://heritageconservation.net/
Heritage Conservation Network
1557 North Street
Boulder, CO 80304 USA
info@heritageconservation.net

11/13 - January Work Project Planned
Hi Leslie,

Plans for our January workshop are now finalized. We will be working to reconstruct the historic front porch on the c. 1895 house at 115 Washington Street. I’ve included a short paragraph below if you could send this out to your contacts.

Thanks so much,
Judith

Post-Katrina Hands-On Preservation Workshop
Bay St. Louis, MS
January 1 – 13, 2007

HCN will return to Bay St. Louis to provide assistance to one family in rebuilding their home. Join us for this two-week project and see what the work of many hands can accomplish. The project involves the final stage in the restoration of 115 Washington – reconstructing the original front porch. The historic balloon frame house was built c. 1895 by Edwin Edwards who ran the Edwards Sawmill in Pearlington, MS. Edwards’ knowledgeable construction techniques may be what allowed the house to withstand Katrina’s huge tidal surge, which destroyed most others houses between 115 Washington and the Gulf. The owner, with the help of neighbors, has worked for the past year to rebuild the house. The porch is the final piece. Participants will learn preservation carpentry skills as they help complete the project.
For more details or to Register, go to www.heritageconservation.net.
7/30 - From WLOX
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=4885813
Owners of historic homes and businesses in Hancock County turned out Tuesday to learn more about the tax incentive programs available. Representatives from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History explained to residents how to apply for the preservation program.
The goal is to help property owners save as many storm damaged historic buildings as possible.
"There is a 26 percent federal tax credit with the Internal Revenue Service for historic properties which renovate and repair the storm damage for income producing properties - which is everything from commercial buildings and home offices in your historic house. There is a state tax credit of 25 percent for everybody, homeowners and businesses, for the restoration of historic properties," Barbara Bacot with the Mississippi Department of Archives & History said.
The preservation workshop heads to Jackson County Wednesday afternoon. It will be held at 1:30 at the Pascagoula City Hall. If you can't be there, you may contact the State Department of Archives and History at (601) 576-6940 for more information.

The Monkey House (Site 1) 146 Main Street
This building is affectionately known in Bay St. Louis as the "Monkey House". Jenette Carmichael, who owned the house in the mid 1900s, ran a newspaper here and kept a pet monkey. Built circa 1850, it was, before the storm, one of the ten oldest buildings in town. After Katrina, it may now be the oldest standing building in the county. Standing next to the courthouse on Main Street in the once thriving arts district, this building served as a focal point for the arts community for many years. The classic Creole cottage took four feet of water inside with the storm surge, which required interior materials to be gutted. It is now dry and ready for preservation and repair. When completed, it will house an art gallery run by owner Elizabeth Dowdy, who purchased the building three weeks before the storm. Elizabeth is currently showing work by local artists in a temporary location and would like to be one of the "pioneers" who reopen as soon as possible.

Rivendale (Site 2)414 3rd Street
This house is affectionately known as "Rivendale". Estimated to have been built in the 1890's, it has barge board construction and double front entrances. Later owners “camelbacked" it, creating a marvelous second story space in the rear that overlooked a wooded area teeming with wildlife. A lovely English garden framed the entrance. The house was structurally damaged by the force of the tidal surge, even though it is nearly half a mile from the beach. The floors in the front rooms are buckled and pushed up by beams that were shifted during the storm. Yet, initial assessments say it can be saved and one day will again be a haven for nature lovers.

Aderer House (Site 3) 212 St. Charles
If you drive up from the beach, this sturdy house is now the first standing house on St. Charles Street. All of the other historic houses between it and the Gulf (about half a mile) were completely destroyed by Katrina. While the storm raged, the three sons of the owner, Karl Aderer, filmed the event. They have created a DVD which details the horror of the storm and are using it to raise money for survivors. The house itself has a central hallway with large rooms on either side, giving it a timeless, gracious feeling, even in its current state of disrepair. High ceilings are adorned with vintage lighting fixtures. The owner has been working on the property since the storm but is particularly in need of expert plastering help.

Mehrton House (Site 4)606 Hancock
This charming house is one of the few survivors on the entire block. The Hancock County Historical Society information estimates it as being circa 1930, but structural members uncovered during the storm have many guessing that it is much older, perhaps pre-1900. The cottage is lined with bead board interior and has an arcaded front porch. The water rose several feet inside the house, but thankfully, the house seems to have survived without major structural damage. The owner, Joy Mehrton, is a well-known musician and choral director.

Monti House (Site 5)209 Washington Street
Lisa Monti, a business writer for a Biloxi newspaper, writes: My grandparents built the home where I live in 1915, next door to my grandfather’s blacksmith shop. A couple of years ago I restored the house, getting back to the original bead board walls and ceilings and hardwood floors. Most of the windows are original to the house, and the fireplace is the main feature of the small living room. My favorite features are the many windows and the screened front porch, which is cooled by the breezes from the water. The house has been the meeting place for my family for four generations, who met over countless Sunday meals and holiday feasts.

If you have additional questions or have information for us, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.

If you would like to help with the repair and preservation of hurricane-affected areas but are unable to attend the workshop, you can still participate by supporting our conservation efforts with a tax deductible donation to HCN. Donations will be used in a variety of ways - to sponsor a participant, to provide materials needed for conservation work, or to provide teaching materials for participants, just to name a few.

If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form. http://heritageconservation.net/don