Preservation Corner

Where is Your Place That Matters?

2011-07-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

The National Trust for Historic Preservation initiated This Place Matters, a campaign aiding individuals across the nation in the preservation, enrichment, and continued enjoyment of their favorite historical sites. Join the effort to promote awareness and protect our history by visiting http://tinyurl.com/cy6e6z to share photos and stories from your most cherished landmarks.

Bathroom Restoration At Craftman Farms

2011-06-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy year of restorations at Craftsman Farms, Gustav Stickley's family home. The latest project is the restoration of the master bathroom. The donation of design services from a local architecture firm, HMR, as well as a $35,000 Open Space Preservation Trust Fund grant from the township of Parsippany Troy Hills is making the renovation a reality.

The bathroom, which adjoins the master bedroom, will undergo several areas of renovation. The gumwood trim of the bathroom appears to be original despite many layers of paint; the restoration process will require careful stripping. The walls will also be stripped of their wallpaper, repaired and painted muslin to match the original. The original sink and tub still exist in the house but will undergo modern
updates, such as having the height of the sink raised. The Museum is seeking period hot and cold faucets to match the existing waste flow handle, plus a pop-up drain, valve and handle connection, drain line to match, and round shut-off handle in nickel with no copper showing. The original toilet is not in the Log House, so a 1910 Standard brand rear outflow toilet is being sought.

Craftsman Farms Restores Damaged Staircase

2011-05-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

In 2010, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms hired an architect and structural engineer to examine areas of the Log House that had become worn and needed repair. The staircase, which was twisting, cracking, and pulling away from the main support wall was deemed a high priority.

The team devised a plan for a "sensitive and virtually invisible structural repair." Pouring new concrete footings, installing new support columns in the basement, and inserting steel reinforcements inside the door frames and into the center of seven logs were all part of the 4-week restoration process that took place this spring. The restoration was funded by an Open Space Fund grant from the Township of Parsippany Troy-Hills.

Before/During Renovation:

Restoration of Gustav Stickley's Log House

2010-09-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

Craftsman Farms has worked diligently and tirelessly this year to restore the master bedroom in Gustav Stickley's Log House back to its former glory.

The last leg of this multi-phase restoration project was funded by an Open Spaces grant from the Township of Parsippany-Troy-Hills and the project was carried out by the firm of John Tiedman Inc. The preparation process was extremely involved. The project architect, Eric Holterman of HMR Architects, reviewed the Historic Structure Report that was completed by the firm in 1993 and put forth a project manual following the guidelines in The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. A conservation specialist with expertise in historic finishes was also called in to give his recommendations on paint removal techniques.

The paint removal process was tedious, as different layers and types of paint required different removal processes to be sure that the layers beneath were not disturbed and that the original Stickley finish could be revealed. You can watch this laborious paint removal process below:

A mirror also needed to be removed to expose original grasscloth wall-covering. It was then matched and installed. The original piece of grasscloth has been preserved and is on display to visitors.

To determine the original ceiling color and texture, microscopy was required. It was learned that Stickly would experiment with a color and then would quickly paint over it with a different color. The second layer he tried was a pale camel sanded paint that seemed to have been on the walls for a few years and was then painted over numerous times in the following decade.

The restored bedroom is now open to the public where you can experience the original colors that first adorned the bedroom walls and ceiling.

Update on Riordan Mansion

2010-06-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Preservationists and residents of Flagstaff, Ariz. can breathe a sigh of relief! The Riordan Mansion will remain open thanks to a recent agreement between the Arizona Historical Society and Arizona State Parks.

The Riordan Mansion, as we posted about previously, was in danger of being closed due to budget cuts concerning state parks in Arizona. The new agreement is for the Arizona Historical Society to manage the park for the next three years with the option to renew for two more three-year periods. The park will continue to be open to the public and its present schedule will stay intact.

Despite the good news, the problem of funding remains. The park will not be receiving any money from the state; all funding will come from entrance fees, gift shop sales, special events, fundraisers, and donations.

The crisis is not over. Continued support, increased visitation, and fundraisers will be needed to keep the Riordan Mansion open. Please spread the word!

To donate

Make check payable to:

Northern Arizona Pioneers’ Historical Society
On the memo line write “Riordan Mansion”

Mail to:
Riordan Action Network
PMB 190
2532 North 4th Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

All donations are tax deductible and donors will receive a receipt and acknowledgment by return U.S. mail.

Unity Temple- Oak Park, Illinois

2010-04-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, designed for a Unitarian congregation in Oak Park, Ill., is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. Completed in 1908, the cubist, flat-roofed structure is also one of the earliest public buildings to feature exposed concrete, one of Wright's signature design elements. Years of water infiltration have compromised the structure, prompting a multimillion-dollar rescue effort that the current congregation cannot afford.

Find out more at www.preservation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/midwest-region/unity-temple.html

Arizona Landmark Threatened

2010-04-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

In the wake of severe budget cuts, the Arizona State Parks Board voted earlier this year to close more than half of its state parks. Among the victims: The Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff. Three years ago, Style 1900 included this 1904 Arts and Crafts landmark in its roundup of the 25 best Arts and Crafts destinations in America. A last-minute fundraising appeal in February raised enough money to keep the museum open temporarily; if the museum were to close for more than a year it would revert to the Riordan heirs, who have already indicated that they don't have the resources to maintain the 13,000-square-foot mansion and its trove of period furnishings. For updates, visit www.azstateparks.com; if you'd like to help, send a check made out to Northern Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society with "Riordan Mansion" in the memo line to:

Riordan Action Network
PMB 190
2532 North 4^th St.
Flagstaff, AZ. 86004.

Contributions are tax deductible.