RAMBLINGS An Annual Publication of Nantucket Preservation Trust Vol. III • 2009
Photo by Jeffrey Allen
seeing double K at h l e e n H ay D e s i g n s
C l a s s i c a l ly I n s p i r e d I n t e r i o r s w i n n e r w o r l d ’ s b e s t— i n t e r i o r d e s i g n 508.228.1219
www.kathleenhaydesigns.com
Susan Boardman Embroidered Narratives
Special Orders and Commissions Studio 508-228-6489 • www.susanboardman.com Also represented by Nantucket Looms 508-228-1908
Welcome We hope you enjoy this year’s issue of Ramblings, which is filled with historical facts and useful information for both the owners of historic properties and Nantucket visitors. You will find that the guide highlights several NPT programs, including our fifth annual Summer Kitchens House Tour, this year on Fair Street; a special self-guided walking tour noting NPT’s house markers; and our extensive house-history program with a summary of one remarkable property. In addition, we have expanded our preservation-information section for the owners of historic properties. We welcome the opportunity to share with you this sampling of the island’s rich architectural heritage and hope you will call on us to serve as your island resource for questions about your old house. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to join our growing membership so we can continue to advocate for historic Nantucket.
Michael May Executive Director The Nantucket Preservation Trust advocates for, educates about, and celebrates the preservation of Nantucket architecture.
For more information, please visit us at: Nantucket Preservation Trust Two Union Street, 2nd Floor Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org Cover image: Detail of a column at 94 Main Street. This property to be open as a special addition to the Summer Kitchens House Tour on July 16, 2009. Photograph by Jeffrey Allen
NB_Ramblings ad_09
3/16/09
3:09 PM
Page 1
Ship with Confidence Shipping Services • UPS Direct Pricing • International Shipping • Packaging Services • Packing Material • 24-Hour Mailbox Rentals • Fax Services
Printing Services • Digital Printing • Large Color Posters & Banners • Mounting & Laminating • Document Finishing Services
The UPS Store
2 Windy Way, Nantucket, MA 02554 Tel: 508-325-8884 • Fax: 508-325-5755 • Across from The Muse Locally owned and operated by Mary Ellen and Mike Boylan
NPT Board of Directors Richardson T. Merriman Chairman Christopher Mortenson President Ken Beaugrand Vice President John Sussek Treasurer Nancy Forster Secretary Harris E. Stone Personnel Kathy Arvay David Brown Elin Hilderbrand Cunningham Susan Zises Green Bridget O. Hubbard Carol Kinsley Kent J. Murphy Lyman Perry Jeffrey Rayport Georgia U. Raysman Thomas Richards Esta-Lee Stone Lydia Sussek Pamela Waller Susan Boardman Director Emerita Caroline Ellis Director Emerita
Staff Michael May Executive Director Ema Hudson Special Events and Membership Coordinator Photography Jeffrey Allen Cary Hazlegrove Michael May Guest Contributors Kathrina Pearl Betsy Tyler Graphic Design Kathleen Hay Designs Copy Editing Elizabeth Oldham
Historic images courtesty of the Nantucket Historical Association
Ramblings •
Vol 11i
Table of Contents
Gambrel-Roof Buildings A Brief Architectural History
8
Using Historic Maps
12
A Brief History of a ’Sconset Cottage
14
Historic Gardens on Nantucket The Oldest House
18
Master Mariners, Whaling Wives, and Tradesmen of Nantucket’s Whaling Era A Self-guided Tour Walking Tour Information Summer Kitchens Annual House Tour Historic Fair Street
21 31 33
NPT Annual Meeting 44 Preservation Awards 46
Honoring NPT’s 2008 Recipients
August Fête and House Tour 48 We’reTaking It to Broadway:Twelve ’Sconset Cottages Green and Preservation Donovan Rypkema, Guest Speaker
51
Preservation Tips 52 The Case for HistoricWindows Ten Easy Steps to Preserving Your Historic House Preservation Easements Become a Member
63
Links 64 Ramblings echoes the spirit of a guide first published in 1947 titled, Rambling Through the Streets and Lanes of Nantucket, by Edouard A. Stackpole. Copyright © 2009 Nantucket Preservation Trust
Gambrel-Roof Buildings
32 Union Street, c. 1890; photograph by Henry S. Wyer
8
V
arious building types are evident as you walk through Nantucket’s lanes. The lean-to, the center-hall house, and the typical Nantucket house are obvious to the architectural-history buff. One early form, however, the gambrel-roof building, is hard to spot because there are only nine extant examples, dating to the mid- to late-eighteenth century. Gambrel roofs may have been more prevalent prior to the Great Fire of 1846, however. Clay Lancaster notes in The Architecture of Historic Nantucket that the island had a larger percentage of gambrel-roof structures, as evident in E. F. Starbuck’s 1836 watercolor lithograph View of the Fire in Main Street, Nantucket. Lancaster also states that the concentration of gambrel-roof structures on Nantucket remains one of the largest for a community its size. A gambrel is simply a roof with two planes, or double pitched per side. The form was found throughout the East Coast in the eighteenth century and appears to have English roots. Its advantages include increased usable interior space and adequate room for large windows on the end walls. The form was widely used for specific building types such as barns and commercial structures. By the early twentieth century, gambrel roofs, often with end flares, were found throughout the country on a popular residential type known as the “Dutch Colonial Revival” house. Several excellent examples of early gambrel-roof houses remain in the downtown area. These buildings appear to have originally lacked dormers– most likely because the roof form provided space for large windows in the end walls. Most Nantucket examples date from the mid to late 1700s. The roofs at both 7 Farmer and 8 Pine Streets in the Fish Lots appear to remain untouched. Dormers, added at a later date, are found just west of Centre Street at 18 India and 30 Hussey.
9
We Invite You To Experience The Most Extraordinary Homes With Each Issue. Want to hear more about great design discoveries, green ideas and upcoming events? Sign-up to receive New England Home's free weekly e-Newsletter by visiting www.nehomemag.com.
To subscribe call 800.765.1225 or visit www.nehomemag.com
30 Hussey Street, c. 1900, prior to the installation of dormers
The roof at 30 Hussey Street is interesting because it is only a half gambrel, as it is employed on the main elevation facing the street, but not found to the rear. Two large gambrel-roof houses of 2 ½ stories are found at 21 and 32 Union Street, both built at the end of the eighteenth century. Two early gambrel-roof houses are found on Orange Street—at #37, where the roof was reconstructed in the early 1970s, based on evidence found at the site, and at #5, one of only two examples of a gambrel gracing a brick house. The other is the Rotch Market at the foot of Main Street, now known as the Pacific Club. Today, evidence of the roof change is visible in the west gable end where windows on the top floor were filled in with brick to allow for a new, steeper gable roof. The change occurred as a result of the Great Fire, which saved the brick shell but gutted the interior and the roof structure. npt
11
using historic maps
F
or those curious about what has changed in their island home and wish to do their own historic research, we recommend checking out Nantucket maps, which can provide a wealth of information. The maps help to establish general construction dates, ownership, and/or ascertain changes to the footprint of a structure. The earliest Nantucket map that shows building footprints is the 1833–34 Map of the Town of Nantucket, by William Coffin, covering most of the old town. Because buildings are often moved, care should be taken when reviewing maps and drawing conclusions. A square on the map does not necessarily mean the current building is the one depicted, but the map can help verify dates based on deed research and physical evidence at the site. H. F.Walling’s Map of the Counties of Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket indicates buildings by featureless black boxes and provides names of the owners—especially useful with deed research. The 1881 Bird’s-Eye View of Nantucket, which includes an inset with a view of ’Sconset, shows buildings in three dimensions. The Sanborn Maps of the Town of Nantucket were designed to assist fire-insurance agents in establishing potential hazards; they begin in 1887 and run through 1949 with updates every five to ten years or so. Beginning in the 1890s, maps include parts of ’Sconset and Wauwinet. The maps indicate property lines and building details such as wings and construction materials, and even note the number of stories of each section as well as the property’s outbuildings. Sometimes, the maps provide other information such as the names of cottages or businesses. The Sanborn maps are perhaps the best source for establishing changes from the late nineteenth century through the 1940s. The maps are available online at the Nantucket Historical Association (www.nha. org) and the Nantucket Atheneum (www.nantucketatheneum.org), or can be viewed at the NHA Research Library on Fair Street. NPT can also provide research assistance to discover past owners and the date of construction of your house. For more information, please contact the NPT office at 508-228-1387. npt 13
A Brief History of a ’Sconset Cottage
Dr. Sharp in the parlor of 8 Center Street, ’Sconset
For those who wish to have intensive historic research conducted for their properties, we recommend securing an NPT House History. Each house history is an illustrated hardcover book that describes the house and tells the stories of the people who lived in it from its construction to the present time. We share here a section of one house history to demonstrate that these resources have a lot to tell us about the island, its history, and those who came before us. We hope this excerpt from 8 Center Street, “The Corners”: A House History, by Besty Tyler, inspires you to unlock the history of your old house.
L
ocated just north of Pump Square in the village of ’Sconset, the cottage at 8 Center Street—known variously during its two-hundred-year history as Rose Cottage, Meerheim, and The Corners—is almost as iconic as the pump itself, appearing in the background of scores of photographs of the early village water source and meeting place. Built as a simple rectangular cottage by carpenter Job Chase sometime before 1808, it has evolved with wart additions that are characteristic of the fishing cottages in the village. Chase sold the cottage to wealthy merchant Shubael B arnard and his wife, Ruth, who, like other well-heeled Nantucketers, spent summers in the village to escape the bustle and stench of the busy whaling town. Two of Barnard’s daughters owned the house until 1832. The evolution of the building during this time is not known, but it is interesting to consider that Barnard bought the house modestly furnished with two beds, a chest, and a kitchen table; he sold it to his daughters with all the furniture and household items, and they in turn sold it to Nathaniel Barney complete with furnishings. Nathaniel and Eliza Starbuck Barney were two of the island’s leading citizens in the 1830s. Nathaniel, a former schoolteacher, had joined forces with his brother-in-law, William Hadwen, in business to become a leading whale-oil merchant and candle manufacturer. He and Eliza were both social reformers, working for the abolition of slavery and for women’s rights, and they entertained many local luminaries in Rose Cottage, among them Maria Mitchell, Lucretia Mott, Phebe Hanaford, and visiting antislavery leader William Lloyd Garrison.
15
Meerheim, 8 Center Street, ’Sconset
William Baxter, ’Sconset’s carriage driver and teller of tall tales, lived in Shanunga, just across Center Street from the cottage that came to be known as The Corners. When summer visitors discovered the charms of ’Sconset, Baxter was quick to see the profitability of rental property. He bought The Corners in 1872. In 1885, he rented the little cottage to Hannah B. Sharp, who was so pleased with her lodging that she bought the cottage that September. She and her daughter, Mabel, named the cottage Meerheim, or “ocean home,” and furnished it, according to contemporary sources, with curtains, carpets, and rugs in muted colors; German pottery; fans; a spinning-wheel, milking stool, and other antique furniture. The Sharp family owned Meerheim until 1923. For most of the twentieth century, the cottage at 8 Center Street belonged to four generations of the Jelleme family. Current owners have lovingly decorated their summer home with antiques scaled to the proportions of the tiny cottage. In homage to its history, they have created a twenty-firstcentury version of an 1880s interior photograph of Dr. Benjamin Sharp, son of owner Hannah B. Sharp, seated in the parlor. npt 17
Historic Gardens on Nantucket: The Oldest House This year marking the 350th anniversary of Nantucket’s settlement by the Coffin, Macy, and other first families, we thought it appropriate to spotlight one of Nantucket’s earliest sites. Kathrina Pearl of the Nantucket Historical Association provides us with a glimpse of the kitchen garden at the Oldest House.
S
ince early summer 2006, old-fashioned flowers and fragrant herbs have once again graced the slope behind the Oldest House (1686) on Sunset Hill. Although a garden is documented at this site at the time of its first English occupants (Jethro and Mary Coffin and their children lived here from 1686 to 1708), it had long since disappeared in over three hundred years of changing occupancy and land use. In 2006, brush was cleared to make way for a new garden at the Jethro Coffin House, a reconstruction that would capture the essence of kitchen gardens of colonial times, and would enhance visitor experience at this National Historic Landmark site. The garden at the Oldest House is laid out in a simple bed-and-path (or raised-bed) system, common in the seventeenth century, and also remains faithful to horticultural practice of the time by relying solely on animal manures for soil fertility and eschewing the use of modern-day herbicides or pesticides. Only plants known to be in cultivation in the late seventeenth century are grown in the garden. These include a wide range of culinary, medicinal, and household herbs (approximately fifty varieties), as well as salad greens, vegetables, flowers, and fruit, all mingled together in the rich soil of the raised beds—a gardening technique that supports intensive production in a small space.
View from a first-floor window of the Oldest House looking toward the kitchen garden 19
Oldest House, c. 1867
Tall, flowering stalks of attractive (but also medicinally useful) foxglove, 足hollyhock, valerian, and elecampane line the perimeter fence, while rotating and ever-changing combinations of calendulas and cabbages, cucumbers and chamomile, costmary and rosemary, borage and beets, lettuces and leeks fill the beds and overflow into the grassy paths. The Oldest House, a property of the Nantucket Historical Association, is open in season for tours. The garden can be viewed year round and is 足located behind the house on Sunset Hill Road. For more information, call 508-228-1894, or visit online at www.nha.org. npt
20
Master Mariners, Whaling Wives, and Tradesmen of the Whaling Era A Self-Guided Tour from the Whaling Museum to the Civil War Monument NPT’s house-marker program provides the passerby with information about past Nantucketers and their houses. Betsy Tyler, historian and local author, chooses a handful of the 150 houses with NPT markers that now grace the island, for a stroll of about an hour. Beginning at the Whaling Museum, walk north on North Water Street, past Ash Lane to Ash Street 8 ASH STREET: built for Benjamin Barney Jr., cooper, 1765 The Great Fire that rampaged through the downtown on the night of July 13–14, 1846, destroyed the houses along North Water Street up to Sea Street, and burned the houses on Ash Street east of 8 Ash Street. The house built by cooper Benjamin Barney Jr. in 1765 was owned at the time of the fire by blacksmith George M. Jones, who, with his wife Jane Ann and three children, must have watched the conflagration in horror, immensely relieved when their home was spared. Both the first two owners of this house worked in trades associated with the whaling industry. Of all the tradesmen on the island in the eighteenth century, coopers—who built the casks for storing whale oil—were most numerous. Blacksmiths forged all sorts of whaling implements, such as harpoons, lances, cutting spades, and other necessary tools for whalemen, and they also fashioned door hardware. Some fine examples of the latter, probably made by Jones, are still in use here. Walk back down to North Water Street and continue to Step Lane, turn left left 21
A watercolor painting of Ash Street houses by J. B. Reid
5 STEP LANE: built for Joseph H. Nickerson, 1840 Home of Peter C. Brock, master mariner, and Eliza Brock, w haling wife and journal keeper, 1851–99 Two Nantucket whaling captains lived in this house, built in 1840. The first, Barzillai Folger, met an untimely end in Rio de Janeiro in 1850, when he was only forty-two, leaving three young children and a widow, Harriett, who sold the house to master mariner Peter C. Brock. Brock had been “retired” on shore for eleven years when he took command of the whaleship Lexington in 1853, during the final years of Nantucket’s whaling era. His wife, Eliza, and the youngest of their four children, four-year-old Joseph C. Brock, accompanied him on a three-year voyage that took them around the Cape of Good Hope and through the Indian Ocean to New Zealand. Eliza kept a journal during the voyage, noting her struggles with isolation—“a wanderer upon the wide ocean, far away from friends and sweet home”—and her delight in gamming with other whaling wives during the course of their travels. Widowed in 1878, Eliza continued to live at 5 Step Lane with her son Joseph until she died in 1899. He lived in the family home until 1925. 22
Walk up Step Lane to Centre Street, and turn left 45 CENTRE STREET: built for Reuben Russell, master mariner, 1833 Reuben Russell, master mariner, bought the lot on Centre Street in 1832 and had this impressive Greek Revival home built for his family. As captain of the whaleship Susan from 1841 to 1846, Reuben kept a journal of the voyage full of his colorful and droll illustrations: one of them shows a whale towing two boats, driven by a man standing on the whale’s flukes. Captain Russell returned to Nantucket two months before the Great Fire of 1846, which came within two doors of his home. That calamity, and the decline of the whaling industry, caused him to consider finding a new occupation on the mainland. Reuben wrote to his brother in Auburn, New York, in August 1846: “I am about winding up my ship affairs and then I shall be more at liberty to travel—my last voyage was long and tedious but in the end proved profitable. I am now about tired of the Sea, and think of trying something else—what sort of farmer do you think I should make?” Perhaps his brother wrote encouraging words; Reuben, his wife, Maria, and their four children left the island and moved to Ohio in 1847. Continue on Centre Street until you come to Academy Lane, on your right. Follow the lane as it zigzags up to Westminster Street 12 WESTMINSTER STREET: built for (or moved to this site by) Robert Hussey, blacksmith, 1807 When Robert and Miriam Hussey moved into their new home here on Academy Hill in 1807, the large brick school building just down the street—now the Academy Hill Apartments for older residents—was not yet built, but there was an earlier academy just across the lane of that name. Perhaps the ten Hussey children were educated there. Like blacksmith George Jones of 8 Ash Street, who worked several decades later, Robert forged whaling implements and household tools, probably at a shop on, or near, one of the wharves. The Husseys lived here at 12 Westminster until 1830, when they sold the house to a mariner, who sold it to a merchant, who sold it to a “hat and bonnet presser.” In the late nineteenth century, artist George Flagg 23
lived here, painting in a little studio where the garage now stands. Over his bedroom fireplace he painted a timely inscription: “He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.”
12 Westminster Street, c. 1890; the sign over the door reads“The Summit”
Walk down Westminster Street to Quince Street, turn left 15 QUINCE STREET: built by Joseph Edwards, ship carpenter and house carpenter, c. 1812 Joseph Edwards purchased the land on Quince Street, then known as Crown Court, in 1811, and probably built his house shortly thereafter. He was twenty-seven years old, married to Lydia Gates, with two young children. The house belonged to Joseph his entire life, and remained in the Edwards family until 1889. As a ship carpenter, Joseph would have been employed at the only shipbuilding establishment on the island, the Brant Point Shipyard, where whaling ships and other vessels were constructed in the early 1800s. 24
That he referred to himself in his deed of purchase as a ship carpenter and a house carpenter is significant, since most men practiced one trade at a time. The skills of shipbuilding were compatible with those of house building and Edwards could obviously do both. He probably had a hand in building his own house here at the top of Quince Street. Continue down Quince Street 5 QUINCE: Nathaniel Hussey, cooper, 1757 Nantucket was just getting its feet wet in offshore whaling in the mideighteenth century, when the house was built for cooper Nathaniel Hussey. He died young, leaving his wife Judith with eight children under the age of fifteen. Like their father, the Hussey sons became tradesmen; among them were a mariner, a cooper, and a housewright, David, who purchased the family home from his siblings. The Hussey family owned 5 Quince for almost a hundred years. In the mid-nineteenth century, master rigger Robert Ratliffe boarded here. He was a British sailor who had been shipwrecked off Nantucket in 1820, and decided to make his home on the island, where there was plenty of demand for his trade. His many adventures at sea—including serving on the ship Northumberland when Napoleon was a prisoner being transported to St. Helena in 1815—made him a popular character in a community that relished sea stories. Five Quince Street was later owned by playwright Austin Strong and his wife, Mary.
5 Quince Street, c. 1890; photograph by Henry S. Wyer 25
Continue on Quince Street to Centre Street, turn right and walk two blocks to India Street, turn right 15 INDIA: built for William Stubbs, mariner, 1800 In 1800, mariner William Stubbs purchased the land at 15 India Street from fellow mariner Abishai Hayden, for $306. He built his house when the economy favored mariners, but when the War of 1812 shut down maritime commerce he suffered financial losses. In 1815, Stubbs, now a “master mariner,” was arrested for debt; he satisfied the claims against him by selling off some of his real estate, but was forced to mortgage his home and lost it to foreclosure in 1818. Several other master mariners owned the house at 15 India during the nineteenth century—Josiah Macy, Thaddeus Coffin, and Richard Gardner—but it was cooper John Elkins who secured the dwelling for his family for more than a hundred years. 18 INDIA: built for Silas Paddack, mariner, 1767 Mariner Silas Paddack, who was the first owner of this house, was the greatnephew of Ichabod Paddack, a Cape Codder who had been invited to Nantucket in 1690 to teach the craft of whaling. He obviously taught well, for by the mid-eighteenth century Nantucket was the leader in what had become an international industry, and Silas was a participant. After the Revolutionary War, he and his family moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with about a dozen other Nantucket families to set up a whaling center there, but it was not successful. Captain Silas Paddack died at sea on his way to Halifax in 1795, and his family returned to Nantucket, but not to 18 India; they had sold the house in 1791. The next owner of 18 India, mariner William Barnard, was serving as first mate on the ship Leo in 1797 when the captain was killed by a whale, gaining Barnard an instant promotion. Local tradition tells us that the small one-story addition on the west side of 18 India was a “rum shop”; physical evidence suggests that the addition was built in the mid-eighteenth century, so was likely part of the original structure. Whether rum was sold or another business conducted there, it was not uncommon for Nantucket women to supplement their seafaring husbands’ unpredictable incomes with enterprises of their own. 26
19 India Street, c. 1890s; photograph by F. A. Hartford
19 INDIA: built for Zaccheus Hussey, merchant, 1809 Home of Joseph Winslow, master mariner, and Susan Sprague Winslow, whaling wife, 1864–68 Like Eliza Brock of 5 Step Lane, Susan Winslow went to sea with her husband. Their voyage on the Constitution lasted five years, from 1857 to 1863, and two of their daughters were born aboard ship, joining two other young daughters who had accompanied their parents. While cruising in the South Pacific, Captain Winslow picked up a boat carrying nine men from the wrecked Italian merchant ship Mia Madre of Genoa. They had been adrift for nineteen days, and eight of their companions had perished, furnishing sustenance to the survivors in the same gruesome manner as recounted by survivors of the wreck of the Nantucket ship Essex several decades earlier. Despite the hardships of life on board, Susan Winslow enjoyed it, as expressed in a letter she wrote to her sister-in-law, Mary Morrow Winslow, wife of Captain Perry Winslow: “Perry said you like being at sea first rate and so do I, it is a great deal more pleasant than being at home alone.” When the Winslows returned to Nantucket after a long but successful voyage, they bought the house at 19 India Street. Clara Winslow—who went to sea as an infant and spent her first six years on board the Constitution—eventually became the owner of the family home and lived there until 1947. 27
37 INDIA: built for Charles Fittenberry Hussey, ropemaker, 1804 In 1803, Charles Fittenberry Hussey purchased land on Pearl Street, the former name of India Street, from his parents, Reuben and Phebe Hussey. Charles was one of the fifth generation of the Hussey family on Nantucket. He was a twenty-eight-year-old ropemaker, married to Sarah Jenkins, with three young children. Successful at his trade and with a growing family, Charles was ready to build his own home, which he probably did by 1804. He may have worked at one of the island’s numerous ropewalks—long buildings where hemp was spun and twisted into rope—south of the windmills on Mill Hill, or at other establishments on the east side of Union Street, or near Brant Point. Charles and Sarah owned 37 India until 1813. Other nineteenth-century owners included a trader, a shipwright, and a cooper. In the late twentieth century, the India House Inn and Restaurant was located here. At the end of India Street, turn left and walk to 16 Gardner Street. 16 GARDNER STREET: built for Reuben F. Coffin, master mariner, 1831 When master mariner Reuben F. Coffin bought the land at 16 Gardner Street in 1831, his deed specified that he was entitled to half the vegetables from the garden located here. Coffin had retired from a career at sea after his last ship, the oddly named Hycso, wrecked in the Society Islands. He sold the new house in 1836 to boatbuilder Edward R. Folger. Edward was the son of Walter Folger Jr., one of Nantucket’s best-known men—inventor, clockmaker, state representative—in a family known for intellectual achievement. The famous astronomical clock built by Walter Folger Jr. and now in the Whaling Museum once reposed here. Like his father, Edward was mechanically minded. According to his obituary, he gave up boatbuilding when the island’s maritime interests declined, and “being possessed of fine mechanical skill, he then turned his attention to the mechanical department of dentistry.” The Folger family owned the house for more than a hundred years. Edward Folger’s uncle, Gideon, lived across the street at 15 Gardner. 28
15 GARDNER STREET: built for Gideon Folger, cooper, 1807 Although his first trade was that of a cooper, Gideon Folger’s tract of land, which extended north almost to Liberty Street, included a dwelling house, barn, blacksmith’s shop, candlehouse, and other buildings; he obviously had diverse business interests related to the whale-oil industry. He was also part owner of two ships in 1819, the Aurora and the Essex, both of which left Nantucket for whaling grounds in the South Pacific. The Aurora, on its maiden whaling voyage under the command of Daniel Russell, returned in 1822 with 1,630 barrels of prized sperm oil and 130 barrels of lesser “whale oil,” an average amount. The Essex, as every student of maritime disaster knows, was stove by a sperm whale and sank in the South Pacific in 1820. That tragedy may have prompted Gideon to consider other investment strategies. His fellow Essex investor, Paul Macy, is listed as the sole owner of the Aurora on her next voyage in 1823. 10 GARDNER: built for Daniel Worth, cooper, 1768 Our tour begins and ends with the home of a cooper. Daniel Worth was a contemporary of Nathaniel Hussey of 5 Quince Street, working during the difficult era of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, when the whaling industry was essentially shut down due to maritime blockades and restrictions, and times were hard. Worth sold this house before the Revolution to Thomas Snow, a bookkeeper, who in turn sold it to Samuel Nye, a cabinetmaker. Although Snow and Nye did not work directly in the whaling industry, their livelihoods depended on a vibrant island economy fed by the revenues from maritime ventures. Continue on Gardner Street to the monument at Main Street. Turn left and walk back to town through the prosperous residential neighborhood created by whale-oil merchants and shipowners. In season, the Hadwen House, a house museum operated by the NHA at 96 Main Street, is open and worth a visit. It provides a rare glimpse of the interior of one of Nantucket’s finest Greek Revival homes. npt
29
30
HOUSE MARKERS The NPT House-Marker program provides owners not just with a marker, but a chain of title that determines the date of construction and the original owner. This research sometimes provides information about the Nantucket builders and the families who lived in these structures. For more information about participating in the NPT House-Marker Program, visit us online at www.nantucketpreservation.org, or call us at 508-228-1387.
WALKING TOUR INFORMATION There are a number of walking tours of town, ’Sconset, and natural areas on island. Several handy guides are available to those seeking self-guided tours. Among them is NPT’s A Walk Down Main Street: The Houses and Their Histories,, which makes a perfect gift or memento of your visit. It is available for $25 at the NPT office or at local bookstores. The Chamber of Commerce also offers a walking tour in a pamphlet highlighting key buildings and events. Other books and guides are found in the bookstores or at the Visitor Center on Federal Street. For those who prefer a guided architectural tour, NPT offers a tour of ’Sconset at 9:00 A.M. on the second Tuesday of each month, in season. The tour begins at Pump Square in ’Sconset. Main Street tours are held every Wednesday and Thursday from June to September. The tour begins at 9:30 A.M. from our office at 2 Union Street. Both the ’Sconset and Main Street tours are $10 per person. 31
32
Photo by Pixel Perfect
Summer Kitchens House Tour: Historic Fair Street Neighborhood Please join us for breakfast and a lecture at Figs at 29 Fair prior to the tour. Nancy Carlisle, Historic New England curator and author of the book America’s Kitchens, will be our guest speaker. The price for breakfast, lecture, and one kitchen tour ticket is $75. Space is limited. For reservations and details, contact the NPT office at 508-228-1387.
America’s Kitchens Guest Speaker: Nancy Carlisle As the symbolic center of the home, the kitchen gives meaning to family life, a place where parents nurture children and families gather at breakfast and dinner, share chores, and discuss the world outside. For many, from the Colonial period to the present, the kitchen has been a source of n ourishment and comfort. Historic New England curator Nancy Carlisle will discuss how the American kitchen has evolved from the seventeenth century to the present. Drawing on her new book, America’s Kitchens, coauthored with Melinda N asardinov, Ms. Carlisle will tell the story of the nation’s k itchens from New England hearths to Spanish colonial kitchens, and from detached kitchens on p lantations in the South to the open-plan kitchens of 1950s suburbs. America’s Kitchens provides new insights into the technological and social changes that have taken place in this room and suggests how those innovations have transformed kitchen work and changed women’s lives. The book will be available for purchase and signing. For more than twenty years, Nancy Carlisle has been a curator at Historic New England, where she works with some of the most important historic kitchens in the country. Ms. Carlisle, author of Cherished Possessions: A New England Legacy, has written and lectured widely on the material culture of domestic life from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century. 33
NPT’S ANNUAL SUMMER KITCHENS HOUSE TOUR Featuring Celebrity Chefs Fair Street Neighborhood July 16, 2009 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased in advance. For information, c ontact the NPT office at 508-229-1387, or visit www.nantucketpreservation.org.
P
lease join us for the Fifth Annual Summer Kitchens House Tour along historic Fair Street—south of Main Street from the Pacific Bank. The tour will feature historic homes with kitchens—old and new. Along the way enjoy special treats and the Kitchen Marketplace for unique gifts!
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FAIR STREET Fair Street was laid out in 1717 as a central access lane for the “Fish Lots”— the division of land south of Main Street. A variety of historic houses are found along the street—some built soon after the lots were created. Most of the houses found in the Fish Lots today, however, were constructed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Several fine examples of Victorian cottages and early-twentieth-century architecture are also evident. From an early date, Fair Street was a vital part of the community, including a number of important institutional buildings—a large Quaker meetinghouse (later moved and replaced by the c. 1838 Friends schoolhouse, now a property of the NHA); and the original Coffin School that once stood along the east side of the street near its south end. Today, one of Fair Street’s most important structures is St. Paul’s Episcopal Church— a fine example of Romanesque Revival architecture, constructed in 1901. The church property is the site of this year’s Kitchen Marketplace.
34
THE HOUSES
Research for the houses participating in this year’s kitchen tour was compiled by historian and author Betsy Tyler. 8 Fair Street When his father-in-law, James Athearn, was declared an insolvent debtor in 1843, Edward H. Barker purchased some of his property, including the house at 8 Fair Street where he was in residence with his wife Lydia Athearn Barker and their two young children. Barker, a merchant, had business problems of his own; in 1865 he defaulted on a mortgage and the Nantucket Institute for Savings sold his house to Jane B. Folger. The house remained in the Folger family until 1942, when once again it became the property of the bank. Nathaniel Lowell purchased the property, subdivided it, and built the small house at 6 Fair Street. Architectural historian Clay Lancaster calls the house at 8 Fair a late example of a typical Nantucket house, a style that was predominant from about 1760 to 1830. 22 Fair Street This eighteenth-century house belonged to the Coffin family for several generations, but in the mid-nineteenth century it changed hands several times before being purchased by William P. Bunker in 1853. When his heirs sold the house at auction in 1905, it was purchased by Joseph Anthony of Providence, Rhode Island, who bequeathed it to his faithful Irish housekeeper, Ellen C. Russell. Russell devoted her energies to improving the house and caring for the elderly, according to a newspaper article published in 1943: “Into this ancient ruin, Ellen Russell poured the earnings of the next twentyfive years, and she made of it an attractive home for herself, as well as a haven of rest for various elderly folk who needed kindly, personal interest and good home-cooking, which their own kin could not always manage.” It was Russell who converted a small barn in the back yard to the “cozy cottage” that is now a separate property. 35
22 Fair Street
24 Fair Street A house built by Daniel Coffin was at this site in 1751, when Z ephaniah Coffin deeded his interest in it to his “kinswomen,” Daniel’s daughters Elizabeth and Judith, who were ten and twelve years old at the time. Elizabeth married Jonathan Gorham Fitch eleven years later, and in 1830 their children sold the “mansion” house that had belonged to their parents. Whether the early-eighteenth-century house is the same dwelling that was sold in 1830 is not known, but it is likely that the earlier house was modified and added to over the years. Strictly a summer home for most of the twentieth century, the house was not winterized until 1995.
36
30 Fair Street Blacksmith Ebenezer Raymond purchased this land in the seventh Fish Lot from David Coleman in 1795, and was settled in his new house with second wife, widow Elizabeth Coleman Raymond, their one-year-old daughter, Eliza, and his two young children from a previous marriage when he died in 1802. Although 30 Fair is known as the Ebenezer Raymond house, it was Elizabeth, twice widowed by the age of twenty-five, with three young children to care for, who made 30 Fair Street home. Stonecutter Josiah Sturgis bought the house in 1838, and built his shop, now known as 7 Plumb Lane, behind 30 Fair. Current owners redesigned the kitchen when they purchased the house ten years ago; the original eighteenth-century kitchen, with hearth and oven, is now a dining room.
30 Fair Street, 1993 37
39 Fair Street An early-eighteenth-century house that once belonged to Edward Starbuck Jr. and his wife, Lydia, was part of the property in 1829 when Henry Chase bought the land and dwelling for $750. The old house, at the end of Tattle Court, sits behind the new house that Charles H. Clark built for Chase in exchange for the “old dwelling thereon standing.” In marked contrast to the ancient dwelling in the rear, Chase’s new house was built in the Greek Revival style, on a high brick basement. 40 Fair Street On April 19, 1827, Isaiah Nicholson signed a contract to build a house for master mariner Seth Pinkham on the vacant lot just north of the house where Pinkham was living at 42 Fair Street. Pinkham specified that his house be just like the one that Nicholson had built for Laban Paddack, except Pinkham wanted a “common round cellar ten feet by eight.” Pinkham also requested that Nicholson build him a barn twenty by fifteen feet, and a “necessary” four feet square, and, when the paint on the new house was sufficiently dry for his family to move in, he would give Nicholson the deed to his old house, plus $850. A document recorded in the Nantucket Registry of Deeds in 1828 indicates that Nicholson acquired title to 42 Fair Street that year, when the paint was dry next door.
38
40 Fair Street, 1890s
44 Fair Street, with gingerbread trim
44 Fair Street The first Coffin School was situated where the house at 44 Fair Street now stands. Built originally by island Methodists as a “Lancasterian” school in 1823, it was sold three years later to trustees of the Coffin School, who used the school building for twenty years, adding considerable noise and activity to the neighborhood. The new Coffin School opened on Winter Street in 1853, and the old school building on Fair Street was removed. Charles H. Robinson, Nantucket’s premier builder of Victorian houses, built the once elaborately decorated house on this site in the early 1860s for Thomas Ames, whose daughter was born in the house in 1864, according to a note on the historic photograph from the collection of the Nantucket Historical Association. 49 Fair Street In July 1811, cooper Benjamin Coffin sold this piece of land in the s eventeenth Fish Lot to his son, mariner Barzillai Coffin (1778–1853), for four hundred dollars. Barzillai probably built the house soon thereafter; he and his wife, Rebecca, had three young children, with a fourth born that November. 39
Barzillai had returned from a two-year voyage as captain of the whaleship Monticello in January 1811, and like most Nantucket whaling captains probably planned to leave on another voyage as soon as possible, but the maritime restrictions of the War of 1812 kept him on island for a few years. He must have used the time to attend to his new home and growing family, but in 1816 he sailed again, as captain of the Francis, on another two-year voyage, this one more successful than the first. Subsequent voyages on the Atlantic, 1819–22, and the Swift, 1828–29 and 1831–34, meant that the house at 49 Fair was very much the domain of Rebecca and, now, their six children. A typical Nantucket house, the atypical front-door design dates back to the decade of the 1890s, if not earlier. A cupola once on the south side of the ridge chimney has been removed.
49 Fair Street with cupola, 1890s 40
3 Charter Street Charter Street was created in 1747, dividing Fish Lot 22 in half. The mideighteenth-century house at 3 Charter Street was built by Benjamin Coffin (1705–80), a Quaker schoolmaster, on land that his mother, Damaris Gayer Coffin (1673–1764), owned on the north side of the street. Benjamin’s son, Isaac, an attorney and judge of probate, purchased the family home from his other siblings in 1800; it was his homestead for nearly fifty years. Merchant Nathaniel Fitzgerald acquired the property in the mid-nineteenth century and built a grocery store on the corner of Fair and Charter Streets next to the dwelling; the property remained in the Fitzgerald family for more than a hundred years. The house was completely renovated and restored in 2004. 3 tattle court Various authorities have claimed that the house at the end of Tattle Court was once the residence of Stephen Macy, or was built by Thomas Macy, which accounts for the earlier name of the court, Macy Lane. One of the oldest houses in the Fish Lots, it was either constructed soon after the neighborhood was laid out in 1717, or moved from another part of the island. Like most Nantucket houses from the early eighteenth century, it faces south.The house was labeled “old and vacant” on the Sanborn Insurance Company map dated 1904, but was restored mid-century by Stewart and Maude Mooney. 1 Twin street James T. Eldredge, who referred to himself in various deeds of purchase as “house carpenter and boat builder,” purchased three adjacent tracts of land in the seventeenth Fish Lot in 1832. James built the house at 1 Twin Street in 1833, and was living there when he sold it to his brother-in-law, master mariner Seth Pinkham, in 1834. Pinkham, who lived at 40 Fair Street, sold it the next year to Amos Eldredge, the eldest son of the builder. Fifteen years later, Amos sold the house to his two younger brothers, David P. and James T. Jr., who owned the house jointly until 1859. The Norcross family owned the house for most of the twentieth century. A major restoration occurred in 2005. 41
Time-honored Craftsmanship For Your Historic House • hand-planed & moulded woodwork made to order • traditional timber-frame joinery for structural repairs • horse-hair plaster for restoration & repair • lime and clay mortars for historic chimneys • hand-wrought hardware
PRESERVATION ADVISORY SERVICES
Brian Pfeiffer, architectural historian Michael Burrey, joiner & carpenter Tel: 617-661-4753 Email: brpfeiffer@verizon.net
42
2 farmer street James T. Eldredge built the house at 2 Farmer Street before 1820, at least a dozen years before he built the house below it at 1 Twin Street. Like that house, it was built on Pinkham family land—James was married to Deborah Pinkham, sister of Seth Pinkham, who built the house at 40 Fair. Their parents, Jethro and Susanna Pinkham, lived at 43 Fair and owned a considerable amount of land in the area. npt
Looking west on Farmer Street
The Unitarian Church, also known as the South Church or Second Congregational Meeting House, is the subject of the latest NPT history book and the location of our Annual Meeting. Proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the South Church Preservation Fund. Please support this worthwhile preservation project by purchasing a copy.
NPT Annual Meeting Please join us for the NPT Annual Meeting and Preservation Award Presentation Friday, July 31, 2009 Unitarian Church, 11 Orange Street, 11:00 a.m. Guest Speaker: Brian Pfeiffer, Architectural Historian PreservingValue:The Economic Benefits of Old House Maintenance The public is invited Educated at Boston University and the Institute for Advanced Architectural Studies in York, England, Brian Pfeiffer is an architectural historian whose work in documenting historic buildings throughout New England has led him to focus on historic craft techniques and traditional building materials for the repair and conservation of the region’s architecturally important buildings. Having proven their durability over the course of nearly four hundred years of use in New England’s climate, building techniques such as timber-frame construction, lime and hair plasters, lime and clay mortars, and other traditional building materials fell out of common use during the twentieth century—to the detriment of the region’s historic buildings, which were too frequently repaired with incompatible m odern materials. Working with trained craftsmen, Mr. Pfeiffer has recently finished conservation repairs to two eighteenth-century timber-frame houses on Nantucket and serves as project manager for the repair of the Historic Unitarian Meeting House on Orange Street. Mr. Pfeiffer serves as a consultant to island organizations including the Nantucket Preservation Trust and the ’Sconset Trust, and groups throughout the region for groups such as Preservation Massachusetts, Inc. and Harvard University. Mr. Pfeiffer is also an instructor at the Boston Architectural College and a contributing writer to Apollo Magazine in London. From 1987 to 1998, Mr. Pfeiffer was a staff member at the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, now renamed Historic New England, where he served as director of the organization’s preservation-restriction program and as vice president for Conservation and Preservation Services. Mr. Pfeiffer is a past president of the Shirley-Eustis House Association in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and a past member of the Central Committee of the International Building Limes Forum; he has been a guest lecturer on New England architecture for the Irish Georgian S ociety, the National Trust for Scotland, and the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies in York, England. npt 45
5 Quince Street, by Mark Hubbard
94 Main Street, by Mark Hubbard 46
NPT Preservation and Stewardship Awards
A
s advocates for Nantucket’s historic architecture, an important part of the NPT mission is to encourage preservation work and to recognize those individuals who promote preservation through recent restoration projects and overall stewardship of Nantucket landmarks. The NPT Preservation Award honors a builder, owner, or other individual involved in the preservation of one or more historic properties. Last year’s recipients of the Preservation Award were Valerie and Richard Norton. Their restoration projects have shown a true commitment to h istoric p reservation and the island’s historic architectural fabric. Since 1993, Valerie and Rick have completed more than twelve restorations, including early-eighteenth-century homes,Victorian cottages, and Craftsman bungalows. They are true preservationists because they have respected the architectural integrity of Nantucket’s historic resources by interfering as little as possible with historic fabric. In addition, the Nortons have gone beyond simply completing renovation projects—they undertake research on their projects to unlock the history of each structure. The NPT Stewardship Award recognizes individuals who are involved in the preservation field or a property owner who has maintained the property in a sensitive manner. Stewardship awards were presented at the 2008 annual meeting to Clarissa Porter and Katherine Lodge. Clarissa Porter was honored for her tireless and passionate advocacy of preservation and as a member, since its inception, of the NPT Easement Committee. Clarissa’s work has led to preservation easements on a number of island properties and raised public awareness of NPT and its mission. In 1999, thanks to Clarissa’s foresight and generosity, her house at 5 Quince Street became the first property on the island to have its interior features protected by a preservation easement. Katherine Lodge, the owner of 94 Main Street, was also honored for her s tewardship of one of Nantucket’s best-known landmarks. Her home, purchased in 1962 by Mrs. Lodge and her husband, the late John A. Lodge, retains remarkable exterior and interior spaces that have been maintained with the utmost care. The Lodges’ stewardship was simple: protection by maintenance and care, sensitive repair and additions, and careful consideration of historic fabric. npt 47
We’re Taking It to Broadway!
AUGUST FêTE AND HOUSE TOUR NPT’s Annual Neighborhood Block Party August 6, 2009 Six o’clock in the evening Tour historic houses in the heart of ’Sconset
T
he August Fête is NPT’s premier fund-raising event and each year showcases houses that retain their architectural integrity. The program provides an opportunity to celebrate Nantucket’s rich architectural heritage and to support NPT’s advocacy efforts. The Fête tour and reception are among the summer’s most anticipated events, and we know that this year’s Fête will not disappoint.
This year we are teaming up with the ’Sconset Trust to cosponsor the event. We have increased the number of houses that will be on tour to an a stounding ten— some never before opened to the public. So come e arly to be able to view all! For tickets and information, please call the NPT office at 508-228-1387, or visit our Web site at www.nantucketpreservation.org. npt
Millard and Mary Wilbur Freeborn in front of Dexioma, c. 1890s 49
nantucket preservation trust
wishes to thank Rudy Christian, Master Timber Framer and Director of Field Projects for Preservation Trades Network, and program cosponsor Preservation Institute: Nantucket for their work on our June 21st TIMBER FRAME DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM To learn more about NPT’s demonstration projects and scholarship opportunities in traditional building methods, visit our Web site at www.nantucketpreservation.org.
Your link to Historic or Contemporary Nantucket Properties Barbara Ann Joyce Broker Sales & Rentals 508-228-2266 x22 508-221-8788 cell baj@greatpointproperties.com
One North Beach Street • Nantucket, MA 02554 www.greatpointproperties.com 50
Please join us for
Green and Preservation
Guest Speaker: Donovan D. Rypkema Cosponsored by NPT and ReMain Nantucket Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Unitarian Church, 11 Orange Street 4:00 p.m.
D
onovan D. Rypkema is principal of PlaceEconomics, a real estate and economic-development consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. The firm specializes in services to public and nonprofit-sector clients dealing with downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic structures. R ypkema has performed real estate and economic-development consulting services throughout the United States for state and local governments and nonprofit organizations with interests in a broad range of properties, from National Historic Landmark structures to Main Street commercial centers. His specific fields of consultation include: feasibility analyses for real estate development; training in community-based development; economic revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood commercial centers; and the rehabilitation of historic structures. Today, Mr. Rypkema is recognized as an industry leader in the economics of preserving historic structures. Since 1983, he has provided ongoing consulting services to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and its National Main Street Center. Rypkema was educated at Columbia University, where he received a Master of Science degree in Historic P reservation. An updated edition of Rypkema’s book, The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide, was published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2005 and is used by preservationists nationwide. npt
51
tips and services
Preservation Assistance for Owners of Historic Properties
A
n important role of NPT is to serve as a resource for owners of historic properties. We encourage you to contact us when considering a project or cannot find the solution to an old-house problem. The “Tips and Services” section of Ramblings only scratches the surface of issues faced by all of us who live and own a historic structure, but it will provide you with some basic facts. This year, we hope to expand opportunities to increase knowledge of traditional building skills through NPT’s new apprenticeship program. Seminars for homeowners and scholarship opportunities for tradesmen will be available soon to begin the process of preserving not only the historic resources but the skills needed to ensure property restoration. For more information on NPT’s Apprenticeship Program, contact the office at 508228-1387. The Case for Historic Windows Historic windows with their old wavy glass are like a work of art. The aesthetic quality of old windows is seldom addressed in arguments we hear about repairing and maintaining historic windows. Did you know that the bubbles in old glass mark a breath taken by the glassmaker?
A
round Nantucket and across the country, historic windows are disappearing at an alarming rate, victims of often needless and very costly replacements. There is a mistaken notion, happily promoted by the new-window industry, that decades-old windows cannot or should not be repaired, and that replacing them with new energy-efficient windows is the “green” thing to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why do we jump to the conclusion that 100- or 200-year-old windows need replacing? After all, they have proven to be the ultimate survivors and, like a Chippendale chest of drawers or a very fine pair of shoes, were designed to last and be repaired. 53
Photo by Cary Hazlegrove
Almost all pre-1940 window frames were built of high-quality, dense wood in easy-to-assemble parts and can last for generations, if they are maintained and repaired. Maintenance of old windows generally involves simply k eeping them painted and, from time to time, reglazing. Repair is relatively simple, too, and should follow the path of the true preservationists: “do as little as needed.” If a pane is cracked and needs replacement, remove the old glazing, tap out the broken pane, insert a new one, and reglaze and paint. (If you like, old-style glass with bubbles is available.) If window muntins—the wooden bars between panes of glass—are in poor condition, a window craftsman (call us to help you find one) can replace the failing element with one that will last a lifetime. Nothing is greener than preserving. Manufacturing replacement windows is highly energy intensive, and often involves long-distance shipping that uses even more precious natural resources. Keep the job local by hiring someone on island to repair them. Replacement windows do live up to their name, however, because they are not built to be repaired; they often need to be replaced only a few years after they were installed. 54
What about energy efficiency? Studies show that it would take many years to recoup the cost of replacement windows through energy savings—often longer than the life of the replacements themselves. Simple steps can make historic windows much more energy efficient, including weather-stripping, sealing and caulking, and adding insulation within the casing. Interior and exterior storm windows also help considerably. Taken together, these measures have been shown to equal, and in some cases beat, the efficiency of replacement windows. And, when the energy consumed to manufacture and deliver replacement windows is factored in, saving historic windows is clearly the better choice. Don’t just take our word for it; there are many excellent sources that demonstrate the b enefits of preserving historic windows. We have listed some of them for your further study: Window Information Guide (Cambridge, Mass., Historical Commission) www.cambridgema.gov/-Historic/windowguide.html Tip Sheet for Historic Wood Windows (National Trust for Historic Preservation) www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/additional-resources/ July2008WindowTipSheet.pdf The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows (National Park Service) www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief09.htm For those who want to take a hands-on approach, consider a window-repair course. The North Bennet Street School in Boston’s North End holds a short course on proper window repair through its Preservation Carpentry program. Scholarships are available for this course for Nantucket contractors and tradesmen through the NPT. Contact our office for more details or visit the NBSS website at www.nbss.org.
55
Ten Easy Steps to Preserving Your Historic House
O
wning a historic house on Nantucket is a wonderful privilege, but many homeowners claim they aren’t sure how to properly protect and preserve their old houses. Here’s a handy checklist. NPT’s free House Interview can assist with determining what is important and how to complete appropriate renovations. This program, conducted by NPT staff and preservation architects and/ or contractors, is available to all owners of historic properties on Nantucket. The hour-long consultation provides the homeowner with a firsthand opportunity to learn more about the building’s style, character, defining features and evolution.We hope you will call on us for a house interview this year. 1. Complete maintenance on a regular basis. Routine maintenance, such as cleaning and painting—especially on your building’s exterior—will help minimize rot and the need for costly repairs. Maintenance on Nantucket is especially important because of the sea air and damp winters. Consider developing a maintenance schedule and set goals and priorities. 2. Limit the scope of repairs and keep original details. Some of the historic trim, around windows and doors and along the cornice or roofline, may need to be replaced from time to time due to rot or infestation, but replace only the portion of the wood that is damaged. This saves wood and money as well as the historic fabric of the house. If an entire element needs replacing, be sure to take detailed photographs prior to removing, and duplicate the molding profile or shape to retain your building’s historic character. 3. Maintain the historic windows. Old windows (dating from the early twentieth century or earlier) were made to be repaired, not replaced.There is a lot that you can do to make old windows more energy efficient (see page 53) and be green in the process. 56
4. Take special care in repairing masonry. More and more of Nantucket’s old brick is disappearing because of past mistakes. The main culprit is inappropriate use of Portland cement. Portland cement is usually not compatible with historic brick, and its use can lead to damage to the brick and structural issues. The weight of cement can also bring down an old chimney, so take care when considering chimney repairs and relining options. Repairing mortar with the correct lime mortar and cement ratio (if appropriate) is essential and should not increase the expense. It is critical to hire a mason who understands the importance of matching the mortar to the brick. 5. Build new wings or remodel old ones with “Nantucket in Mind.” If you plan to add to your historic house, design the new addition so it is fully compatible with the main core and does not overwhelm it. Oversized additions affect not only your home but the neighborhood. Don’t build to maximize ground coverage—green space is the new luxury. 6. Maintain the quirks. Straighten that window? Not necessarily. Leave evidence behind showing the building’s changes and its age. It is possible to stabilize structural damage and still keep those elements that give the house a real Nantucket sense of place. Treasure the things that show how your house has aged over the generations. 7. Keep historic interior features. The interior of your house can reveal a wealth of information about its past owners; owners have a responsibility to document and maintain this important part of Nantucket history. D efining elements of the interior can include transoms (that small band of windowpanes above doorways); paneled doors; door hardware; moldings around doorways and windows and imbedded in the plaster, such as chair-rail and picture moldings. Some unique Nantucket features such as old mirror boards (moldings or woodwork between windows) also tend to have remained in many old houses here. Perhaps one of the most common historic features that is often removed is a winder staircase. Winder staircases have served most historic houses on Nantucket for centuries and are beautifully constructed. For some, these staircases are hard to manage, and we suggest adding straight-run stairs in new additions, if necessary, and retaining the historic staircase. 57
Kim McLeod
KELLY ANN WEST
Full Charge Bookkeeper
Kitchen Design and Renovation Service
PO Box 2081 Nantucket, MA 02584 508-648-4763
T: 978-609-2910 E: Mcleod_k@msn.com
Kelly_ann_west@yahoo.com
Formerly owner of The Complete Kitchen
58
8. Keep your plaster walls! This often comes as a surprise to many homeowners, since plaster has been routinely torn out, even by well-meaning preservationists. In recent years, most preservation contractors know the benefits of retaining plaster walls and repairing them, and if necessary replacing sections that are in poor condition. Plaster is a remarkable material that is superior to modern drywall (ask any craftsman). On N antucket, which has a lot of moisture, plaster is the material of choice since it can get wet, provides excellent soundproofing, and can be repaired. Architectural historians know that old plaster can reveal clues to the building’s e volution by showing the location of old walls and other elements. Plastering is definitely a craft, but the island is fortunate to have skilled contractors who can c omplete this traditional building technique. 9. Take special care with your historic wood floors. Fortunately, most people want to retain the old floors in a historic house, but there is a right way and wrong way to care for them. All too often old flooring is over-sanded, reducing its overall life span and at the same time destroying its antique character. Old floors were hand-planed, and hand-sanding is the best way to retain their character. Simple cleaning and waxing can also do wonders and will retain the old patina. 10. Do your homework and ask questions. Owning an old house can be challenging, because dozens of issues arise during your ownership. It is not always easy to find the correct material, method, or person to work on your home, and sometimes the answers are hard to find. We suggest researching online and asking questions. Beware of the contractor who says that preservation is not an option or always costs more. Get another opinion. Fortunately, Nantucket has craftsmen who work with historic fabric and understand that doing things the right way usually doesn’t increase costs. npt
59
Photo by Michael May
preservation easements
O
ne of the best tools available to ensure the preservation of Nantucket’s historic architecture is the preservation easement. There are many misconceptions about how an easement works and what impact it has on the property. Easements do not work in every situation, but for those who are concerned about the future of their home, an easement can provide peace of mind. In addition, easements can provide the opportunity for substantial financial benefits through tax deductions. Here are a few things to remember about preservation easements:
• Easements protect the architectural integrity of properties by restricting future alterations and uses. Preservation easements can protect both the exterior and interior of a historic property, and leave the owner with full use of the property. • Easements do not have to be burdensome. How restrictive an easement is depends on the wishes of the property owner, since easements are tailored to their specific needs. • The exterior of the building must be protected (which is already regulated on Nantucket by the Historic District Commission) and can include historic interior features such as structural members, space configurations, c himneys, plaster walls, floors, woodwork, and stairways. • Easements are flexible and protect a number of historic features, but usually exclude modern aspects of a building such as bathrooms and kitchens. • Where appropriate, the easement can protect original and historic hardware, decorative finishes, and fixtures. • Easements are written to allow for changes and installation of mechanical systems. • Often a portion of the building’s interior—such as second-floor rooms in a later wing—is excluded to allow for the needs of future generations. 61
NPT Preservation Easements Quaker Meeting House 7 Fair Street The Nantucket Atheneum 1 India Street Jabez Bunker/Prince Gardner House 85 Main Street Captain Thaddeus Coffin House 89 Main Street Thomas Starbuck House 11 Milk Street Rescom Palmer House 9 New Mill Street George Gardner House 8 Pine Street Nathaniel Hussey House 5 Quince Street Peleg Bunker House 4 Traders Lane Maria Mitchell Birthplace 1Vestal Street Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin Lancasterian School 4 Winter Street Higginbotham House 27 York Street Hadwen-Wright House (pending) 94 Main Street North Church (pending) Centre Street NPT holds the majority of preservation easements on island, but seven other preservation easements are held by Historic New England, Massachusetts Historical Commission, Nantucket Historic District Commission, and the ’Sconset Trust. 62
Become a Member of the NPT The Nantucket Preservation Trust, a nonprofit, membership-supported organization formed in 1997, has more than seven hundred members dedicated to the preservation of the island’s historic architecture. Membership Form Name: (Dr./Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms.)______________________________________________________ Address:______________________________Summer Mailing Address:_______________________ _______________________________________
_______________________
State, Zip_____________________________ Approx. dates for summer address: _________________ Tel: (
)_________________________
Tel: (
)_____________________
E-mail:___________________________________________________________________________________ To receive our newsletter and important notices electronically □ Add me to the Preservation Alert e-mail list. (Please indicate your e-mail address above.) □ I want to learn about volunteer opportunities.
LeAdeRsHiP CATegoRies Cupolas _____$10,000
Roofwalks _____$5,000
Balustrades _____$2,500
Cornices _____$1,000
Shutters _____$100
Bricks _____$50
MeMbeRsHiP CATegoRies Columns _____$500
Pediments _____$250
_____Enclosed is a check made payable to the NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST. ______ Please charge my Visa/MC #_______________________________________________Exp_______ in the amount of $_____________________Signature______________________________________ ______ I would like to give a gift of securities. Please contact me at ___________________________ ______ I plan to remember NPT in my Estate Planning. ______ My employer will match this gift. (Please enclose gift form.) Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Nantucket Preservation Trust Two Union Street • Nantucket, MA • 02554 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org
links
Preservation Links A Sampling of Resources for Owners of Historic Homes Local Preservation Organizations
International Preservation Trades Network, Inc. www.iptn.org
Egan Maritime Institute www.eganmaritime.org
Massachusetts Historical Commission www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc
Maria Mitchell Association www.mma.org
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training www.ncptt.nps.gov
African Meeting House www.afroammuseum.org
National Trust for Historic Preservation www.preservationnation.org
Nantucket Atheneum www.nantucketatheneum.org
National Park Service www.cr.nps.gov
Nantucket Historical Association www.nha.org
Old House Journal www.oldhousejournal.com
Nantucket Historical Commission www.nantucket-ma.gov/Pages/NantuckektMA_ BComm/histcomm
Preservation Massachusetts www.preservationmass.org
Nantucket Historic District Commission www.nantucket-ma.gov/Pages/NantucketMA_ HistDist/index
Traditional Building Resource Database www.traditional-building.com
Nantucket Preservation Trust www.nantucketpreservation.org
Advertisers NPT is extremely grateful to the dedicated advertisers who make the publication of Ramblings possible.
Preservation Institute: Nantucket www.dep.ufl.edu/hp/pinantucket
Art Susan Boardman Embroidered Narratives 508-228-6489 www.susanboardman.net
’Sconset Trust www.sconsettrust.org Useful Preservation Web sites The Worldwide Web can be used to provide information on preservation techniques and for locating craftsmen and materials. Below are a few recommended sites.
Banks Nantucket Bank 2 Orange St./104 Pleasant St. www.nantucketbank.com
Association for Preservation Technology International www.apti.org
Bookkeeping Services Kelly West 508-648-4763 Kelly_ann_west@yahoo.com
Historic New England www.historicnewengland.org 65
Interior Design Kathleen Hay Designs 508-228-1219 www.kathleenhaydesigns.com
Sanford Kendall-Old House Restoration 508-246-2316 sanfordkendall@yahoo.com
Susan Zises Green ACK: 508-228-3160 NY: 212-710-5388
Norton Preservation Trust Valerie and Richard Norton 508-228-9987 preserve@nantucket.net
Jewelry Diana Kim England 508-228-3766 www.dianakimengland.com
Brian Pfeiffer Preservation Advisory Services 617-661-4753 brpfeiffer@verizon.net
Kitchen Design and Styling Timeless Kitchen Design 610-296-2775 www.timelesskitchendesign.com
Pat Woodley Hancock 508-228-2710 Realtors Barbara A. Joyce Great Point Properties 508-228-0890 x13 baj@greatpointproperties.com
Kim McLeod 978-609-2910 Mcleod_k@msn.com Mailing Services The UPS Store Nantucket 2 Windy Way 508-325-8884
Nantucket Real Estate 508-228-2530 www.nantucketrealestate.com Window Washing and Carpet Cleaning Extra Clean Paul West and Jeremy Walker 508-325-7800 www.ExtraCleanInc.com
Photography Jeffrey Allen 508-228-2625 www.jeffallenphotography.com Preservation Services and Contractors Michael Burrey MLB Restorations Sgrafito9@aol.com CMC Construction Ciaran McCloskey 508-332-4757 justbuiltbetter@aol.com
66
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO S UPPORTED this year’s mEMBERSHIP APPEAL and programs AT LEADERSHIP LEVELS (As of May 31, 2009) 1955 Society Anonymous Sam and Janet Bailey Bill and Susan Boardman William J. and Barbara Charlton Caroline and Douglass Ellis Nancy and Alan Forster Susan Zises Green Winnie and Chris Mortenson Lyman and Kate Perry Jeffrey and Hillary Rayport Ellen and David Ross Caren and Charles Ryan Harris and Esta-Lee Stone John and Marie Sussek Louise Evans Turner Suellen Ward and John Copenhaver
Friends Leigh and Carrie Abramson Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Arvay Ward and Susie Belcher Jeremy and Mary Dalton Bloomer Thomas and Kathy Bologna Nancy and Art Broll Mr. and Mrs. David Brown Laura and Bill Buck Martha A. Carr Mr. and Mrs. David Cheek Barbara J. Fife Penny and Bob Fox Kim and Jeff Greenberg Sandra R. Holland 67
The Judy Family Foundation Arthur L. and Diane R. Kelly Edward and Joyce Lawrence Livingston Family Fund Mrs. John A. Lodge Kenneth and Grace Logan Mr. and Mrs. G. Kelly Martin MacDonald and Charlotte Mathey Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. McCarthy Richard and Ronay Menschel John Merson and Carol Bunevich Kathryn and Roger Penske Richard and Georgia Raysman Tom and Marcia Richards Robert and Marion Rosenthal Bonnie and Peter Sacerdote Georgia Ann Snell Merrielou and Ned Symes Hannah and Bill Wallace Pam and Will Waller F. Helmut and Caroline Weymar
Business/Community Supporters Jeffrey Allen Photography Susan Boardman Embroidered Narratives CMC Construction Diana Kim England First Congregational Church Susan Zises Green, Inc. Kathleen Hay Designs Nantucket Atheneum Nantucket Preservation Alliance Norton Preservation Trust South Church Preservation Fund Timeless Kitchen Design
68
Ciaran McCloskey MA Lic.# CS093487
Member
NEW CONSTRUCTION • RESTORATIONS RENOVATIONS • ADDITIONS
www.justbuiltbetter.net
PO Box 337, 02554 | 508.332.4757 | justbuiltbetter@aol.com
A jeffrey allen
PHOTOGRAPHY
your vision, realized.
508.228.2625 jeffallenphotography.com
Photographed by John Kernick
SUSAN ZISES GREEN, INC. ASID Antiques Interior Design Decoration
Nantucket 508 228 3160
New York 212 710 5388
House Histories NANTUCKET
A Special Program Offered by
Nantucket Preservation Trust Every historic Nantucket house has a story. Do you know yours? Unlock the history of your home with a Nantucket Preservation Trust House History. Each hardcover book is thoroughly researched, clearly written, and beautifully illustrated with historic photographs and maps that provide a detailed picture of your house through time. For more information, visit our Web site: www.nantucketpreservation.org or contact us at 2 Union Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1387