RAMBLINGS
An Annual Publication of the Nantucket Preservation Trust Vol. VIII• 2014
K AT H L E E N H A Y D E S I G N S
H O N O R I N G N A N T U C K E T ’ S E X C E P T I O N A L H E R I TA G E A WA R D - W I N N I N G I N T E R I O R D E S I G N F I R M 508.228.1219
www.kathleenhaydesigns.com
susan zises green, inc.
asid
Antiques Interior Design Decoration A HOME FOR ANY LOCATION
Nantucket 508 228 3160
New York 212 710 5388
www.susanzisesgreen.com
Photo by Isabelle Hay
Welcome
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hank you for picking up a copy of Ramblings. The guide, now in its eighth year, continues to shed light on historical facts about the island’s architecture and to provide useful information for property owners and Nantucket visitors.
In this edition, Ramblings highlights recipients of NPT’s 2014 Preservation Awards for their extraordinary preservation work; the histories of houses along Hussey and Quince Streets that will be open for the NPT’s Summer Kitchen Tour on July 17; our Summer Lecture and Luncheon on July 25 in ’Sconset with acclaimed architect Peter Pennoyer and Anne Walker, the co-authors of New York Transformed; and the August Fête on August 7 along ’Sconset’s Pochick Street in the heart of Underhill’s Actors Colony. In addition, Ramblings provides a glimpse of NPT’s new resource guide—a must for any owner of a historic property on island—and an interview with Michelle Elzay, artist, preservationist, and past recipient of the Architectural Preservation Award, by guest columnist Sherry LeFevre. We hope you enjoy this issue and learn more about our unique island and its rich history and architectural treasures. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for future articles.
Michael May Executive Director The Nantucket Preservation Trust advocates for, educates about, and celebrates the preservation of the island’s rich architectural heritage. For more information, please visit us at:
55 Main Street, Third Floor • P.O. Box 158, Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org Ramblings is provided at no cost to our members, island property owners, and visitors. Please recycle this publication by passing it along to a friend. Printed with soy-based ink. Paper stock is 10% post-consumer recycled content, grown and manufactured in the USA, and is “sustainable forest certified.”
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COUNT ON THE ISLAND EXPERTS FOR YOUR NEW KITCHEN.
Marine team Bob Williamson and David Holland designed this beautiful kitchen in a historic Fair Street home. Custom Brookhaven cabinets with ‘Winfield’ style doors in ‘Nordic White’ were selected. Granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances completed the contemporary look - all installed by Marine Home Center.
marinehomecenter.com 134 Orange Street, Nantucket 508.228.0900
NPT Board of Directors Executive Committee Christopher Mortenson Chair Ken Beaugrand President David Brown Vice President Thomas Richards Treasurer Pam Waller Secretary Nancy Forster Personnel
Directors Kathy Arvay Samuel Bailey Mary-Randolph Ballinger Christopher Dallmus Caroline Ellis Mary Helen Fabacher Mark Godfrey Susan Zises Green Carol Kinsley Michael Kovner Ethan McMorrow Marcia Richards Esta Lee Stone Lydia Sussek Marie Sussek Suellen Ward
Staff
Michael May Executive Director
Ema Hudson Events and Membership Coordinator Marisa Holden Marketing Associate Henry Ian Pass, Esq. Counsel
Photography Jeffrey Allen Isabelle Hay Greg Hinson Michael May Kristin Weber
Guest Contributors
Christine Harding Sherry LeFevre
Graphic Design
Kathleen Hay Designs
Copy Editor
Elizabeth Oldham
Ramblings •
Vol VIII • 2014
Table of Contents
Did You Know?
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Annual Summer Kitchen Tour Hussey and Quince Streets
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A History and Architectural Review: William Hussey House
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Reviving 22 Federal Street
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Preservation Awards Honoring Our 2014 Recipients
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Profiles in Preservation: Interview with Designer Michelle Elzay
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By Sherry LeFevre
NPT Summer Luncheon and Lecture Co-authors Peter Pennoyer and AnneWalker
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August Fête: Into the Sunset...
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Tips for MaintainingYour Old House
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Preservation Tools 54 WhenWas Your House Built? Mark Your Old House Building History Program Preservation Restrictions Architectural Walking Tours NPT’s Architectural Preservation Fund Clarissa Porter Preservation Easement Fund Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher Scholarship NPT Membership Information Cornerstone Society Donors and Supporters
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Ramblings echoes the spirit of a guide first published in 1947 titled Rambling through the Streets and Lanes of Nantucket, by Edouard A. Stackpole. Cover photo courtesy of Greg Hinson/NantucketStock Historic images courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association Copyright © 2014 Nantucket Preservation Trust
Let us show you What’s possible The Nantucket Preservation Trust NPT is a membership nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of Nantucket’s sense of place. OUR BELIEF Nantucket’s historic architecture is a unique and valuable asset that makes the island special. OUR GOAL To preserve Nantucket’s architectural heritage for present and future generations to enjoy. OUR HOPE That you will join us in working to p reserve our past.
OUR PROGRAMS
Annual Speakers Program • Apprenticeships • Architectural Studies Architectural Lectures • August Fête • Brief, Concise, and Comprehensive House H istories Historic District Commission Testimonies • Historic Research House Markers • House Resource Assistance • Interior Surveys Interviewing Your Old House • Kitchen M arketplace • Landmark History Books Main Street Architectural Walking Tour • Neighborhood Book Series Preservation Awards • Preservation Easements • Preservation Month Programs Private Walking Tours • Ramblings • Resource Guide • Scholarships • ’Sconset Walking Tour Summer Kitchen Tour • Traditional Building Methods Demonstrations
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Did You Know?
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hat all early houses on Nantucket employ timber-frame construction? This method of building was the standard for more than two hundred years. As today, building materials to construct Nantucket’s early houses were shipped from the mainland. Accounts confirm this fact and note that houses were test-assembled on “the main,” meaning the timbers were felled, hand hewn from logs and mortised-and-tenoned together, and then numbered for easy re-assembly by the Nantucket housewrights (carpenters). Girts (the horizontal members) and posts (vertical members) were usually exposed on the interior of the house, and ceiling beams decorated with a bead or champfer along the exposed edge. In many houses, vertical members located at the corner of the house—called gunstock posts—flared at their tops like the wooden stock of a rifle. Nantucket’s construction methods did not change until the introduction of the balloon frame in the mid-nineteenth century.
For more about Nantucket’s architectural heritage, join us for “Nuts & Bolts,” airing at approximately 9:15 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. on ACK-FM radio 97.7. Made possible with support from Marine Home Center. 9
NPT’s Tenth Annual Summer Kitchen Tour Hussey and Quince Streets
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NPT’S TENTH ANNUAL SUMMER KITCHEN TOUR Historic Hussey and Quince Streets Thursday, July 17, 2014 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join us for a BBQ lunch (Menu available online) Tickets $50 • Combo Ticket (BBQ plus Tour) $65 Tickets may be purchased in advance or on the day of the tour. For information, call the NPT office at 508-228-1387 or visit us at: www.nantucketpreservation.org. Made possible with underwriting from:
reMain Nantucket and Marine Home Center With the tenth anniversary of the Kitchen Tour, we thought it appropriate to visit the Wesco Acre Lots, established in 1678 and one of Nantucket’s oldest residential neighborhoods. The tour provides the opportunity to view a wide variety of kitchens. Participants may see other portions of the first floors of the houses that are of historic and architectural interest and/or private gardens. We hope the tour will provide visitors with ideas when considering their own renovation projects. In addition, the tour is designed to show how historic features can be incorporated into modern-day living.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD The Wesco Acre Lots comprise four streets from Liberty to Quince and include some of the oldest houses on island. Although the Great Fire of 1846 destroyed much of the early town, the area west of Centre Street was largely spared. Both Hussey and Quince Streets were originally dead ends that by the 1830s were extended. Over the years, the names of these lanes have changed; they were originally known as Hussey Court and Crown Court, respectively. For much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, most of the houses in the Wesco Acre Lots were homes to the families of mariners, merchants, tradesmen, and whaling captains. Built during the peak of the whaling industry, many dwellings in this neighborhood retain much of their historic interiors, with massive central chimneys, winder staircases, old beams, hand-planed floors and paneling, and transoms and wavy windows that reflect the area’s rich history. 11
HUSSEY STREET Hussey Street is named after Stephen Hussey (1630–1718) and his heirs, who owned property along the lane for generations. Stephen’s father, Christopher (1598–1685), had been granted a portion of the land by the proprietors in 1678 and eventually acquired more land in the area to become one of the island’s largest landowners.
Hussey Street, 1904 12
11 Hussey Street, circa 1890s
11 HUSSEY STREET Circa 1750
The house at 11 Hussey Street was built for William Hussey in the mid-eighteenth century on land owned by his father, Sylvanus Hussey (1682–1767). When Sylvanus wrote his will in 1765, he bequeathed two houses to William, and it is likely that the house William lived in at 11 Hussey Street was one of those houses. William Hussey (1725–1805) married Abigail Starbuck (1729–1817), with whom he had nine children. Their daughter Anna was the sole owner of the house. She died in 1828, and her heirs sold the house to Nathaniel Ray, a mariner. By 1830 it was owned by Peter C. Myrick, a master mariner who lost the house in 1837 due to debt. Two years later, Peter’s son, F rederic W. Myrick (1814–54), bought back the house. Frederic held the property until March 6, 1854, when he sold it to Joseph Cook, merchant. Frederic made a spring voyage immediately after the sale. Although a successful master mariner in his own right and the last captain of the ship Sarah— described as “one of the luckiest ships ever owned in Nantucket”—he is 13
recorded as a passenger on the barque Walter Claxton. Unfortunately, his luck ran out; the Walter Claxton sank in rough seas off the coast of California in April 1854 with no survivors. Later owners included Joseph A. Sylvaro (1815–88), patriarch of one of the early Nantucket families with roots that can be traced to the Portuguese islands of Cape Verde, and Florence Rand Lang, founder of Nantucket’s art colony. In 1918, Florence sold the house to Emile Bornemann, whose descendants own the p roperty today.
14 Hussey Street, circa 1880s
14 HUSSEY STREET Circa 1795
Cabinetmaker Cornelius Allen purchased the land at 14 Hussey Street in 1795 and built this home before selling it to Albert Folger, mariner, in 1798. Albert and his wife, Susan, raised five children here; Susan, widowed in 1812, lived here until 1840, when she sold the property to British-born Robert Ratliff. Among the neighborhood’s most famous residents, Ratliff, at the age of twenty-five, while serving in the British Navy, had been shipwrecked off Nantucket. He decided to stay on island and married Judith Robinson, a widow who had two daughters. He practiced his trade as a master rigger on Nantucket for more than fifty years and was immortalized in an 1879 painting by summer resident and renowned artist Eastman Johnson. Among the longest residents were Joseph P. Nye, master mariner and his family, who retained the property for over 130 years. 14
Historic American Buildings Survey, 1992
22 HUSSEY STREET 1834 William M. Andrews, a skilled twenty-three-year-old house carpenter, built this fine Greek Revival house—the first of several he constructed on island. The most striking feature is the beautiful leaded window in the gable end facing the street. Andrew borrowed money to finish the house and eventually sold it in 1836 to mason Henry Parkinson, who retained it for twelve years. The next owners were master mariner John Riddell and his wife, Ann Starbuck, parents of six children, three of whom resided here. However, like many island men, after the decline of the whaling industry Riddell’s two youngest sons left the island to find their fortunes elsewhere. Both found their way to the Washington Territory in the Pacific Northwest, where Thomas died in 1868 and John—according to a note in a local genealogy—married a Native American woman. Riddell’s son Samuel, a bookkeeper, stayed on island and sold the family home in 1880. In more recent years, owner Michael Gardine created an apartment in the rear of the house that became the summer home of interior decorator Billy B aldwin in the late 1960s. Baldwin had a long list of famous clients, including J acqueline Kennedy Onassis and Cole Porter.
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24 HUSSEY STREET 1835 Zenas Coleman, who lived on India Street directly behind Hussey Street, was probably intrigued by the design of the new house being built at 22 Hussey Street and hired William Andrews to build a similar structure on his neighboring lot. Coleman sold the new house that same year to master mariner Lewis B. Imbert and his wife, Susan B. Kelley, for $2,400—a high purchase price at the time. Imbert, who was born in France and came to Nantucket as a ship’s cabin boy, had a long career at sea that included a shipwreck he survived in the South Pacific. The Imberts, who lived at 24 Hussey Street for twenty-four years, were followed by two more master mariners: Benjamin Sayer, who held the property for six years, and John C. Brock, whose wife, Charlotte, lived here until 1892. Among them, the three master mariner owners of the house captained thirteen whaling voyages from 1828 to 1861.
24 Hussey Street, circa 1880s
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25 Hussey Street, circa 1920s, ladies in costume
25 HUSSEY STREET 1733 This early house near the west end of Hussey Street—a section formerly known as Bunker’s Court—was the home of Abel Gardner (1702–71) and Priscilla Coffin (1708–92), his wife. Gardner had acquired the land in the division of the estate of Ebenezer Gardner in 1733 and most likely built this home on the site soon thereafter. Abel and Priscilla raised twelve children here and extended the house to the east by the mid-eighteenth century to accommodate their growing family. For much of the late nineteenth century, the house was the home of Alexander Drew. His widow, Harriet, sold the house in 1906 to Mabel Baccall, who called the house “The Wiz Fish.”
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Quince Street
QUINCE STREET In 1799, when the names of all streets in town were first recorded, Quince Street was called Crown Court. Opened in 1719, the lane originally 足extended farther west, but was shortened when Westminster Street was e足 stablished in the early nineteenth century. It is believed the name Quince Street derived from the abundance of quince bushes that were once found here.
15 Quince Street, 1987
15 QUINCE STREET Circa 1812 The house located at 15 Quince Street was built about 1812 by Joseph 足Edwards, a twenty-seven-year-old ship and house carpenter who was married to Lydia Gates. It was unusual for carpenters to be both housewrights and ship builders, but the deeds for the property and other historic research clearly indicate Edwards was one of the craftsmen who worked in both professions. Joseph Edwards had purchased the land for his house from Paul Coggeshall in 1811. He resided at his new house until his death in 1863, at which time the property passed to his son James. The house remained in the Edwards family until 1889. 19
10 QUINCE STREET Mid-Eighteenth Century This house is thought to have been built by John Coleman Jr., tailor (1662– 1762) sometime in the mid-eighteenth century. His son Barnabas acquired it upon his father’s death and in turn left it to his son Silvanus in 1781. The house was sold to William Barnard in 1792; his daughter, Elizabeth Myrick, inherited it, and transferred the house to her daughter, Eunice Hussey, who left it to her daughter, Delia M. Hussey. Delia ran a cent school, or pennya-day preschool, at 8 Quince Street. When she died in 1895, the house had been in her family for over a hundred years. Clay Lancaster, architectural historian and author of The Architecture of Historic Nantucket, describes the dwelling in appearance as a Typical Nantucket House, but its age suggests it may have been a south-facing lean-to that was reconfigured over the years.
5 QUINCE STREET Circa 1753 Five Quince Street dates to the mid-eighteenth century, when it was the homestead of Nathaniel Hussey, his wife Judith Coffin, and their eight children. Hussey inherited the house from his father, Silvanus, a wealthy whaling merchant who bequeathed a dozen houses to family members when he died in 1765. In the late 1780s, David Hussey, son of Nathaniel and Judith, became the sole owner. His wife, Lydia, lived at 5 Quince Street probably longer than anyone else, for more than fifty years. The house was perhaps best known in the early twentieth century as the summer home of Austin Strong. Strong was the author of the Broadway show Seventh Heaven and other dramas, and on island was commodore of the Nantucket Yacht Club, a founder of the Wharf Rat Club, and originator of the Rainbow Fleet. Strong and his wife, Mary Wilson, completed a major renovation of the house in 1929 and retained most of the original elements and flavor of the old house. An eventual heir ensured that the house would be protected by placing the island’s first interior preservation easement on the property.
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Title page of the log of the whaleship Edward Cary, 1854 22
5 and 3 Quince Street, circa 1890s
3 QUINCE STREET 1842 Samuel Woodward bought a parcel of land and dwelling house on Crown Court (former name of Quince Street) from Charles Wyer in January of 1842 for $1,200. In June of 1843, he sold a portion of the land with a new dwelling house to Charles F. Gardiner for $2,100; since he was a housewright by trade, we can assume that he built the house now known as 3 Quince. One month after the catastrophic Great Fire, Gardiner sold the house to Nathaniel Tallant for $1,475, reflecting the high demand for housing immediately after that conflagration. By 1867, when the economy of the island was approaching its nadir, the property sold for $900. In 1886, the house was purchased by Eliza B. Winslow, whose family kept it until 1946. Eliza was married to John M. Winslow, who accompanied his 足parents, Perry and Mary Ann, on a four-year-long whaling voyage in the 足Edward Cary when he was ten years old. npt 23
Preserving Nantucket William Hussey House, circa 1750
11 Hussey, which was on the real estate market as Ramblings went to press, has one of the best historic interiors on island, with a long list of features most worthy of careful preservation. We hope a new steward for this fine piece of Nantucket history can be found!
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he interior of 11 Hussey Street, a mid-eighteenth century house, retains a remarkable n umber of historic features and is among the best preserved of the p eriod. Small details abound, such as an old threshold with grooves to drain water and early door hardware. A fine open-winder staircase, opposite the door and running to the garret, is unusually wide and original to the structure. Other remarkable features are the large chimney stack that cleverly incorporates c upboards and closets into space around the chimney works; massive hand-hewn and exposed gunstock posts, and exposed ceiling beams decorated with beads along their edges; a fine Federal mantel with reeded pilasters and a dentiled band; original doors and windows; board and batten details in the parlor and dining room; a parlor cradleboard; mirror boards between the front windows; and a massive cooking fireplace at the rear of the house with its bake oven, w armer/storage area, massive hand-hewn lintel, and exposed stepped breast. Among the later f eatures that are rare today is the c. 1913 pantry with shelving and cabinets, and the kitchen’s three built-in cupboards and soapstone sink. 11 Hussey Street will be open for NPT’s Summer Kitchen Tour on July 17 (see page 13). More information about the history of the house and its architectural features can be found at http://www.nantucketpreservation. org/category/featured-properties. Opposite: 11 Hussey Street, circa 1880s 25
Detail of dentil molding on fireplace
Hand-hewn gunstock post detail 26
Kitchen cooking fireplace with bake oven
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Dave Simonds, director
Hans Morris, owner and producer
nantucket preservation trust would like to thank director Dave Simonds and cottage owner and producer Hans Morris and Starlight Theater and CafĂŠ for their time and generous support of the NPT. For those who missed the screening, visit www.davesimonds.com for more information.
Are you inspired by old buildings? Want to expand your career in the construction field?
Build on the Past Train for the Future
Consider learning or expanding your knowledge of traditional building techniques. These much sought-after crafts can provide you with skills to restore Nantucket’s historic architecture. Through its Scholarship Program, NPT is dedicated to providing full-time study and workshops for island residents. Timber framing, joinery, plastering, masonry, and more... For further information, contact: Nantucket Preservation Trust 55 Main Street • P.O. Box 158 Nantucket, MA 02554 T: 508-228-1387
www.nantucketpreservation.org
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Reviving
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22 Federal Street
For the past few years, the building at the southwestern corner of Federal and Broad Streets has begun to show the signs of age: chipping paint, empty rooms, and a forlorn air. In recent memory, it was an active office building filled with town employees and before that home to Bob Mooney's law firm and Jim Lentowski's original office for the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. It even housed Bookworks' predecessor in its now dank basement not that long ago. After purchasing the building in February, we at reMain Nantucket plan to renovate it and again fill its rooms with people working year round. This property has been in the heart of Nantucket’s downtown since the days of the island's earliest settlement and its story reflects the early history of the island. Part of the Wesco lots laid out in 1678 by the Proprietors, this land abutted the harbor’s wetland edge, then located just to the east of Federal Street. It was purchased by Zaccheus Macy, a boatbuilder, from John Coffin in 1762. Macy's home was sold to Shubael Downs, a merchant, in 1777, and was later owned by master mariners—first David Chadwick and then Henry Bigelow. The buildings on this property, like all those surrounding it, were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1846. The Atheneum and many other buildings were quickly rebuilt after the fire, but the land at 22 Federal Street remained vacant for more than twenty years during which Federal Street was widened to its current size. Samuel Swain, who started his career in the whaling industry and went on to be a merchant, Town Treasurer, and the Registrar of ideas • investments • initiatives
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Probate, built a house on the property when he purchased it in 1872. The house, with its two and-a-half-story cross gable roof, would have been considered "modern" at the time.
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Albert Brock, executor of the estate of Samuel Swain's daughter, Emily, sold the property to Mary Ring in 1899. She and her husband, John, who was the island's leading contractor at the time of his death in 1924, added the porch, white paint, and dark shutters in the thenpopular Colonial Revival style. 22 Federal - 1940’s A large roofwalk crowned the building. Mary made it her home until 1950, as did their daughter Marion until she moved to Florida full time in 1970.
Our dream is to see 22 Federal become a center, not just for offices, but for those who come to the island to learn—from architecture and history to our island's ecology. We envision students of all ages and backgrounds inhabiting our town, patronizing our shops and restaurants, and sharing their experiences. Learning has always been at the center of our island community, and it will be part of this building’s future. 22 Federal - 2014
Wendy Schmidt
President, reMain Nantucket
www.remainnantucket.org
Melissa Philbrick
Executive Director, reMain Nantucket Top photo courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association
Photo by Isabelle Hay
Photo by Isabelle Hay
Nantucket Preservation Trust Preservation awards
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N
PT’s annual Preservation Awards recognize individuals and organizations that advance the cause of historic preservation on island. The founders of the Nantucket Preservation Trust realized the importance of creating awards to recognize individuals for their work in historic preservation and began the tradition at its first annual meeting in 1998. Later, NPT worked with a partnership of preservation-minded organizations under the umbrella of the P reservation Alliance to honor the island’s preservation work, and after a void was created on this front, r evived its own awards in 2007 to carry on this important program. The NPT’s Preservation Awards program is designed to show that buildings can be sensitively updated while maintaining and preserving their historic integrity. Awards emphasize proper preservation, showcase the island’s craftspeople, and celebrate the foresight and stewardship of owners who care about our historic structures and the island landscape. Awards are provided for the preservation of historic buildings, for landscapes associated with historic structures, for sensitive additions to the historic fabric, and for the protection and stewardship of the island’s resources. They fall into the following categories: Architectural Preservation The Architectural Preservation Award recognizes the owner(s) of a historic structure, and, when appropriate, one or more building professionals who assisted in the completion of a significant preservation project. In order to qualify for the award, preservation of those portions or features that convey the property’s historical, cultural, or architectural values is required.
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Landscape The Caroline A. Ellis Landscape Award recognizes the owner(s) of a historic landscape and, when appropriate, individuals associated with the property, such as landscape professionals. The award recognizes the careful stewardship or preservation of a Nantucket landscape associated with a historic structure or area, or the completion of a new design that enhances the historic fabric of the community. Stewardship The John A. and Katherine S. Lodge Stewardship Award recognizes owner(s) of a historic property who demonstrate a high degree of commitment to the preservation of the structure(s) and the island. An individual or organization maintaining a historic property or playing an important part in the preservation of Nantucket also can be nominated for this award. Traditional Building Methods The Traditional Building Methods Award recognizes craftspeople who practice traditional building methods or who have made a major contribution to the field of historic preservation on island. Recipients must demonstrate a commitment to one or more of the traditional building methods—such as plastering, carpentry, masonry using limemortar, or decorative painting. Historical Renovation The Historical Renovation Award recognizes the owner(s) of a historic structure, and when appropriate building professionals who assisted in the design and completion of a sensitive new addition to a historic structure. Projects should strictly adhere to the guidelines found in Building with Nantucket in Mind. In addition to the annual awards, the NPT Board of Directors periodically honors those who have made a major impact on preservation of the island’s architectural heritage with the Excellence in Preservation Award. 34
Nantucket Preservation Trust 2014 Preservation Award Recipients
p res ervatio n awards 2014
Architectural Preservation Award Ed and Joan Lahey 7 Farmer Street Stewardship Award Muriel Williams, posthumously 4 Traders Lane Landscape Award Nantucket Conservation Foundation Traditional Building Methods Award David Bergquist, Bergquist Masonry, LLC Main Street Houses
Celebrating Nantucket’s Historic Architecture Let Us Show You What’s Possible 35
This year, the NPT recognizes preservation work on island in four categories. THE ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION AWARD Ed and Joan Lahey • 7 Farmer Street
Built before 1768 for Christopher Swain, 7 Farmer Street, a gambrelroof house, retains much of it original character and features. The Laheys began a renovation in 2013 with the goal of adding modernday living arrangements and conveniences while restoring the historic core of the house. Today, the original house retains its historic elements such as plaster walls, woodwork, and floorboards. Key to the project was careful restoration, including retaining the floor’s knots and quirks by stripping the floorboard of paint rather than sanding; retaining the old winder staircase; and adding new electrical wiring from the exterior to preserve plaster walls. Later changes, such as a twentieth-century bathroom, were removed from the historic core to restore the original interior plan, and the asphalt roofing was replaced with shingle consistent with the original. Old windows dating to the turn of the century also were restored and reused.
7 Farmer Street, circa 1870s 36
Dining room, 4 Traders Lane
THE JOHN A. and KATHERINE S. LODGE STEWARDSHIP AWARD Muriel Williams, posthumously • 4 Traders Lane
4 Traders Lane, known as the Captain Peleg Bunker House, c. 1750, was purchased in 1946 by Richard and Edna Williams. The family carefully refurnished the house and spent each summer here for over thirty years. In 1977, their daughter Muriel became the owner. She continued her parents’ sensitive approach, repairing but never c hanging historic features. As she witnessed rapid change to Nantucket’s historic houses in the 1990s, Muriel decided to place 4 Traders Lane under a preservation easement to ensure its protection and enjoyment for future generations. Besides saving the house, which is one of the most intact and finest examples of the Typical Nantucket House, Muriel protected the large side yard that is an important garden and open space for the entire Fish Lot neighborhood. Today, the third generation of the Williams family (Billi and Bobby Gosh) continues the family tradition of stewardship. 37
Tupancy Links, a Nantucket Convervation Foundation property, was one of the country’s earliest golf courses.
THE CAROLINE A. ELLIS LANDSCAPE AWARD The Nantucket Conservation Foundation
This year’s Landscape Award recognizes the work of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Formed in 1963, the NCF celebrates its fiftieth year and has made a strong and lasting contribution to the island community and the preservation of Nantucket’s character. NCF has protected nearly 9,000 acres of open conservation land from development. Its work has also ensured protection of historic viewscapes, including areas around town and ’Sconset. In addition, NCF has restored historic landscapes such as grazing land, and ensured the continuing presence of the island’s 157-year-old cranberry industry. 38
The landscape award recognizes the careful stewardship or preservation of a Nantucket landscape associated with a historic structure or area, or the completion of a new design that enhances the historic fabric of the community.
View from open Quaise landscape toward Coatue, 1880s
THE TRADITIONAL BUILDING METHODS AWARD David Bergquist, Bergquist Masonry LLC, Main Street Houses
David Bergquist is a restoration mason with the knowledge, skill, and respect for historic structures needed to merit award recognition. David, who has worked in masonry since 1982, has most recently completed work for four Main Street houses (77, 95, 97, and 98 Main Street), where he removed inappropriate mortar and repointed with appropriate lime mortar, and restored and reconstructed deteriorated chimneys and parapet walls. He begins each project with a careful assessment of existing conditions, research of original m aterials, and mortar analysis. A safe method of cleaning, careful mortar r emoval and repair, and experienced rebuilding skills, combined with the highest-quality materials, ensure that his work is both historically appropriate and functional. npt
Restored chimney, 95 Main Street 40
nAntUckEt PRESERvAtIOn tRUSt PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
Architectural Preservation Award Michelle Elzay, Sparrow Design, 43 Pine Street, 2013 Maria Mitchell Association, Maria Mitchell Birthplace, 2012 South Church Preservation Fund, 11 Orange Street, 2011 Lucy Dillon, property owner; Steve Lindsay, contractor, 37 Liberty Street, 2010 reMain Nantucket, Mitchell’s Book Corner, 2009 Valerie and Richard Norton, numerous projects, 2008 Bernie and Carol Coffin, ’Sconset Post Office, 2007 Ginger Ivey, 8 Cottage Avenue, ’Sconset, 2007 The Caroline A. Ellis Landscape Award Nantucket Garden Club, Main Street Horse Fountain, 2013 Charlotte and MacDonald Mathey, Hedged About, ’Sconset, 2012 Dr. and Mrs. John Espy, 4 New Dollar Lane, 2011 Marilyn Whitney, Moors End, 19 Pleasant Street, 2010 Caroline Ellis, ’Sconset Trust, Sankaty Head Lighthouse, 2009 Traditional Building Methods Award Sam and Ellen Phelan, property owners; Twig Perkins, contractor, 65 Pleasant Street, 2013 Curtis Livingston, 18 India Street, 2012 Michael Burrey, timber framer, 2011 Pen Austin, plaster and lime-mortar expert, 2010 The John A. and Katherine S. Lodge Stewardship Award St. Paul’s Church in Nantucket, Stained-Glass Restoration, 2013 Nantucket Historical Association, Photographic Image Archive, 2012 Fremont-Smith family, Atlantic House, ’Sconset, 2011 Margaret Yates Berkheimer, posthumously, 8 Pine Street, 2010 Sanford Kendall, numerous carpentry projects, 2009 Clarissa Porter, 5 Quince Street, 2008 Katherine S. Lodge, 94 Main Street, 2008 Historical Renovation Award Angus and Deb MacLeod, Angus MacLeod Designs; Johnson, Stockton and Jones families, property owners, for 9, 12, 14 and 15 Pochick Street, ’Sconset, 2013
Excellence in Preservation Award University of Florida’s Preservation Institute: Nantucket, 2013 Brian Pfeiffer, 2012 Helen Seager, 1999 Walter Beinecke Jr., 1998 41
Profiles in Preservation New York Designer Michelle Elzay by Sherry LeFevre
Sherry Lefevre writes a column for the Nantucket Chronicle called “Wise Old House.” She teaches in the Creative Writing Program at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. When the Huffington Post recently interviewed New York native Michelle Elzay (one of their “seven favorite designers”), their first question was a thinly veiled invitation to talk trash within the inner circles of New York design: “Which trends are you tired of seeing?” Michelle’s response was characteristically out of the box. Instead of saying she was choking on a surfeit of eggplant and burnt orange color palettes or chrome kitchens, she spoke from her heart, “The gutting of old or historic houses.” Huffington Post readers may not have seen that remark coming, but Nantucketers could have guessed it. The interview came soon after Elzay had completed the restoration of her parents’ historic house at 43 Pine Street, Nantucket (pictured opposite circa 1880). For her care in g athering a team of p reservationists to ensure that modern accommodations had minimal impact on the historic integrity of the house, Elzay r eceived the NPT’s Stewardship Award. Her restoration included the rehabilitation of a brick oven in the cellar. I visited Michelle and her house in January of this year, on a night heavy with winter, to find out why she cared so much about p reservation. The holiday season had just ended and she had escaped to the island for a week of creative thinking about some upcoming design p rojects. She and her husband, Matthew Brannon, founded Sparrow D esign in New York in 2001. Their projects range from visual displays to home interiors to branding. Not the usual skill set of a historic preservationist. “Why do I care about the history of a house? Out of respect. I’m a bit of a nerd.” Her comment made me laugh. She doesn’t look nerdy. Her energy and enthusiasm surge visibly as she moves and speaks. She had managed to appear stylish fresh off a battle with I-95 North. Everyone who had referred me to her had misjudged her age by ten years. 43
Michelle continued to elaborate her “nerdy” design process. “I always research and get to know the construction of the place I’m working on. I try then to reconcile the personality of the client with the nature of the house.” Apparently, house gutting is also all the rage in New York. She recently had to talk a client off the ledge of a house gut. The couple was European, so she reminded them that gutting a townhouse would never happen in Europe. “You have to push back. People harbor lots of misconceptions. They think that it’s cheaper to gut. It’s not cheaper; in hours and materials it’s often way more expensive. It’s just easier,” she explained. There are other arguments that Elzay uses to persuade clients that restoration is the right way to go. She has an MFA from Columbia University and exhibits her photographs at the Fitzroy Gallery in New York. She knows the value of uniqueness, of rarity. “I tell my clients not to generify their houses. I tell them not to dumb everything down. If you have an old house, you have a jewel that no one else has. How could that not become more valuable?” In addition, Elzay observed, our culture is trending toward interest in artisanal, local, indigenous products. The few remaining unspoiled houses are bound to become highly sought after. Still, it became clear to me that Michelle’s powers of persuasion are more rooted in passion than shrewdness. “I love the mark of time,” she said. “Nantucket’s nineteenth-century houses don’t just bear witness to its whaling history, they’re an important part of the social history of women. These houses contained the lives of women more than men. Phebe Swain (the wife of the house’s first whaling captain, David Swain) and her children lived their lives in this house.” She showed me a copy of a late-nineteenth-century photograph in which a later woman resident and a young boy stood separately and awkwardly in front of 43 Pine Street. In the context of Elzay’s remarks, I imagined how much less awkward they might have looked tucked safely within. 44
Michelle speculated that her yearning for an old house on Nantucket might stem from her family’s general rootlessness. Her father and grandmother had emigrated together from Germany. They were eager to leave the old world and embrace the new, which explains why Elzay grew up in a 1950s Long Island rancher. Her first intimate acquaintance with old houses came from her family’s summer rentals on Nantucket. Beginning when she was two, her parents sampled a range of vacation rentals—sometimes an old house in town, but as often a new house in Tom Nevers or Monomoy. It was the old ones that entered her imagination. She was eager to adopt what she calls “a collective past” to fill the void of her family’s sui generis existence in America. When the time was right for her parents to invest in a property on the island, she led the way toward purchasing an antique. On our tour of the house, her hands were continually stroking the wood paneling in the absent-minded way of a groom tending her horses. She pointed out an ivory doorknob she had discovered by removing layers of paint, rotating it gently between her fingers. In every room she opened small cabinet doors cut on a diagonal to fit u nder a stair or asymmetrically aligned to skirt the mortar of the chimney. She recalled her goddaughter’s first encounter with the house when her best friend from college brought her family for a visit. “The kids were climbing all over the house, exploring every inch of it. They came running downstairs yelling, ‘We found the secret place! We found the secret place!’ An old house is magical to children.” To recall the incident so vividly was a testimonial to how faithfully Michelle has cultivated her own youthful imagination. It fuels the joyfulness of her design work. And her eagerness to engage with the past in her imagination informs the care she has taken to protect the life of an old house. npt
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NaNtucket PreservatioN trust
Summer Luncheon and Lecture July 25, 2014
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“How wise [Pennoyer and Walker] are to write about this firm; architects of many buildings in and around New York that are admired even though the names of their designers are virtually forgotten.” — ROBERT A. M. STERN
Narratives of Manners and Style: The Houses of Cross & Cross Join architect Peter Pennoyer and architectural historian Anne Walker, authors of the new book NewYork Transformed:The Architecture of Cross & Cross, for a look at two of the early 1900s most important but largely forgotten architects. Brothers John and Eliot Cross counted the country’s richest and most influential figures among their clients, yet they tended to gravitate toward an u npretentious luxury—a polite and historically embedded expression of their wealth.They designed several magnificent Colonial Revival houses in NewYork, as well as country houses in fashionable areas such as Long Island’s North Shore and East End; Greenwich, Connecticut; and Far Hills, New Jersey. Most notably, they designed J. Watson and Electra Havemeyer Webb’s Brick House in Shelburne, Vermont (now part of the Shelburne M useum), Chestertown House in S outhampton for H. F. du Pont (founder of the Winterthur Museum), and the childhood home of famed decorator Sister Parish in Far Hills. Pennoyer and Walker will share gorgeous photos of those homes, as well as insights into the people who lived there and the influences the Cross brothers used while designing each property.
Join Us for this Special Lecture and Book Signing Friday, July 25, at 11:00 a.m. ’Sconset Chapel Lunch to follow at the Chanticleer $100 (Reservations required) For details, contact the NPT office at 508-228-1387 or visit our Web site: www.nantucketpreservation.org 47
Into ththe S nset...
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Into the S nset... NPT’s Annual August Fête
August 7, 2014 Six o’clock in the evening
The Nantucket Preservation Trust invites you to our Annual August Fête. Join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres as we tour historic cottages in the Sunset Heights neighborhood of ’Sconset followed by a reception on Ocean Avenue. Music by Coq au Vin Ensemble. General Admission $150 • Next Generation (under 40): $100 For tickets and information, please call the NPT office at: 508-228-1387 or visit our Web site at www.nantucketpreservation.org
The Nantucket Preservation Trust is most grateful to Brown Brothers Harriman, the sole corporate underwriter for the August Fête. The NPT’s August Fête is one of the summer’s most memorable evenings, because it is more than a party—it is a celebration of Nantucket’s architecture. This year, participants will tour a wonderful collection of late-nineteenth-century summer homes. Be sure to join us in this celebration by reserving your space today. 49
Tips for maintaining Your Old House
Photo by Isabelle Hay
NPT’s Resource Guide
Improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings is more important than ever; technology for improving energy efficiency of buildings is constantly evolving. We often hear about adding solar panels and replacing old appliances with Energy Star–rated ones, but there are also some basic steps you can take to curb energy use in your old or new house today without spending a lot of money.Taking these simple steps will help you “green” your home by reducing your carbon footprint, as well as lower your energy costs.
INSULATION
On Nantucket, most of our historic houses have stood for two hundred years or more and have been preserved because they were constructed to allow for air circulation. Early builders knew that air flow naturally dries a house and was essential on this moisture-laden island. Today, we all want insulation to keep us warm, but insulating a historic house on Nantucket is complicated, and there is not an easy solution or one way to install insulation. Each house needs to be studied individually to determine how best to deal with issues such as air infiltration, m oisture, and comfort, all while protecting the home’s historic fabric. First, it is important to know that insulation is not the savior some of us think it is. Over the years, preservationists, builders, and property owners have learned the hard way that inappropriate insulation can be disastrous for old houses. Improper installation of insulation can do more harm than good, so it is important to ask the advice of a builder or contractor who fully understands old houses before proceeding. They will tell you that retaining adequate air infiltration and accounting for potential moisture problems upfront are of utmost concern and need to be analyzed before insulation is installed. A first step is to determine the sources of moisture and if insulation can work in moisture-collecting areas. Areas of moisture concern are the ground, from your crawl space or basement; large masonry elements such as a central chimney; water from the outside walls coming into the house; and human activity from inside the house such as cooking and how cooking-related heat leaves the house. Here are some general rules: Insulate the attic first. Heat rising through the attic and out the roof is a major source of heat loss and for many houses this step—along with window and door storms and weather-stripping—will be adequate for making your house comfortable and more energy efficient. If the attic space is not heated, insulating between the floor joists is typically the best solution. This will involve carefully taking up the floorboards and just as carefully reinstalling them. 51
Second, consider insulating from below—the basement and/or crawl space. Insulating these areas is complicated due to the possibility of trapping moisture, but proper installation of insulation can ensure a more comfortable living area and protection for the wood elements. In unfinished spaces without a furnace or heating source, insulation in the basement’s ceiling or first-level floor joists is possible. Vapor barriers should generally face upward to avoid trapping moisture in the insulation. In areas where there is a furnace or in a heated basement, ceiling insulation is usually not r ecommended. Adding a vapor barrier on the ground is also critical for crawl spaces and other areas where the ground is exposed beneath the house. Don’t add wall insulation. It is surprising to most people, but insulating the exterior walls of a historic house on Nantucket is not recommended due to the high potential of trapping moisture in the wall and causing serious damage. In addition, there is a high cost for remediation when p roblems arise. Introducing insulation in wall cavities without a vapor barrier and adequate ventilation will lead to disaster; insulation will become saturated, lose its thermal properties and actually increase heat loss. Well-meaning property owners who add wall insulation also greatly increase the risk of doing more damage to their historic house and creating potential health risks. Trapping moisture in the cavity will advance rot and deterioration of wood elements that are not visible, such as sills, and can introduce mold. In addition, some blown-in installation has been known to damage building elements as it expands, including plaster keys that hold the historic plaster in place. Wall insulation has been successfully installed during major renovations when vapor barriers and adequate air infiltration will be maintained or reintroduced. However, to preserve a building’s historic plaster, removal of the exterior shingles or clapboard is highly recommended to access the area and to repair any wood rot or damage. Damaging the interior plaster is not a preservation solution; plaster, unlike wallboard, “breathes” and with proper maintenance can survive for centuries; examples of this abound on Nantucket. Ensuring that an insulated wall area is well vented inside and out is critical, and in some cases dehumidifiers have been added to help ensure moisture is held in check. If wall insulation is still desired after knowing the risk and conducting an assessment, well-qualified professionals familiar with historic houses should be engaged to complete the work. 52
Nantucket to New York
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The Lydia Sussek Associati Team at The Corcoran Group Licensed RE Salespersons I m: 917.721.7853 I lyd.sussek@corcoran.com The Corcoran Group is a licensed real estate broker located at 660 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10065. Real estate agents affiliated with The Corcoran Group are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of The Corcoran Group. Photograph is Virtually Staged.
Photo by Isabelle Hay
Preservation tools Let Us Show You What’s Possible
when was your house built? NPT’s Interviewing Your House Program Do you know when your house was built and how it evolved? NPT offers a free one-hour “house interview” to determine a construction date and point out the evolution of the house from its architectural evidence. The “interview” usually includes a review of timbers in the basement and attic; a survey of the old w indows, woodwork, and floor plan; and is provided by a team comprising an architectural historian and a preservation contractor and/or architect. The team can answer specific questions about various features and can provide information about a building’s architectural style and history. The program is ideal for those who are planning a restoration or addition and for new owners wanting to learn more about their old house. Please arrange for your complimentary house interview by calling the NPT office at 508-228-1387. 55
Image of older House Marker design with new design pictured inset
mark your old house Nantucket Preservation Trust’s house-marker program spreads the word about the significance of Nantucket’s historic architecture by informing passersby about the age of the house and who built it or lived there during Nantucket’s heyday.The idea of marking a house on island is not new; sign boards modeled on ships’ quarterboards were being placed on houses by the second half of the nineteenth century—and perhaps earlier—when residents and islanders named their houses in ways that were meaningful to them. In addition, the round plaques found on many historic houses were part of a past NHA marker program. The NPT house-marker program includes an investigation of town records to determine the building’s age and original owner. Since 2002, we have researched and marked over two hundred structures. It serves as a great first step in learning the history of your house and can lead to a book on its history, if desired. Please join us by marking your house! 56
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. We offer three levels of house histories—our brief history, which provides basic deed research and a short summary—or our concise and comprehensive hardcover books that are thoroughly researched, clearly written, and beautifully illustrated to provide a detailed picture of your house through time. For more information, visit our Web site: www.nantucketpreservation.org or contact us at 55 Main Street, P.O. Box 158, Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1387
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npt’s building-history program
NPT continues to document the island’s architectural heritage and share our research with the public. One way we accomplish this task is through publications focusing on the neighborhoods, landmark buildings, and historic houses of Nantucket. Learning the history of a building and its neighborhood is critical to determine how best to preserve it. Today, NPT offers a collection of books for those hoping to learn more about the island’s rich history and architectural heritage.
Individual House Histories
Since 2002, NPT has offered owners of historic properties an opportunity to learn more about their own properties through the House History Program which can be a simple one-page narrative illustrated with historic photos or a comprehensive NPT House Genealogy in a hard-cover format individually tailored to your property’s unique history.
11 Hussey Street NANTUCKET
A House History
Copies of NPT’s histories can be viewed at the Nantucket Atheneum, the NHA’s Research Library, or the NPT office. For more information, or to order your house history, call the NPT office at 508-228-1387, or visit us online at www.nantucketpreservation.org
Neighborhood Book Series
The Neighborhood Book Series provides information on the development of island neighborhoods and glimpses of the houses and streets. : &
A Walk Down Main Street: The Houses and Their Histories
A WALK DOWN MAIN STREET THE HOUSES AND THEIR HISTORIES
A NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST PUBLICATION
Main Street History.indd 1
The first book in this series focuses on thirty houses and provides an overview of the early history of the town and the various house types. Filled with historic photographs, maps, and other illustrations, the book serves as a walking tour guide of this memorable street. $10, soft cover
6/7/2006 11:45:20 PM
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Off Centre: The Wesco Acre Lots The Wesco Acre Lots, created in 1678 by the island’s first town planners, was the site of early buildOff Centre: ing activity in Nantucket The Wesco Acre Lots Town. Off Centre focuses on the histories of eightysome houses on the streets from Liberty to Quince and offers the reader a view of life on Nantucket from the years before the whaling boom into the early twentieth century. Mount Vernon
Maria
Franklin
Enterprise
Clarkson
Columbus
Barclay
Zone
Fabius
A NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST PUBLICATION
Statira
Aurora
Alexander Coffin
Mary Mitchell
Constitution
President
Montano
$25, softcover
Main Street, ’Sconset Although ’Sconset is well known for early fishermens’ cottages that became desirable seasonal residences for whaling captains and Main Street, ’Sconset The houses and Their HisTories their families, few realize that it was along Main Street, ’Sconset, that the wealthiest whale-oil m erchants built summer houses beginning in the 1830s. Main Street, ’ Sconset unlocks the early history of those summer homes and follows their evolution into the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. A NANtucket PreservAtioN trust PublicAtioN
$25, softcover 59
Landmark Series The NPT’s Landmark Series documents the history of important island institutions and their architecturally significant buildings.
The Unitarian Meeting House: A History A new soft-cover history of the Meeting House, constructed in 1809, is an updated version that highlights the recent restoration project of this island landmark. Located at 11 Orange Street, the structure has been a place where islanders and visitors come toThe Unitarian Meeting House gether to participate in the cultural, NANTUCKET religious, and community life of the island.
A History $20, new softcover edition, 2014
The Nantucket Atheneum: A History The Atheneum, constructed in 1846, immediately after the Great Fire, is an impressive Greek Revival building. The book documents the history of the institution from its founding in 1834 into the twenty-first century.
Out of print; Hardcover • $75, by special order
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Preservation easements Preservation easements, called preservation restrictions in Massachusetts, are designed to protect the architectural integrity of a property for future generations. The easement runs with the land and is recorded at the R egistry of Deeds. Easements can protect both the exteriors and interiors of a certified historic property. They are tailored to the specific building and the wishes of the property owner. Ideally, any easement should be designed to allow for minor alterations and updates to a property without compromising the building’s architectural integrity. Preservation easements remain the best tool available to ensure the long-term integrity of a building, especially since interior features are not protected by local legislation. In addition to preserving a piece of the island’s history, an easement can also result in favorable tax benefits for the easement donation. For more information about preservation easements, call the NPT office or visit us o nline at www.nantucketpreservation.org.
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NPT EASEMENT PROPERTIES First Congregational Church and Old North Vestry 62 Centre Street Quaker Meeting House 7 Fair Street Fire Hose Cart House 8 Gardner Street
1800 House 4 Mill Street
Greater Light 8 Howard Street
Rescom Palmer House 9 New Mill Street
The Nantucket Atheneum 1 India Street
Grafton Gardner House 8 Pine Street
Jabez Bunker/Prince Gardner House 85 Main Street
Nathaniel Hussey House 5 Quince Street
Captain Thaddeus Coffin House 89 Main Street
Captain Peleg Bunker House 4 Traders Lane
Hadwen-Wright House 94 Main Street
Maria Mitchell Library (pending) Vestal Street Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin Lancasterian School 4 Winter Street Higginbotham House 27 York Street
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Photo by Kristin Weber
Thomas Starbuck House 11 Milk Street
Maria Mitchell Birthplace 1 Vestal Street
architectural Walking Tours NPT’s architectural walking tours provide an opportunity to learn about the island’s unique history and its remarkable architectural heritage. Tours are $10 per person and are offered from June through September (weather permitting). Call the NPT office at 508-228-1387, or visit our Web site at www.nantucketpreservation.org for a schedule and d etails. Group tours may be arranged throughout the year by appointment. A STROLL DOWN MAIN STREET The thirty houses between the Pacific National Bank and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument are a microcosm of the island’s architectural heritage and reveal the story of Nantucket’s whaling prosperity and decline, as well as the island’s preservation story. Tour participants receive a soft-cover copy of A Walk Down Main Street, which includes a history of each house and its early occupants. The tour is offered most Thursdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. (June–September). A special self-guided tour highlighting the Main Street book is also available by downloading the Locacious app (free).
’SCONSET TOUR A visit to Nantucket is not complete without a tour of this ancient fishing village at the island’s east end. Learn about its unique history and explore the architectural evolution of the village from its whaling days to its revival in the nineteenth century as a seaside resort and “actors colony.” The tour is offered most Fridays at 4:00 p.m. (mid June–mid September). npt 65
nPT Preservation Fund Let Us Show Yu a’s Pssie
The goal of the NPT Architectural Preservation Fund is to encourage community-wide efforts to protect Nantucket’s historic architecture. The fund brings recognition to key projects, emphasizes the importance of proper preservation work, and encourages further community support.
Clarissa Porter Preservation Easement Fund Clarissa Porter (1939–2012), a former NPT board member, was a tireless and passionate advocate for preservation and had a lifelong love of Nantucket and its historic architecture. She served as a member, since its inception, of the NPT Easement Committee, and her diligent work led directly to preservation easements on several properties and raised awareness of NPT and its mission. Clarissa’s summer house at 5 Quince Street, built circa 1753, was for much of the twentieth century held by Austin Strong, artist and playwright, and his wife, Mary Wilson. At Mary (Wilson) Strong’s death in 1968, the house was inherited by George Wilson Penny and his wife, Sarah Louise, Clarissa’s parents. In 1999, thanks to Clarissa’s foresight and generosity, 5 Quince Street became the first property on the island to have its interior features protected by a preservation restriction. Due to Clarissa’s generosity and passion for historic Nantucket, NPT named the easement program in her honor. Please consider a donation to the fund, to be used for easement protection and assistance. For more information on the Clarissa Porter Preservation Easement Fund, please visit our Web site or call the NPT office. 66
Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher Scholarship The Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher Scholarship was established by the NPT to offer Nantucket Public School graduates the opportunity to further their building skills through a scholarship to the preservation-carpentry program at the North Bennet Street School in Boston. Our goal in establishing this scholarship is to provide educational opportunities to encourage and promote traditional building methods essential for the preservation of Nantucket’s historic architecture. Priority for a scholarship is provided to the Nantucket Public School graduate looking to enter the construction field with the intention of returning to the island to practice traditional building skills. In addition to the scholarship’s main goal, the program p romotes understanding of traditional building methods by sponsoring field trips to the North Bennet Street School for middle- and high-school students, coordinating on-island demonstration projects for all age groups, and assisting the island building trades by offering short courses for learning traditional building methods. Help us complete our scholarship endowment fund campaign by donating today. For more information about the scholarship program or to donate, call Michael May, NPT’s executive director, at 508-228-1387.
Speaker Series and Demonstrations Program NPT hosts guest speakers to inform island residents and visitors about the important role preservation plays in our lives. The speakers fund makes it possible for NPT to bring national leaders in the preservation field to the island to give talks and to demonstrate traditional building methods.
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Photo by Jeffrey Allen
Become a Member of the NPT The Nantucket Preservation Trust is a nonprofit, membershipsupported organization formed in 1997 whose members are dedicated to the preservation of the island’s historic architecture.
Membership Form Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ Summer Address:___________________________________ _________________________________________
_____________________________________
State, Zip________________________________________ Dates at Summer Address: __________________________ Tel: (
)____________________________________ Local Tel: (
)________________________________
□ I want to learn about NPT volunteer opportunities.
1955 SOCIETY LEADERSHIP (Nantucket established a local historic district in 1955.) Leadership level members receive two tickets to the Summer Kitchen Tour and invitations to special donor events. _____$10,000
_____$5,000
_____$2,500
_____$1,955
OTHER MEMBERSHIP _____$1,000
_____$500
_____$250
_____$100
_____$50
_____$25 Student Membership (valid with Student ID) _____ Enclosed is a check made payable to the NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST. ______ Charge my Visa/MC #___________________________________________________Exp_______CCV_____ in the amount of $_____________________Signature______________________________________________ ______ My employer will match this gift. Please enclose gift form.
Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Nantucket Preservation Trust P.O. Box 158 • Nantucket, MA • 02554 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org 69
Join the Nantucket Preservation Trust’s
• Cornerstone Society •
Help us ensure Nantucket’s architectural heritage for present and future generations. There are two ways to give. THE NPT PRESERVATION FUND Make a contribution to support scholarships for students and tradespeople interested in learning traditional building, to sponsor speakers, and to assist with preservation easements. and/or PLANNED GIVING Simply remember NPT in your estate planning and let us know that a bequest to NPT is included in your will. However you give, your contribution is greatly appreciated and will help us to continue our work to celebrate Nantucket’s architectural heritage. For more information, contact Michael May, Executive Director, at the NPT office: 508-228-1387 mmay@nantucketpreservation.org
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORTED THIS YEAR’S MEMBERSHIP APPEAL AND PROGRAMS AT LEADERSHIP LEVELS (as of May 10, 2014) Anonymous Elizabeth and Lee Ainslie Pennel and Sharon Ames Kathy and Joseph Arvay Eugene and Carol Atkinson Janet and Sam Bailey Mrs. Walter F. Ballinger II Mary Jane Bauer Ken and Gussie Beaugrand Susan Blair and David Shukis Ronald and Myrna Bocage Deborah Boudreau Lucy Eastwood Broadus Thomas and Mimi Brome David and Mary Brown William C. and Laura T. Buck John and Patrice Callies Charles and Gail Camalier Peter and Monica Campanella Martha Carr Laurie and Bob Champion David and Katherine Cheek P. E. Christensen Donald and Donna Comstock Christopher L. Dallmus, Design Associates Patrick and Anne Dewez John and Marianne Ehinger Caroline and Doug Ellis Michael and June Elzay Michael and Ana Ericksen Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher Barbara J. Fife Mark and Lynn Filipski Anne Foley Nancy and Al Forster Robert and Penny Fox The Fremont-Smith Family 71
Gregory and Heather Garland Charles M. and Nancy A.Geschke Foundation Elliot and Barbara Gewirtz Thomas and Elisabeth Giovine Mr. and Mrs. Mark H. Gottwald Susan Zises Green Jeffrey and Kimberly Greenberg Edward and Susan Greenberg Benjamin and Wendy Griswold Elizabeth and Ray Grubbs Jeffrey and Patricia Haines Charles and Kaaren Hale Kathleen Hay, Kathleen Hay Designs Peter and Ann Holmes Barbara Jones Arthur and Diane Kelly Carol and Kenneth Kinsley Daniel Korengold and Martha Dippell Michael Kovner and Jean Doyen de Montaillou Anthony and Cynthia Lamport Edward and Joyce Lawrence Peter and Linda Lee Theodore and Lynn Leonsis Joanna Lewis David† and Perrin Lilly W. Curtis Livingston Sharon and Frank Lorenzo Carol and Dick Lowry Angus and Deborah MacLeod Seymour and Miriam Mandell G. Kelly and Elizabeth Martin Christian Masters Edward and Dorothy McCarthy Mrs. Rachel Mellon† Barbara Sachnoff Mendlowitz
Richard and Ronay Menschel Vincent and Rita Mignosa Michael and Annette Miller Robert and Laurie Monahan Winnie and Chris Mortenson Ann and Craig Muhlhauser Raymond and Pam Murphy Sharon and Dave Northrup Michael and Sally Orr Kathryn and Roger Penske Sam and Ellen Phelan James and Nancy Pierson Harry and Karen Pinson Charles and Martha Polachi William Porter Barbara Presta and Guy Bristow Joseph and Lisa Quattrocchi Marcia and Tom Richards Kennedy and Susan Richardson Jim Riesenbach Francis and Sharon Robinson David and Ellen Ross Susan Ruddick Bonnie Sacerdote Kathryn Salmanowitz Mark and Samantha Sandler Andrew and Denise Saul John and Ruth Sayer Ms. Laurie Melchior Scott Reverend Georgia A. Snell William and Maria Spears John and Valerie Stauffer Peter Steingraber Esta-Lee and Harris Stone Marie and John Sussek Merrielou and Ned Symes William and Peggy Tramposch James and Debra Treyz
Louise Evans Turner Wat and Jane Tyler Donald and Deborah Van Dyke E. Geoffrey and Elizabeth Verney Lynda Vickers-Smith Pam and Will Waller Suellen Ward and John Copenhaver Eileen Shields-West and Robin West Todd West Helmut and Caroline Weymar Henry K. Willard II David and Mary Wolff Suzanne and Bob Wright
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NPT would also like to thank the following businesses and organizations that have contributed to our programs and events over the past year. Addison Craig Artists for Humanity Barbara Ann Joyce, Great Point Properties Bartlett Farms Bernie Coffin, ’Sconset Real Estate Betsy Holden, Compass Rose Real Estate Black Eyed Susan’s Studio Dog Designs Brown Brothers Harriman Cape Air Cape Cod Five Chris Bonelli Designs Cisco Brewery Claire Sussek Congdon & Coleman Insurance Agency Cru Debra Ponte Design Associates Inc. Dreamland Theater English Trunk Show Epernay Wines Fare Isle First Congregational Church Fun Clowns N’ Co. Galley Beach Glenora Smith, Fabrics Greg Hinson, NantucketStock G. S. Hill Harpoon Brewery Jewelry by Sage Jewelry Kathleen Hay Designs Leggiadro L’etoile Restaurant Lydia Sussek, Corcoran Group Real Estate Marine Home Center Mark Hubbard, Architectural Renderings Melissa Dudley Designs Miacomet Golf Course Michael Kane Nantucket Garden Club 73
Nantucket Golf Club Nantucket Home Nantucket Hotel Nantucket Island Resorts Nantucket Land Bank Newport Restaurant Group Nantucket Historical Association Nina McLemore Ocean House OH! Spa Paul McCarthy Paulette Tavormina, Photography Peter Beaton R. Simantov Ralph Lauren reMain Nantucket RJ Miller Salon Sankaty Golf Sara Campbell ’Sconset Chapel Siasconset Beach Preservation Fund Scrub Oak Simonds Films SKAR Jewelry SPACE Starlight Theater & Café Surfing Hydrangea Susan Boardman Embroidered Narratives Susan Zises Green, Inc. T.H. Caretaking The Chanticleer The Westmoor Club The White Elephant The Winnetu Resort Trudy Dujardin Designs UPS Store Vanderbilt Gallery Verdura Jewelry William Welch Gallery
10th Anniversary
SUMMER KITCHEN TOUR Thursday, July 17, 2014 10 a.m. Ð 3 p.m.
JOIN US FOR A BBQ Hamburgers • Cheeseburgers Veggie Burgers • Hot Dogs Potato Salad •Chips • Brownies Nantucket Nectars • Bottled Water Tickets $50 Combo Ticket (BBQ plus Tour) $65 For tickets contact the NPT office at: 508-228-1387, or visit our Web site:
774-563-2009 - THcaretaking@gmail.com Nantucket, MA
www.nantucketpreservation.org
SCRUB OAK John Derian Matta Ace & Jig Lemlem Doug Johnston Tata Harper Isobel & Cleo Unusual Cards Unique Jewelry And Gifts for the Home 14 Easy Street Nantucket, MA 02554 tel: 508.228.2458 www.scruboakstore.com 74
D E S I G N ARCHITECTURE A S S O C I A T E S PLANNING H I S TO R I C P R E S E R VAT I O N I N C
1035 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02141
T 617.661.9082 F 617.661.2550
P.O. Box 1520 Nantucket, MA 02554
T 508.228.4342 F 508.228.3428
design-associates.com
Preserving a Historic neigHborHood www.sconsetbeach.org
Community Banking Since 1855
®
112 Pleasant Street AND
Zero Main Street Nantucket, MA Customer Service Center: 888-225-4636 www.capecodfive.com Member FDIC Member DIF
Restoration of the ’Sconset Post Office Building 2007 NPT Award
Bernie Coffin ~ Serving ’Sconset in the same location for over 45 years with Preservation and Professional service. Sales and Vacation Rentals berniec@sconsetrealestate.com • Cell: 508-560-2917 • Office: 508-257-6335 Post Office Square in ’Sconset Village • www.sconsetrealestate.com
Historic location—Modern cuisine Chanticleer Restaurant & Gardens NIR-JCH Ramblings ad:Layout 1 2/19/14 3:10 PM Page 1
Nantucket Island Resorts salutes the Nantucket Preservation Trust in their efforts to preserve the island’s treasures for generations to come.
this summer will be better than ever at Nantucket’s grand, historic downtown hotel Closetotothe thebeach. beach. 1-4 1–3bedroom bedroom suites suites Close andcottages. cottages.Home HomeofofThe TheNantucket Nantucket Club and Club featuringtwo twopools, pools,Children’s children’s program, featuring Program, tub, fitness facility. fitnesshot facility and yoga classes. Alfresco Alfrescodining diningat at Breeze Breeze Bar Bar & Café. Café. Open Openyear-round. year-round. 77 Easton Street, Downtown Nantucket, MA 02554 508.310.1734 866.807.6011 www.thenantuckethotel.com
Surfing Hydrangea Nursery exceptional plants• personal service preserving Nantucket Gardens year after year
508-228-6828 • 91 Somerset Road www.surfinghydrangea.com
Your link to Historic or Contemporary Nantucket Properties Barbara Ann Joyce Broker Sales & Rentals 508-228-2266 x122 508-221-8788 cell baj@greatpointproperties.com
LARGE INFLATABLES EQUIPMENT RENTALS SPECIALIST ENTERTAINERS AND MORE...
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Your portal to Nantucket’s Rich History
nha.org 508 228 1894
nantucket
HOME & RealEstateNews
PropertyListings
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Free in broker offices and on local newsstands, compliments of Nantucket Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) For advertising and editorial inquiries: William Ferrall, Editor 508-228-8535 wmferrall@gmail.com
Brown Brothers Harriman
Private Banking is pleased to sponsor the Nantucket Preservation Trust
Investment Advisory & Trust Corporate Lending M&A Advisory Private Equity www.bbh.com
Private Banking is committed to helping business owners and those with substantial wealth achieve their financial goals. We serve both corporate and private clients throughout the cycle of wealth creation, transition, and preservation. Our mission is to become a trusted advisor to our clients by leveraging our shared intellectual capital and reputation, offering objective advice, and putting client interests first.
Nichol MacManus, Managing Director 212.493.8122 or nichol.macmanus@bbh.com
PB_Nantucket Preservation Ad Final_365_14.indd 1
www.bbh.com
4/3/2014 11:31:37 AM
Who do you trust to create your dream space?
Credentials Matter
Captain Parker House, restored by Trudy Dujardin, ASID, LEED Accredited Professional +ID + C “Certified an Historic Preservation by the U.S. Department of the Interior�
508.228.1120 Nantucket, MA. | 203.838.8100 Westport, CT. | dujardindesign.com
susan zises green, inc. Antiques
Interior Design
Decoration
A HOME FOR ANY LOCATION
Nantucket 508 228 3160
New York 212 710 5388
www.susanzisesgreen.com
asid