TWO TENANT HOUSES

We've been working to restore some of the historical structures on the farm.

They had been used for storage for many years and were in serious disrepair.

It's a slow and costly project but ,with the help of restoration carpenter, Joshua Jones,

we've got one of them near completion and the other stabilized.

Take a look at some of the "Before" photos and then check out our progress!!

            The "ROBINSON "House is believed to have been pieced together from two separate structures in the late 1800's. The back room is considerably older - maybe as early as pre-1800's. It was built with hand-hewn beams and put together with large wooden pegs that can still be seen through observation openings in the back. The front section originally had no ceiling and is board & batten construction using square, hand-made nails. The house was modified, probably several times over the years, but still retains it original three room shape and hand-made brick fireplace and chimney.  Tenant families who lived in this home were not share-croppers, but instead were paid a wage for their work.

Before:  The roof was damaged and the add-on porch had long ago disintegrated. Erosion and heavy storage had caused the foundation rock pillars to collapse. Portions of the windows had been boarded up and the house was in a general state of decline.  

Stages of repair:  The tin roof has been repaired and reattached to the chimney, and the chimney has been capped. The rock foundation pillars have been replaced using the original stone and secured. Soil has been added around the foundation and built up in front of the house to prevent erosion. Wildflowers and heritage shrubs have been planted.

Almost done: Vintage windows have replaced the modern ones that once filled the openings and the majority of the board and batten has been replaced. The remnants of the porch were removed because it is believed not to have been part of the original structure as used by the first tenants. Crabgrass has taken over the yard but hopefully the wildflowers will come out once the grass is cut back.