Recently completed, this project has involved the complete interior and exterior restoration of one of Springfield's most significant historic buildings. Owned by DevelopSpringfield, the house was transformed from a derelict eyesore into commercial office space over the span of three years.
In 2014 Historic Preservation Associates was selected to restore Emily Dickinson's bedroom at her former home in Amherst, now a house museum. Working with architects Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker, we carefully removed selected areas of trim, plaster, and flooring to determine the original configuration of the room during Emily's lifetime. Based on the Architect's plan, we removed non-original flooring to expose the original floorboards. A modern ceiling was removed, uncovering wallpaper fragments that were later reproduced and installed. Non-original baseboards were removed, and new baseboards were re-created (based on evidence found in the room) and installed. A reproduction mantelpiece was created to match the original. Doors were relocated to their original locations, and after a paint analysis, the room was painted in the same colors that were there during Emily's lifetime.
Trustees of Reservations
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
This project began in 2011 with the complete exterior restoration and painting of this historic house museum owned by the Trustees of Reservations. It has gone on to include the restoration of an historic garden fence and grape arbor designed in the 1920's by the noted landscape architect, Fletcher Steele.
The Berkshire Historical Society
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
This completed project involved the reconstruction of a c. 1870's porch and entryway based on an early photograph found in the Historic American Buildings Survey. Funded in part by the Massachusetts Preservation Projects fund and a Federal "Save America's Treasures" grant, this project intends to restore the house's appearance to that of Melville's residence there. Subsequent work included structural work, the complete exterior restoration of the house, a new cedar shingle roof, and the construction of three handicapped accessible bathrooms.
The Francis Wyman house was seriously damaged in a fire 15 years ago. Historic Preservation Associates was enlisted to restore its historic features to their original glory.
The Samuel Harrison Society
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Samuel Harrison was the chaplain for the Massachusetts 54th regiment, the African-American unit noted for its valor during the Civil War.
Our work here involved the complete interior and exterior restoration of this historic house, which opened as a house museum in June of 2013. Derelict when we started, the house is now completely restored. The scope of the work included foundation repair, structural work, a new cedar roof, clapboard repair and painting, new reproduction windows, replacement of all mechanical systems, repair and reproduction of interior trim and doors, plaster repair and new plaster over wood lath, the construction of custom cabinets, and interior paint and wallpaper.
