[MassHistPres] 1730 Cape threatened in Sandwich - looking for buyer

[Tristram Metcalfe 3]

Even a naked timber frame is of great value to an interior when rebuilding a near replica house with all new high efficiency enclosure detailing so when it’s done it can look nearly identical to its early days. We know later early houses covered the wood frames with trim boards and plaster but exposing them adds real charm and it relates to the earliest enclosures before covering.

We saved a very rough crumbling foundation and compromised old house next door to the oldest in Northampton (Parsons house at Historic Northampton). Bill Flynt from Historic Deerfield did heroic dendrochronology finding the timber with many ages going back to very early 1700s. It was built and added on to twice then cut in half on a lot deeded in 1699 by the founder of Northampton but its precise age due to the typical recycling of valuable labor intense timbers makes it unclear.

The point on that Sandwich house is that there is lot of history buried under renovations including the unattached in artifacts, letters, clippings, tools, plaques etc that filled two glass cases. Fortunately it is easier to cover over vs demolish and replace even if protruding elements do get broken off, so hope for the best in demolition and marketing that old gem’s resale.

Tris Metcalfe
Architect in Northampton

On Jan 23, 2019, at 1:27 PM, Roughan, Michael <Michael.Roughan at hdrinc.com<mailto:Michael.Roughan at hdrinc.com>> wrote:

Amanda,

Hopkinton had the same opinion of the 18th century “Toll House” that was demolished after a demo delay. The house appeared to have lost most of its character.
However, as it was being demolished it exposed its bones of fine pegged mortise and tenon timber framing To this day, my biggest regret as Chairman of the HHC is that I did not do more to protect a historically significant structure. Don’t make the same mistake in Sandwich.

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….Mike

Michael Roughan, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP, ACHA
Chairman - Hopkinton Historical Commission

Town of Hopkinton
18 Main Street
Hopkinton, MA 01748

D 617.357.7725 M 617.784.6463


From: MassHistPres [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Amanda Haines
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 11:42 AM
To: Sarah Korjeff <skorjeff at capecodcommission.org<mailto:skorjeff at capecodcommission.org>>; Diane Gilbert <d.m.gilbert at comcast.net<mailto:d.m.gilbert at comcast.net>>
Cc: MHC list <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] 1730 Cape threatened in Sandwich - looking for buyer

Hi all.  At least two of us on the Sandwich Historic Commission have toured this house (both of us are realtors), and I believe that the real estate agent also invited the Historic District Committee to take a look. Although I certainly defer to Sarah, the house is in terrible condition and thoroughly muddled on the inside.  Although we always hate to say "no" to saving any historic home, the interior appears to have been stripped of most, if not all, period details with the exception of some flooring and doors.  It is now at a point where it is prohibitively expensive to restore and again, I struggled to find much that could be saved even if a buyer had the very deep pockets that would be required. Sorry to be the bearer of such sad news.
Amanda Haines
Sandwich Historic Commission
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/ghei36>

________________________________
From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>> on behalf of Diane Gilbert <d.m.gilbert at comcast.net<mailto:d.m.gilbert at comcast.net>>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 10:46:04 AM
To: Sarah Korjeff
Cc: MHC list
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] 1730 Cape threatened in Sandwich - looking for buyer

Hi Sarah,

WOW!  I would love to see this house. Any chance that we preservation-minded fanatics can tour this house?  I’m wondering how close it resembles our 1762 Akin House in Dartmouth.  It’s earlier but time and renovations on these early houses don’t stand still, frozen in time.

Diane
President, Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, Inc.
(508) 965-7265
www.dhpt.org<http://www.dhpt.org/>


On Jan 22, 2019, at 3:14 PM, Sarah Korjeff <skorjeff at capecodcommission.org<mailto:skorjeff at capecodcommission.org>> wrote:

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Threatened circa 1730 full Cape in the town of Sandwich --
This property is located at 25 Water Street within the Sandwich Old Kings Highway Historic District and a National Register Historic District, but it is threatened after being for sale for years without a buyer.  The house retains most of its original interior woodwork and detailing, though some is buried underneath 20th century renovations.  If you know anyone interested in restoring one of our few remaining 18th century Capes in a great location on a large lot with plenty of room for new additions or outbuildings, please contact real estate agent Greg Donahue, 508-942-6416 or Historic District Committee Chair Bill Collins at brisa at dslextreme.com<mailto:brisa at dslextreme.com>.

Sarah

Sarah Korjeff
Historic Preservation Specialist/Planner
Cape Cod Commission
3225 Main Street/P.O. Box 226
Barnstable, MA  02630
508-362-3828 (front desk)
508-744-1215 (direct)
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