*Indicates properties listed on the National Register
*Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester, Maine 2010-ongoing
PTF built new piers and a floor support system for the later portion of the Herb House, as well as installing new perimeter sills, floor joists and post feet in the earlier portion of the building. When carpenters were repairing the floor beneath the stairs, they removed a portion of wall that had been hiding former storage space which still held an old seed tray, a rare artifact. These discoveries are part of what makes preservation work rewarding. We are fortunate to work on buildings built by carpenters renowned for their craftsmanship. Contact Dan Boyle for information about this project.
2005 – Extensive structural repairs to the “Sisters Shop” including perimeter sills, undercarriage and posts. The brick foundation was re-laid and two brick and stone candy kettles were rebuilt to match the original configuration of these elements.
2000 – Structural repairs to earliest timber structure on campus. Post feet repairs, tie beam splices and some replacement in kind. Open barn pre-dates the Shaker community circa 1780
*Abyssinian Meetinghouse, Portland, Maine 2007-ongoing
A King Post Truss, repaired.
From Maine Preservation: “The c. 1826 Abyssinian Meeting House was built in response to the growing need of Portland’s African-American community. The third oldest Meeting House in the country (superseded only by Boston and Nantucket), the Abyssinian church offered a center of support and encouragement to the African-American community that promoted racial equality through antislavery activism. The building is one of the few in the Newbury Street neighborhood to survive the devastating Portland fire of 1866.”
In 2008, PTF began restoration and repair of the king-post truss system that allowed for the wide open plan of the sanctuary in its heyday. Many of the king-post trusses had been cut out when the building was converted into tenement apartments in the 1930s. The crew took great care to preserve what remained of the original material.
In 2010, we completed the phase including repair of the cornice, roof and basement. Preservation and restoration of the crown molding and full gable return required extensive research and documentation. We were fortunate to find a remnant of the original crown molding, which we were able to reproduce. In 2011, we are looking forward to completing the front facade. Check our blog for the latest updates on the project and see the Abyssinian Meetinghouse Restoration Project for many more photos. Contact Scott Lewis for more information about this project.
*American Independence Museum, Exeter, NH 2008-09
The interior restoration of an historic tavern including recreation of trim elements, painting and flooring repairs. The main house has begun a multi-year preservation effort beginning with structural repairs of the main house and connected ell sills. Extensive repairs to 7 dormers throughout the roof system and the preservation of the original front door pediment on an original wood clad brick treasury building. Contact Brian Cox for information about this project.
*Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts 2009
Repair and reinstallation of the Brown Pearl Hall and the Manning Room Frame within the new wing of the museum. Work included the careful restoration and repair of two timber frames removed from the museum four years prior. The Brown Pearl Hall was created in collaboration with museum staff and historic mason as an authentic first period room to eventually be furnished to represent that time period. The timber frame, historic fireplace and plaster walls and original wide pine flooring were repaired and set exactly as had been the original roof configuration. The Manning room was transformed to a freestanding timber frame within which period furniture and other sculpture would be placed. All work was documented extensively through photographs and careful measurement. Contact Arron Sturgis for information about this project.
2003 – De-installation of Somerset Room, a first period museum artifact.
Fogg Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 2008-2009
Removal and transport of Carved Ceiling Beams from the Hôtel Desbarres, Dijon, c. 1540. The carved oak beams are 30 ft long and 14″ by 14″. The beams were documented, lowered on staging from 25 feet in the air and into specially made crates to protect and store the historic fabric. These crates were then transported to long-term storage during museum renovation. The crates were 30 feet long and some weighed as much as 4200 pounds. Contact Arron Sturgis for information about this project.
From Gilman, Roger, Bulletin of the Fogg Art Museum, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Nov., 1934), pp. 10-15, “In the Fogg Museum the main architectural feature, after the central court, is the great ceiling in Warburg Hall. Its dark beams of oak, moulded and richly carved, with their heavy framework of cross beams, make a worthy setting for the Museum’s twelfth century capitals. It is known to have come from Dijon, out of an old building in the court of number 3 rue Jeannin, and it is apparently late Gothic in style…”
*Moffatt-Ladd Museum, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2008
Extensive structural repairs of the “Counting House” including sills, floor girts and timber framed elements in the front eave wall. Siding and Roofing removed and repaired in kind. Extensive structural repairs to “Back Ell” including the replacement of porch posts to more closely match the original configuration of the ell. Roof structure was repaired and new sheathing placed before installing a new white cedar shingle roof. Copper gutters were also installed to direct rain water for use in the gardens.
After completion of the restoration of Moffat Ladd counting house, PTF repaired an historic arched window for the mansion. The lites of the arch had been cut out of a single board, whose grain ran horizontally, meaning that some muntins were composed entirely of short grain. Some muntins were two-part, with the inside, molded profile applied to the outside, glazing bar, a detail found in some Georgian windows. Contact Arron Sturgis for more information.
1999 – 2004 – Extensive sill replacement on three story red pine timber frame structure. This museum required extensive girt, post and stud repairs along three sides. Continued structural repair of undercarriage. Provided technical assistance in on-going Historic Structures Report. Yearly maintenance, preservation planning and grant writing. This high style Georgian residence dates to 1762.
*Historic Harrisville: Mill Number One, Harrisville, New Hampshire 2006
Complete restoration of eight sided belfry and dome on stone mill building. The belfry framing was removed to the ground to allow its safe and comprehensive repair. The belfry bed timbers within the stone tower were replaced in kind and bolstered to support the weight of the belfry. The metal roof on the dome was scraped and painted. The exterior trim on the belfry was removed and repaired and stripped and re-painted and then re-applied to match the original trim configuration. A new copper soldered seam roof was installed over new sheathing boards applied to the original hip roof beams.
2004 – Structural timber repair of 59’ x 114’ stone mill building with 9” x 11” timber floor tie beams and king post trusses. 20 of 28 ties and trusses were repaired using Southern Yellow Pine beams to replace original second growth pine and hemlock.
*Warner House Museum, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2005
Carefully documented and removed portions of five dormers to allow for structural repair of roof and preparation for a new asphalt shingle roof. The dormers were re-built using as much original material as possible. Replacement parts were created in kind to match original fabric.
*Parson Capen House, Topsfield, Massachusetts 2004
Returned to the house museum to continue structural repairs of 17th century residence. Repaired second floor plates and tie beams in white oak to match original wood species. Provided oak vertically sawn clapboards to be installed by volunteers.
*Clark House, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire 2004
Complete structural restoration of historic cape house museum c. 1776. The building was raised up on cribbing to allow the rebuilding of the field stone foundation. In kind repairs were made to perimeter sills, undercarriage beams and perimeter posts and second floor tie beams.
Shirley-Eustis Carriage Barn, Brookline, Massachusetts 1999
Complete dismantling of Ingersoll-Gardner carriage barn in Brookline, Massachusetts. The frame was photo-documented, tagged and catalogued. All repairs to frame were done using traditional timber repair techniques matching the original fabric in both size and species. Epoxy repairs made where appropriate.
*Fogg Memorial Building Belfry Tower, Berwick Academy, South Berwick, ME
1998 – Removal of extensively damaged belfry tower from stone building. Re-created timber frame structure including bed timbers upon which the new tower sits. Careful dismantling, cataloguing, and stripping of southern yellow pine exterior trim details on all levels of the tower. Re-assembly of original trim onto new frame and comprehensive paint applications to all levels and all sides of the reconditioned trim. Installation of copper roof systems at all levels. Gold leaf applied to dome and the original bell installed on a new white oak bell frame.
1999 – Oakes House. Structural Repairs and architectural trim re-production and installation on historic residence circa 1860.
1998 – Hayes House. Structural repairs to early 19th century Federal home with a double perimeter sill. Post and girt repairs. Preservation of exterior and interior window architectural details.
This is a representative, and incomplete, list of all our barn work; please contact Arron Sturgis for more information
