INSIDE WHAT’S WHAT’S PAGE 3 PAGE Ways to Improve to Ways Energy Efficiency House Island House 5 PAGE Are: Who We Robinson Dave 6 PAGE Retaining Finishes Plaster 7 PAGE SPRING 2015, VOL. 40, NO. 1, FREE 1, NO. 40, VOL. 2015, SPRING Landmarks’ Old House Show Trade March 28 & 29 Holiday Inn by Portland. the Bay, 46 exhibitors, workshops and presentations. See the full program insert inside. The tradespeople and preservation experts at the Old House Trade Trade at the Old House experts and preservation The tradespeople it and make home, your enhance and improve can help you Show efficient. energy more Preservation Preservation and Renovation: Learn from the Expertsthe from Learn GREATER PORTLAND LANDMARKS, INC. LANDMARKS, PORTLAND GREATER our future our homes, neighborhoods, Permit No. 396 No. Permit Portland, ME 04101 ME Portland, P A I D I A P U. S. Postage S. U. Non Profit Org. Profit Non ❑ YES! I’d like to become a member 308 Foreside Road, Falmouth ME of Greater Portland Landmarks You’ll receive free admission to the Portland Observatory, the Landmarks Observer, discounts on all Landmarks merchandise and much more! Your membership supports historic preservation in greater Portland, including advocacy, education and preservation services. Name �������������������������������������������������������� BEFORE AFTER BEFORE AFTER Visit our booth on March 28-29 Address ������������������������������������������������������ Residential & Commercial Restoration, Renovation, Maintenance, Additions and New Construction. City ��������������������������� State�������� Zip ������������� Portland, Maine (207) 775-9085 www.CornerStoneBR.com Phone (home) ����������������� (work) ������������������������ Email��������������������������������������������������������� ❑ $40 Individual ❑ $60 Household ❑ $100 Lemuel Moody Membership RESURGENCE 677 Main Street, ENGINEERING AND PRESERVATION, INC. Westbrook Payment: ❑ Check enclosed ❑ Credit card (circle one) 207-887-9231 ALFRED H. HODSON III, P.E. 132 BRENTWOOD STREET VISA / MasterCard #����������������������������Exp. ������� PORTLAND, ME 04103 Specializing in window and door restoration & repair V/F (207) 773-4880 Make checks payable and mail to: www.bagalawindowworks.com [email protected] Greater Portland Landmarks WWW.RESURGENCEENGINEERING.COM 93 High St., Portland, Maine 04101 engineering assessments and structural design to preserve and renovate historic buildings and structures (207) 774-5561 n www.portlandlandmarks.org The Joys of a Vintage House PRESERVATION ike many mainers i live in a vintage house. I enjoy the term “vin- UPDATES tage” because it suggests that it is distinctive and has a history, and it does, as a building that just celebrated 100 years. To me, vintage conveys a special origin, along with a layering and acquisition of characteristics from its long experience Meet Patricia Long, Landmarks in the world. Part of the fun of being in a vintage house is discovering New Director of Development L Patricia Long recently joined Landmarks’ staff the bits and pieces that tell the story of that experience. In as Director of Development. She brings exten- my place it is the lincrusta wall coverings for each room sive experience in fundraising, having served as that replicate the fine wood paneling found in a more Director of Development for the Catholic Diocese of Portland, for the Catholic Foundation Maine, and elaborate house. For example, in the dining room the lin- for the Cedars Nursing Care Center. “I’ve always crusta includes a band of berries and acorns, suggesting the loved the historic character of Maine, and since I harvest – very appropriate for a dining room. I learned that live in a 150 year old farmhouse, I also appreciate at the Victoria Mansion, which carries that theme over the the pleasures and challenges of living in a vintage home. I’m looking forward to meeting all of the generous friends of Landmarks,” says Patricia. top. The dining room also has a nozzle from a long defunct gas lighting system. How interesting to have turned on the light from a valve next to the wall. Historic District Being Considered I also like the fact that there is a Craftsman style overlay for India Street to a basically Colonial Revival format – it shows a styli- HILARY BASSETT On January 20, 2015 the Portland stic transition between two eras that I particularly enjoy. Executive Director Planning Board recommended India Over the years a number of things have changed. There Street Sustainable Neighborhood are few additional doors that weren’t there in the beginning, the heating system is different, the Plan to the City Council, which cited historic preservation as a major paint colors reflect more contemporary tastes, and some of the woodwork that was originally policy component. The Historic dark brown is now painted white. I think there must have been a day servant who worked Preservation Board has begun to there because of the way the doors are organized, but I haven’t got the documents to prove it. consider the proposed Historic District, which is strongly supported There is no driveway or garage because there used to be a trolley running down the middle of by Landmarks. In March, there will CHURCH (1929) PETER’S CATHOLIC ST. the street. Just being there makes me think of the 100 years of social and architectural history be a workshop to consider the interface of the proposed district and new that a vintage house expresses. form-based zoning. For more information, including a history of the India While living in a vintage house can be rewarding, it comes with a unique set of challenges. All Street Neighborhood, visit www.portlandmaine.gov. For a link to CTN-5’s video of architectural historian Julie Larry’s presentation about the neigh- of us who live in older houses have war stories – a common one is the search for a mysterious borhood’s immigrant history, see www.portlandlandmarks.org. water leak. After a year of frustrating discoveries of water dripping down the wall, we finally discovered the source in the masonry, where the header of an upper floor window had been Abby Lumsden Enjoyed Giving Tours improperly installed. A bad repair had to be corrected with the help of an expert mason who Longtime Portland Observatory docent Abby was familiar with older buildings and had seen this many times before. More enjoyable experi- Lumsden passed away in February. “Abby ences included refinishing the hardwood floors, repairing damaged plaster walls and ceilings, or loved giving tours at the Observatory – she was my favorite, painting the place. The quality of these projects relied on a knowledgeable group always ready to share her knowledge, help with programs, and have fun, whether it be Flag Day, of expert tradespeople who are sensitive to the needs of a vintage house. I came to know many special tours, or docent gatherings. Even after of them – painters, plasterers, masons, carpenters, and others – at the Old House Trade Show. climbing the stairs became more difficult for Over my tenure, I have enjoyed repairing and revitalizing the historic features of my vintage her, she stayed involved. We will miss her!” said Jennifer Pollick, Manager of Education Programs. house while contributing new layers to its fascinating story. n EXECUTIVE STAFF COMMITTEE TRUSTEES ADVISORY TRUSTEES Hilary D. Bassett Thomas Elliman Jane Batzell Eric D. Altholz Stephen Foote Nancy V. Montgomery Lynn E. Shaffer Executive Director President Malcolm L. Collins Eleanor G. Ames Carol S. Goloff Jane Smith Moody Marjorie Shaw Christopher Closs Carol De Tine James Cram Richard Anderson Douglas Green Linda J. Murnik Alice Spencer Preservation First Vice President Ed Gardner Howard Arnold Dawn E. Hamilton Robert A. Nielsen, Jr. Mary Louise Sprague Services Advisor Francesca Galluccio-Steele Richard Gilbane Marc Bagala Charles Hall Ted O’Meara Seth Sprague Shawn Hunt Second Vice President Kate Griffith Ursula Baier Claire Hammen Pamela P. Plumb Tom Stoughton Office and Michael Mertaugh Nancy Ladd Guy W. Bertsch Tom S. Hanson Caroline Pratt Jos Van Mierlo Development Assistant Secretary/Clerk Julie Larry Joyce K. Bibber Cynthia Henriques Sally W. Rand Barbara Vestal Patricia Long Tom Dowd Candice Thornton Lee Victoria Bonebakker Edward Hobler Charles W. Redman III John C. Watson Director of Development Treasurer Sharon Miller Gregory W. Boulos John Reed Houghton William S. Richards Carol Wilson Jennifer Pollick Karyn Pellow Patrick Morin Jane Briggs John C. Knox Christopher N. Robinson Donald N. Zillman Manager of Member at Large Nick Morrill Barbara Webster Brown Stephen S. Kolkhorst Joan Ross Education Programs Nicholas Noyes Joan Burns Denis Lachman Susan C. Ruch Margaret Perkins Sally G. Oldham Noelle Lord Castle Keri D. Lord Joel B. Russ Office Coordinator Cordelia Pitman Portia Clark Victoria Loring John W. Ryan Paul Ainsworth David Robinson Robert E. Cleaves, IV Susan Lucas Gail S. Schwarzer Bookkeeper Harvey Rosenfeld Paula Craighead William A. Macleod Aurelia C. Scott Nate Stevens Elizabeth J. Dubois Mallory Kirk Marshall Jeffrey Selser Ruth Townsend Story Harland H. Eastman Nancy N. Masterton John C. Serrage The mission of Greater Portland Landmarks is to preserve and revitalize the architectural fabric, history, OBSERVER STAFF and character of Greater Portland—renewing our neighborhoods, spurring economic development, and keeping Hilary Bassett, Editor in Chief Portland one of the most livable cities in America. Daphne Howland, Editor The Landmarks Observer is published by Greater Portland Landmarks,