Somerville Old House Organization

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29937221634868583642011-11-27T19:15:44.996-05:00Somerville Old House OrganizationSomerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.comBlogger121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-25865426266884268902007-03-09T12:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:46:06.590-05:00Somerville houses: Joseph Q. Twombly House

Circa 1850's Greek Revival/Italianate Style Joseph Q. Twombly home 1859-1915, built for John Dugan Before (1994)Asbestos siding,Original trim boards removed to put up asbestos sidingRotted Porch (built early 1900s to replace what was most likely a bracketed entry)Inappropriate wrought metal used on porch After (1997)New clapboard siding specially milled to duplicate

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-29298472732393957732007-03-03T12:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:40:33.196-05:00Somerville houses: Robinson's Round House

Architect: Enoch Robinson Year built: 1856 Location: 36 Atherton Street The Enoch Robinson Round House in Somerville is quite possibly one of the most unique houses in all of Somerville. Sadly, the restoration attempts that were undertaken in the 1970's were never completed. According to Historic Massachusetts, as of August 1999 the HMPD negotiations with the owner regarding renovations,

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-49474874656005816512007-03-01T12:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:27:02.070-05:00Top Reasons for Saving your Old Windows

Top Reasons for Saving your Old WindowsSOHO Helps You Care For Your Old HouseThe popularity of replacement windows is more a function of clever marketing than substantial benefit to the homeowner. Here is some food for thought as to why your old windows are worth saving.Window replacement is not a way to save a lot of money on heating or cooling costs. Research shows that old windows can be made

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-37502973343703298802007-02-05T12:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:34:46.243-05:00Tips for Hiring a Contractor

Home Improvement Contractor LawBe aware of this Massachusetts state law, which is intended to provide protection to homeowners and a fair system for resolving disputes between homeowners and contractors. For detailed information, contact the Executive Office of Consumer Affairs (EOCA) at (617) 727-7780.Registration NumberMake sure your contractor or subcontractor is registered with the state.

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-33849966141042690372007-02-03T15:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:15:41.916-05:00Somerville Old House Organization Mission

SOHO Helps You Care For Your Old HouseSOHO encourages and fosters the repair, maintenance, and preservation of Somerville�s older homes through education, advocacy, and support, emphasizing respect and sensitivity towards historic and/or character defining features. We value our architectural heritage and believe that a community dedicated to this endeavor will increase both respect for and pride

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-33327323813444786252007-02-01T15:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:13:51.487-05:00SOHO is an active community of old home enthusiasts who exchange practical information, experiences, and ideas on restoration/renovation.

SOHO Helps You Care For Your Old House SOHO ActivitiesMaintain a referral list of preservation-minded contractors and workersEducate others by sharing experiences about our own housesHost workshops offering practical adviceCreate web site and member resource list to disseminate info on preservation resources, methods, first-hand experience, etc.Support the City�s preservation efforts and

Here are just a few things you can do this fall season to protect your old house before the winter sets in. Touch up painting. It is easy to keep putting this off, but waiting until you have a painter come out to paint the whole house can be costly. Some possible problems caused by not touching up the paint on your house are water damage and rot, which could lead to the replacement of the wood.

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-88672078597904913822007-01-07T12:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:31:06.898-05:00Open letter to Office of Housing and Community Development for "Release of funds for lead-based paint hazard control in privately owned housing grant"

Lead-based paint removal on homes prior to 1940 should be done with utmost care to respect the architectural integrity of the property by preserving all existing wood casings, doors, floors, moldings, windows, plaster and other features of the building that help give the home character. The city of Somerville has continually removed architectural features and replaced them with cheaper building

Who should become a member? SOHO is open to any old house enthusiast (homeownership not required) who admires and appreciates the architecture of Somerville's old homes. Anyone who would like to learn more about properly maintaining the character of their old home or encourage others to do the same. Why should I become a member? In general, this is a great way to network with other

A city and its residents who think of its homes as "just old" risk losing the true intrinsic value and unique characteristics that they bring to Somerville. It's easy to write them off and justify demolition because they are "just old." My old house had asbestos siding - the vinyl-siding equivalent of the 1960s - a rotted front porch with no remaining details and a collapsing foundation. A quick

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-20351707732712463842007-01-02T02:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:17:02.373-05:00Greetings from the SOHO Founder

Although I have always lived in Somerville, it wasn't until my late 20s that I gained an appreciation for its old homes. I can't say what specifically influenced me, but like any passion, once it got under my skin there was no letting go. The concept for SOHO came about after I undertook "sensitive rehabilitation" to an 1850s farmhouse. I wanted to do what was right for the style of my home.

Somerville Old House Organizationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00506591840068360848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2993722163486858364.post-21866815957593857232007-01-01T15:00:00.000-05:002007-03-19T22:07:06.511-05:00Somerville - Two Golden Restoration Rules to Honor A City of Homes

The majority of Somerville's houses were built prior to 1940. Most of these homes have some form of architectural interest, not necessarily in the manner of grand Victorian styles and elaborate detail, but in craftsmanship that is no longer used in most of today's developments and in materials and labor which would cost significantly to replace. They are homes that were lived in by working-class

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