Wednesday, January 25, 2012

House Raising

In the last few years two historic homes on Howard Street have changed hands. The good news is that they are both being restored.

A few days ago I had an opportunity to look inside the Irving & Elsie Garrish house which is now owned by Bob & Kathy Phillips. Tom Pahl and his crew have done a wonderful job repairing, repainting, and restoring the interior, rebuilding the front porch, and returning the exterior to its original clapboard siding.

The other old house I call "Uncle Stanley's." In the 1950s my grandmother's brother, Stanley O'Neal, lived there. (In the book, "Ocracoke Walking Tour," you can see a photo of me sitting between Uncle Stanley and my Uncle Marvin on the front porch.) John and Elizabeth Rinaldi, the new owners, are committed to maintaing this historic home, which was built ca. 1883. Last weekend they were on the island to watch as a crew from Washington, NC raised the house to help protect it from storm tides.

Below are a few photos Lou Ann took during the house raising.




Historic Marker on the Porch






Cribbing under the Addition

Orphaned Steps


Preparing to Raise the Main House


Chimney Foundation with Oyster Shells Imbedded in Mortar

Almost There




The New Look


12 comments:

  1. debbie s.8:43 AM

    Always so fascinating to see house movings/ raisings/ etc. And glad to see them protecting and renovating the homes instead of razing them to build new.

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  2. Anonymous9:15 AM

    Philip--
    I've noticed a historic (?) house on Lighthouse Road, just past Live Oak Road (opposite the church)for sale by, I think, the Historic Society for 2-3 years now. Any idea if that one will be restored as well?
    Thanks

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  3. Anonymous10:25 AM

    this is a great time to buy a house interest rates are at historic lows--NPR had a story about the electronic registration of mortgages and how easily loans changed hands , bundled --and how these efforts are not recorded in the office where the property is located ---long and short of it from vanity fair magazine which ran the story -- legal issues tie up MERS -- it made the mess happen fast it makes the solution happen slow should be an eye opening read--how many doc fees were avoid to counties that need the money for infrastructure

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  4. Anonymous10:44 AM

    huh??

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  5. Anon 9:15 -- The historic house on Lighthouse Road was purchased by the Ocracoke Preservation Society with money from a bequest. It is being offered for sale with covenants attached so that it will be restored.

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  6. Anonymous12:58 PM

    I'm with you anon.10:44.

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  7. Anonymous1:56 PM

    Google Mortgage electronic registration services inc turn your huh into OMG

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  8. Anonymous4:46 PM

    What the .....?

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  9. Anonymous5:07 AM

    We loved renting "Uncle Stanley's"/Gaskins O'Neal house last October. Very happy to see it raised; when we were there end of October, a heavy, all night rain created a lake under the back half of the house. Thought the kayaks stashed out back might come in handy! Hope the new owners will continue to share this beautiful home.

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  10. Anonymous5:30 PM

    Please tell me Uncle Stanley isn't the character who wrecked Merrill-Lynch.

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  11. Anon 5:30 -- No fear of that. Uncle Stanley never had any wealth to manage!

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  12. I agree that Tom Pahl and his crew did a great job repairing and restoring this old home. From the pictures you have posted, it looks incredible! I'm glad the house raising went well and is still continuing to go great! http://jhconstruction.com.au/

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