Old House Network gets ready for great unveiling

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Old House Network is made up of people who walk by an old house covered in vinyl or aluminum siding and wonder what might be revealed if the siding came off.

They ask themselves, "Are there fish scale shingles in the gables or could there be a sunburst over the front door?"

Every few years the Old House Network gets together to strip the artificial siding off a house to reveal the original material underneath. They've found most of the time the original wooden siding is hiding under the “modern” material, protected from the elements for 50 or 75 years and waiting to be revealed and dressed up with a new coat of paint.

They also have found that sometimes trim is missing--removed to make the siding installation easier. And sometimes everything is there and the house only needs a good scrubbing and scraping before a new coat of paint goes on.

Previously, the Network team has unveiled houses on South Westnedge, Minor Street and Burr Oak, all in the Vine neighborhood.

At 914 South Westnedge, in 2007, it took 21 volunteers only 4 hours to strip green Insulwood siding from a turreted two and a half story house, and that included time for doughnut breaks and lunch from Martini’s Pizza, the group says.

In 2009, at 716 Minor, the Old House Network took on a house with a wrap-around porch and bay window. The volunteers found fish-scale shingles in all of the many gables. Nineteen people turned out to help, swinging crowbars and hammers, clambering up and down ladders and pulling nails for four-and-a-half hours.

The following year, almost two dozen people turned out to work at 305 Burr Oak, so many that they had to go out and get more pry bars. Four hours later a Classic Foursquare was revealed – with very unusual corner boards and only a little scroll work missing under the attic window.

This year, on May 3, the Network will host another Great Unveiling of a house on Elm Street – the first house in the historic Stuart neighborhood. The 2014 project house has been through a fire and three owners in four years.

The Old House Network is looking for volunteers to climb scaffolding and ladders and engage in a little positive demolition. The group will provide materials and tools, including safety gear as well as coffee and doughnuts in the morning and lunch. Partners for the Unveiling this year include Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission. This event is the kick off for Preservation Month 2014.

Volunteers can sign up for the Great Unveiling by calling the Old House Network at 269-720-0403 and leaving your name and phone number – or email at the Old House Network website.

Source: Sharon Ferraro, Old House Network