Many of the people we've told about our purchase of the Caton House have expressed an interest in seeing the interior before we start working on it. So we're having an Open House (or Before Renovation Tour) on June 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We hope lots of folks will bring a friend or neighbor to see the house before we start our work.
We've met with the City inspectors to get an idea of what they'll require, and we're starting to put together the information we'll need to meet with the Historic Resources Commission. Brian is taking the bottom of the siding off in preparation for fixing the foundation problems. And they are many! First there are the rats - yes, rats!! They've been living under the house and in burrows under the blackberry bushes. We've set some traps, but eventually we may hire an exterminator. I've called several to ask questions about how they do it; we don't want to just poison the whole place! We're looking for an environmentally friendly solution which some of the companies offer. More on that when we get to that point. Brian also discovered that the 1941 addition just south of the carriage house has a foundation under only part of it. We can't figure out what's holding it up! There are apparently no headers above the windows or doors, but there are long turnbuckles stretched across the room in 2 places from wall to wall. Brian explained that they're holding the walls up. It's going to be a real challenge to restore that part I think!
I'm posting a photo that will give you an idea of the number of additions this place has had. Some of the dates are guesses but they should be close to the real date.
