(From The Marietta Times // by Erin E. O’Neill)
A state preservation clinic coming to The Castle on June 8 gives new meaning to the phrase, “is there a doctor in the house?”
The Ohio History Connection’s Building Doctors will be in Marietta to teach owners and trustees of older buildings how to recognize and deal with some common problems in maintaining older homes and buildings. The seminar scheduled for June 8 is free and requires advanced registration. It will touch on topics like peeling paint and failing plaster, wet basements, deteriorating masonry, windows, wood issues and bringing buildings built before 1955 up to date without sacrificing historic integrity.
The following day on June 9, 10 sites will be chosen from those who sign up by calling 800-499-2470 or visiting the website building-doctor.org. Early registration is required and someone from the home or facility must attend the seminar.
“I don’t think we’ve had the Building Doctors here before, which is surprising, but we’re really excited,”
– Kyle Yoho, education director at The Castle
In fact, the Building Doctors have been here many years ago, according to Nathan Bevil, community planning & preservation manager with Ohio History Connection, but he did not have the exact date. The effort is a collaborative one between The Castle, Marietta Main Street and Hidden Marietta Tour Company. Program funding is made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office. Each clinic is made possible by support from local cosponsors, as well.
“Main Street connected us through their historic preservation efforts in the community,” Yoho explained.
The buildings and grounds supervisor at The Castle might even learn a little bit about how to keep up with renovations and maintenance on the 162-year-old gothic mansion.
“Mostly they will be looking at how to firm up the windows and the doors, some of which are original and some which have been replaced to reflect the original style,” said Yoho. “They will talk a lot about roofs, masonry, doors and energy conservation and can even give recommendations of who can do the work.”
The clinic features Building Doctors Scott McIntosh and Richard Jarvis of the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office.
“There are about eight of us who go all around the state,” Bevil said. “They’re all qualified professionals who understand historic preservation.”
Other locations on the Building Doctors 2017 tour include Columbus, Mount Vernon, North Canton, Sandusky and Van Wert.
McIntosh holds a bachelors degree in history and a masters degree in historic preservation from the University of Kentucky. He reviews applications for the federal and state rehabilitation tax credits for the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office.
Jarvis, who also reviews applications for federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits for the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office, holds a masters degree in Conservation Studies from the University of York, a bachelors degree in Business Administration from High Point University and an associates degree in Architectural Technology from Guilford Technical Community College. He reviews applications for federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits.
What: The Building Doctors seminar.
When: 7 p.m. June 8.
Where: The Castle, 418 Fourth St., Marietta.
For information: 740-885-8194.
To register: 10 sites will be chosen for inspection on June 9; you must attend the seminar to be eligible and can sign up at 800-499-2470 or at building-doctor.org
Sponsors: Marietta Main Street, Hidden Marietta Tour Company, The Castle