Neighbors cheer as award-winning preservationists assist restore the black sheep of the block to its unique magnificence. Over the previous a number of a long time, the historic Curtis-Foster Home, situated on North sixth Road in Wilmington North Carolina, has fallen into vital disrepair and was an eyesore on a road of historic houses. This got here to a halt in late 2005 when Osprey Holdings LLC purchased the property, ending its tenure as an unauthorized, low-rent boarding home and started to revive the property to its unique grandeur.
110 North sixth Road, named the Curtis-Foster Home after its unique homeowners, was constructed circa 1865 for George Curtis and his spouse, Melvina Ann Medley. The couple married on November 23 1849 and had three youngsters, certainly one of whom, Katie, died from measles age six February 2, 1869. Curtis died a 12 months later, leaving his spouse to take care of the house till 1881 when she leased the property to Gertrude Foster for 5 a month (in at this time’s market, a home of this sort might hire for over $1000 a month!).
Tim O’Callaghan of Osprey Holdings LLC started work on the 5000 sq. foot residence final summer season. His first step was to take a sledge hammer to the partitions searching for asbestos, a hazardous materials used for insulation up till the 1980s. To his reduction, O’Callaghan discovered solely cedar lap siding, an indication of stable development.
Patching and coating the unique tin roof with Hydro Cease to stop leaks was subsequent, adopted by restoring the home windows. To re-tie, re-weight, scrape, clear, and prime only one window is a full-day mission. Nonetheless on the record: refinishing the unique hardwood flooring and cherry banister.
“Probably the most thrilling step is restoring the flooring,” mentioned O’Callaghan. “The whole room will mirror off them.”
Although not but full, renovation of the Curtis-Foster Home has already had an influence on neighbors’ consolation and the salability of the world. Since March 2006, 4 houses on the block offered for a mean of $197 per sq. foot, an enormous improve in exercise and worth for the reason that years earlier than. The Curtis-Foster home will be a part of the number of Wilmington historic houses on the market within the late spring.