(April 14, 2006 – Weirs, NH) The Lake Winnipesaukee
Historical Society is pleased to announce a Winnipesaukee
Wednesday program entitled “Restoring an Historic
Barn,” the story of the Meredith Historical Society’s
Farm Museum renovation project presented by George Jewell.
The hour long program will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
April 26 at the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum in the Weirs.
Mr. Jewell will discuss the challenges of two major restoration
projects of the corner post and the roof rafter reinforcement
in this 1802 post and beam building. A PowerPoint presentation
will impress the audience with the work done to complete
these renovations.
Mr. Jewell will talk about maneuvering 300 pound beams
and the construction of a Gunstock Corner Post. “Putting
the rafter in was a balancing act!” stated Jewell,
explaining how a beam was brought 18’ off the ground
and through the roof with a crane and then carefully balanced
onto a dolly located on a cross rafter.
Although that sounds like a big feat in itself, Jewell
stated that the biggest challenge of the project was moving
the large granite slabs in the foundation. “The damages
were due to water leaks, so the first thing to address was
the foundation,” indicated Jewell. “Water is
what caused the problem and because water goes downhill,
it affects the foundation and loosens the underpinning.”
Although a gin pole is usually used, the granite was moved
with crow bars and jacks.
Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the
process also required additional coordination of review
and direction by the Register of Historic Places in Washington,
DC.
“The restoration was completed through the generous
donations of materials, money and time by local citizens
and area businesses,” stated Mr. Jewell, indicating
that about 700 hours of volunteer labor and about $14,000
worth of materials were donated.
George Jewell has been repairing timber frame buildings
as a hobby since he was a child. Growing up on a farm in
Vermont, he initially learned the trade from his father
who was a farmer and a carpenter. Now retired from a successful
career in accounting, Jewell remains active with his hobby
and is presently conducting a survey on barns in Meredith
as part of the efforts of the Barn Preservation Committee
to document such landmarks in the area.
The Meredith Historical Society’s Farm Museum is
a special landmark in Meredith and was once the oldest church
in Meredith. Built in 1802, the old Oak Hill Church, also
known as the Pottle Meeting House, was constructed for use
by the Freewill Baptist Church. Gifted to the historical
society in 1950, it was converted into a museum featuring
the four seasons of farming and shows how farm families
supported and sustained themselves during New Hampshire’s
early history. The Farm Museum is located on Winona Road
in Meredith and will open for the season on Memorial Day.
It is also available to groups and functions. For further
information about the Meredith Historical Society’s
Farm Museum, please call 279-1190.
Winnipesaukee Wednesdays is a lecture program free and
open to the public, sponsored by the Lake Winnipesaukee
Historical Society. Other upcoming programs are: "America's
Greatest Generation” presented by the Wright Museum
on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 p.m. and the “History
of the Weirs Water-Ski Club” presented by Dick Binette
on Wednesday, June 28. The NH Farm Museum will present a
Blacksmith demonstration on Saturday, June 3 from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
The Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society was established
to preserve and promote the history of Lake Winnipesaukee
and vicinity. The Lake Winnipesaukee Museum is open Monday
through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all year and is
located directly on Route 3 in the Weirs, just south of
Funspot. For further information, please contact 603-366-5776 or info@lwhs.us.
