CPA 2014-2015-June 2018 final report (2).docxCPA Progress Report: Contract 235-15
Submitted by Historic Northampton to the Northampton CPC
June 20, 2018
TO: Brian Adams, Chairman of the Community Preservation Committee
Sarah LaValley and John Frey, Department of Planning & Sustainability, City of Northampton
FROM: Laurie Sanders & Betty Sharpe, Co-Directors
Date: June 22, 2018
Summary
The 2014-2015 CPA grant awarded to Historic Northampton addressed many of the most urgent
problems facing the organization’s three historic houses: the Damon House (1813), Parsons House
(1719), and Shepherd House (1796).
As we noted in last year’s report, most of the restoration and preservation tasks outlined in the 2014
grant have been addressed and the buildings and collections are now in much, much better condition.
Since submitting our last report, we continued to make improvements and spent the remaining funds
($45,989.13) on three main tasks: (1) installing new gutters and downspouts on the Parsons House; (2)
purchasing climate-monitoring devices and software for Damon and Parsons Houses; and (3) creating
museum-quality, professional storage by renovating the basement of the Damon Education Center.
Parsons House Gutters
In June 2017, we contracted with Northeast Paint to scrape, sand, prime and apply two finish coats to
both the Damon House and Parsons Houses. The Damon house had new gutters installed in 2016, but
the Parsons House gutters had not been replaced.
As part of the painting project, the crew removed the gutters from the Parsons House and painted all of
the wooden underpinnings.
After painting the house, Jim Flannery of Peak Performance and his crew installed all new gutters.
Several of the old gutters from the Parsons House were still quite serviceable and during Fall 2017 and
Spring 2018 Flannery used the best of them to replace the thoroughly rotted gutters on the 1805 barn. .
Climate-Monitoring Devices
During the last four decades, Historic Northampton has taken steps to monitor temperature and
humidity at the different houses, but as of 2016, none of it was working properly and all of it was
antiquated.
In spring 2017, we purchased eight climate dataloggers (3 with CPA funds) and a year’s subscription to
eClimate, a software program that tracks the temperature and relative humidity data on a weekly basis.
Our purchases followed the recommendations of Rick Kerschner, a climate-conditions specialist who
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CPA Progress Report: Contract 235-15
Submitted by Historic Northampton to the Northampton CPC
June 20, 2018
works with museums throughout the northeast. These units were installed in the Parsons House (2) and
Damon House (1 upstairs, 1 first floor-front room, 1 first floor-archives, 1 back basement, 1 front
basement, 1 Damon Education Center).
As data were came in during the last year, we made modifications and adjustments in order to improve
conditions and maintain appropriate temperatures and humidity levels based on museum standards. For
instance, using private funds from another grant and donations, we purchased five humidifiers to
maintain appropriate humidity levels during the winter in the Damon House.
We also had contractors add insulation to the walls of the back basement and with CPA funds from the
2015 grant, they double-wrapped the heating ducts in front and back basements of the Damon House;
this helped to reduce heat loss and lower temperatures. We also regulated heating vents to the first
second floors of Damon to try to achieve proper temperatures.
Damon Education Center—Professional Museum Storage
Our most significant accomplishment since our last report is the complete transformation of the
basement Damon Education Center--from a disorganized, moldy, unmonitored storage area into a
climate-monitored, climate-controlled, insulated, professional museum storage space. This project was a
top priority in our strategic plan (March 2017) and with CPA funds, we were able to make it happen.
One of the key elements was to have compact storage units, which would allow us to properly organize
thousands of items in the Museum’s collection. We developed different layout scenarios and requested
a bid from one company for new units. Their estimated cost, including installation, was $120,000. Based
on our resources, this was an impossible price tag. More than that, we realized we could significantly
reduce our costs and simultaneously meet another objective in our strategic plan---sustainability.
Working with a salvage company in California, we purchased pre-owned compact storage units that
were in “like new” condition. The cost: $17,000. With that order in the works, we hired a PhD student
from the UMASS history department to coordinate the packing, cleaning and moving of items from the
basement to temporary storage in the Parsons House.
Beginning in May 2017, she and her team of volunteers wrapped, boxed and moved to safe storage all of
the items in the highly disorganized basement. The empty wooden museum cabinets were offered to
other historical societies and were taken by societies in Granville and Plainfield.
With the space cleared, Douglas Thayer and his crew got to work. Over the next several months, they
transformed the space:
1.Insulating and sheetrocking the walls
2.Creating a utility room for the furnace and new oil tank
3.Properly sealing and painting of the floor (as per the climate-conditions consultant)
4.Installing 5 compact storage units
5.Installing a picture rail
6.Restoring and repainting bookshelves and secure shelving
7.Installing a new-to-us Santa Fe industrial dehumidifier
8.Installing a new railing
9.Creating an accessioning area and photography set
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CPA Progress Report: Contract 235-15
Submitted by Historic Northampton to the Northampton CPC
June 20, 2018
10.Painting of the stairs, walls & ceiling on the stairway
An electrician installed new LED lighting & additional outlets and National Grid provided some new LED
lighting.
In the fall, we hired part-time curator Kelsy Sinelnikov. She worked with volunteers and brought artifacts
back and organized the collection. To our delight, we showcased the new space at the museum’s holiday
party in December.
****
With the exception of $2.77, the expenses associated with these three projects—new gutters on
Parsons, climate-monitoring units & software, and the complete overhaul of the basement of the
Damon Education Center—consumed all of the funds remaining in this grant (Contract 235-15).
Final Comments Regarding Other Projects Discussed within the Contract 235-15
In our 2017 report, we identified several tasks that we planned to complete using the remaining funds.
Some of these were finished using other monies, while others were lower priority than the compact
storage units for our collections. What follows are quick descriptions of what our plans are related to
those tasks:
Damon House & Education Center
1.Install a proper cover to the sump pit. By working with Rick Kerschner, we realized that this
was a lower priority. We intend to create a cover in 2018.
2.Continue grading improvements to move water away from the building. We have had no
water in any of our basements since a new roof and gutters were installed. We are working
with various consultants about the reconstruction of the patio, which currently pitches
towards the building due to settling.
3.Install energy efficient lighting in 2nd floor rooms (front) and along terrace. We recently met
with an electrician to install lighting on the second floor of the Damon House. We are
working with an architect to redesign the terrace, which will remove the need for outdoor
lighting.
4.Remove slumping brick terrace. Rather than remove and reconstruct the failing brick
corridor along Damon Education Center, we are working with an architect to create a new
wall that will allow us to create much-needed storage and an expanded exhibit space.
5.Install 32 storm windows that were purchased in 2015. We have reviewed the double-hung,
exterior storm windows that were purchased and at this time, we do not plan to install them
because they are incompatible with the historical appearance of the building. In order to
protect the historic windows and improve our energy efficiency, we plan to find single-track
storms for the remaining windows in the building.
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CPA Progress Report: Contract 235-15
Submitted by Historic Northampton to the Northampton CPC
June 20, 2018
Parsons House
1.Continue grading improvements to move water away from the building. Using separate funds, a
contractor regraded the land behind the Parsons House where both archeological digs took
place. This area was loamed and the water is draining away from the back of the house. We plan
to regrade the front of the house in conjunction with work associated with the driveway.
2.Install 35 storm windows that were purchased in 2015. We plan to find single-track storm
windows. See note in #5 related to Damon House.
3.Install cellulose insulation and seam seal in attic spaces and cellar areas. Because we are
currently using the Parsons House for storage and keeping winter interior temperatures at 50
degrees F, our climate consultant recommended that we postpone this work until we intend to
re-open the building to the public. We do need to purchase air conditioners to help cool the
second floor spaces where artifacts are stored.
4.Address remaining interior finish work in mid-18th century kitchen. We are working with a local
architect on an architectural access report. Once this is completed and we have a schedule to
open the Parsons House to the public, we will address the interior finish work.
Shepherd House
1.Install 30 storm windows that were purchased in 2015. See Note #5 below Damon House.
2.Repair roof and replace failing gutters, including adding a chimney liner and copper cap. Jim
Flannery of Peak Performance completed some minor repairs that have addressed our
immediate roofing issues. We plan to continue to make improvements to the roof and chimney.
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