Who thinks up names for paint? Earth Matters is the name of what we just call the brown paint on the building. It started at about 9:00 am on the last Friday of November and by 4:00 the Dad and the son-in-law, paint brushes in hand, had used one gallon of paint to give the front a new winter coat. What you are looking at is a almost completed facade. There is still crown molding to be made for the window tops, new (or new antique) doors to be hunted for, and a colored stain to be added to the window ledge. Oh, I guess the brick has to be cleaned off too, I see there is some cement splatter. Little by little and with each new detail, the front is taking shape. It will be getting colder and the snow is sure to pile up, so no new details till spring. The crown molding will be a crowning touch and there will be every attempt to salvage the old shop doors. For now they have a coat of Earth Matters as they wait for the spring thaw. Stay tuned!
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Big Foot Lives
Hallway floor
Office reception floor
Demolition tools
Ceramic
Kitchen Wallpaper
Old wall slats
You never know who will show up while in town, even people you know very very well all of a sudden turn up in town to fish
Renovation
A renovation tale of a 1916 building
131 1st Street North, Small Town USA
The first buzz Cut
Everyone seems to be curious about what is going on at the old barber shop. First, it's getting a buzz cut (torn apart) so it can get put back together. The building went up in 1916 and was intended to be a barber shop from the start. The upstairs is said to have originally been a doctor and dentist office. The last barber, Sylvester Seymour started shaving stubble (say that fast 4 times) and giving flat tops back in the '40s. Sy cut hair for 68 years. His wife passed away in 2009 and at 91 years old Sy went into the nursing home and died a year after his wife. He was still cutting hair up till a couple years before that. After having scissors in his hands for 68 of his 91 years he could probably cut hair blindfolded. Talk to anyone and they have a story about getting their hair cut by Sy. Did he cut many new little boys hair when he was in his 80's? A few, but he did continue to have regular customers who have been sitting in his chair for as long as they can remember. You can probably pick them out walking around town, they are the old guys with long hair now that Sy is no longer in business to trim them up. As for a close razor shave, he probably quit lathering faces in his 70's for safety reasons since shaving a face is more dangerous to do blindfolded.
The photo below was taken on 4/21/10, and clearly shows a visit to the barber shop by Big Foot and proves beyond a doubt the myth of Big Foot is true. The photo was not retouched and is in it's original state. Was this BF's first visit to the barber shop? Did BF regularly get haircuts here? Could improper camera exposure and poor lighting have played a part in the results of this photo? No one will ever know the answers to those questions, however BF left the building with an appreciation for how good it looks in these blog photos compared to in person.
Shadowy Figure Captured on Stairs
Big Foot Lives
For Rent ..... coming soon
People are already expressing interest in renting the upstairs apartment when it is done. Rent has not been set yet, and at this point a date for occupancy can't be pinned down. In the perfect world it would be ready by June 1st, but it is hard to say yet at this stage of the remodel, which is the slow part. Don't be looking for a bargain, if it's an average apartment you are looking for there are plenty of those to be had. Something a bit more upscale is coming to overlook the lake. In the meantime serious inquires should be sent to:
OldBarberShop@hotmail.com . Specify you are interested in the upstairs residential apartment, unless of course you are considering the commercial space, or heck, maybe you want to bring a business to the main floor and live upstairs - great idea!!!
OldBarberShop@hotmail.com . Specify you are interested in the upstairs residential apartment, unless of course you are considering the commercial space, or heck, maybe you want to bring a business to the main floor and live upstairs - great idea!!!
The Old Bench
If you ever sat and waited at the barber shop on the bench above, below is the clock that told you how long you sat there.
Surfaces
Below are the vintage surfaces that have been uncovered. The checkerboard flooring runs the length of the hallway. While dirty, they are in surprisingly good shape. It's true they don't make things like they used too. The brown filigree is the original in the living room, or what was probably the doctors office waiting room. The bathroom floor has small white tiles and the tools of demolition - an old broom, an axe and a thick heavy piece of re-bar that works great for pulling stuff out and smashing. The rest of the original wood floors were covered only by one layer of carpet, probably installed when the offices became a home. Last is the mosaic tiles at the foot of the stairway. The colors in these tiles are nice, and it will hopefully be preserved.
Hallway floor
Office reception floor
Demolition tools
Ceramic
It is unclear when the mod wallpaper below went up, it has that look of flower power so maybe the 60's? The fashionable colors at that time were avocado green and orange, both of which are found in the paper. Too bad this can't be salvaged. (Just kidding!)
Kitchen Wallpaper
Tearing it out
You never know what you will find once you start taking walls down in an old building. Nothing would be a surprise. Unfortunately rumors of hidden money were nothing more than that - rumor. Old wives tales and wishful thinking did not produce any found gold coins, they must be hidden in the building next door. It was agreed prior to closing on the building that any monies discovered would be turned over to the family. There is a jar collecting all the found cold hard cash, and it is not in danger of overflowing at this point. It is up to 13 cents. Cash or check?
Below is a view of the construction of the inside walls. The slats were needed so the plaster had something to adhere too. How would you have liked the monotonous job of nailing slat after slat on? There is at least one person renovating the building that is thrilled with the advent of drywall.
Below is a view of the construction of the inside walls. The slats were needed so the plaster had something to adhere too. How would you have liked the monotonous job of nailing slat after slat on? There is at least one person renovating the building that is thrilled with the advent of drywall.
Old wall slats
Lake Park Dock
You never know who will show up while in town, even people you know very very well all of a sudden turn up in town to fish
