Preservation Partnersof the Fox Valley

S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

Extreme Makeover 2010

After 80 years, the dilapidated Tudor Cottage at 405 S. First

Street in Geneva was a case study in benign neglect. On the good news side of the ledger, no one had ripped out any of the significant original features: the sturdy windows, Juliet balcony, massive fireplace, and handsome front door were still intact, though urgently in need of TLC. On the negative side, the south wall was weakened by age and water damage and would need to be replaced, along with the windows on that elevation. And the home was functionally obsolete, with little appeal to 21st century home-buyers.

Located in the heart of Geneva’s residential Historic District, the potential of this charming c. 1930 structure won the hearts – and minds- of Ernie Mahaffey & Sheila Penrose, who had the vision, and the resources, to tackle such a challenging project. They purchased it in August 2009, after 13 dumpsters of contents were re-moved from the premises.

Old houses are the fabric of our community in Geneva. I live in one myself. But I am intrigued by the idea of making them more energy efficient. We need someone to start a conversation about what we are going to do with all of these drafty old houses. ~ E. Mahaffey

Ernie and Sheila’s original intention was to explore the feasibility of converting the cottage to a One Watt home, drastically reducing its carbon footprint while retaining – even celebrating – its design integrity. Ernie reached out to Preservation Partners early in the project, encouraging us to observe all aspects of the renovation; very quickly he decided to expand our role, and offered us the terrific opportunity to use the home as a case study in marrying “green design” with functional upgrades. “We knew the house was in terrible shape and we needed to tear out the walls anyway, so wouldn’t this be the perfect place to explore issues like additional insulation and other sustainability improvements?” ~ E. Mahaffey

The photos documenting the evolution of 405 S. First Street were taken by Karla Kaulfuss, preservation planner for the City of Geneva.

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February 2010 Preservation Partners organized the first open house, inviting staff & members of preservation commissions in the Tri-Cities, along with local “green-minded” citizens who were intrigued by the One Watt concept. The audi-ence at this initial session sat on folding chairs in a (drafty!) room stripped down to the studs. Marko Spiegel outlined the challenge of retrofitting the technology into an historic home with relatively small rooms; to achieve

maximum energy efficiency with this plan, the origi-nal wood windows would be replaced with a very high end product from Canada.

Also on hand February 11 were key members of the restoration team: Tom Bassett-Dilley, an Oak Park architect, introduced his plans for an addition to the east and south that would double the home’s square footage, while incorporating energy-saving initia-tives.

Tad Hemmings, a local builder with super old-house credentials, showed samples of the proposed re-placement windows from the Loewen Company.

Also on hand were Anthony Rubano, from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, and Karla Kaulfuss, Geneva’s preservation planner: both expressed concern about the replacement of the original windows, from an aesthetic and an energy-saving viewpoint. Kaulfuss summed up the concerns of many preservationists in the audience: Preservationists are green at heart because we are all about the repair of existing features instead of throwing them away and replacing them.

August 2010By the second open house, the original goal of installing a One Watt House was replaced with a more conserva-tive plan for maximum sustainability while retaining the original windows. Some practical concerns prevailed, including the issue of economy of scale. The insulation required for achieving the One-Watt goal would have reduced the footprint of the older rooms and im-pacted the economic feasibility of the project.

In addition, Anthony Rubano advised the hom-eowners that they were eligible for the Illinois Tax Assessment Freeze program, a considerable perk for those who undertake a major renovation under the supervision of the IHPA. Keeping the old win-dows was a requirement!

Still deeply committed to the “green” approach, Ernie & Sheila hired Tony Botkin to conduct an energy audit of the site in the “before” phase. Bot-kin was a key presenter in August, outlining, with the builder and architect, how the original rooms

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would be insulated, and how the rehabbed windows would be backed up with compatible storms.

Architect Bassett-Dilley showed revisions in the blueprints for the addition, and discussed the type of LOW-E window to be installed.

November 2010In early fall, the Old House Journal indicated a strong inter-est in highlighting this project in a summer 2011 issue. While many phases of the work had been carefully documented, the re-construction of the south wall by expert mason Steve Patzer had not been recorded. On a mild November afternoon, Patzer demonstrated the unique “weeping mortar” technique he used on the south elevation, carefully replicating the original design of the brick veneer accented with quarry stones. When the weakened south wall was dismantled in July, the bricks were saved to be used in the re-construction – a labor of love indeed, and a terrific ex-ample of recycling rare in the 21st Century.

February 2011On February 4th, Ernie organized a final open house to showcase the almost-finished residence and to give Harry Sawyers from OHJ an opportunity to view the project and interview the key players, from construction manager to energy auditor. The refinished floor sparkled, the Juliet balcony was illuminated with the glowing star globe, and the re-constructed front door beckoned visitors.

ConclusionSharing the evolution of this project has been a gratifying experi-ence for Preservation Partners and a perfect example of how we depend on “partners” to maximize our outreach capability. Ernie Mahaffey and Sheila Penrose, of course, were the key partners whose commitment to 405 S. First Street made this case-study pos-sible. We also teamed up with the staff at Geneva and St. Charles HPCs, who recruited their Commissioners to observe the work in progress. This is one of those rare projects - like the Viking Ship at Good Templar Park - where in the space of twelve months we can witness amazing progress with a significant structure. (Editors note: unlike our experience with the installation of climate con-trol at the Fabyan Villa which has seen a decade go by with little substantive gain.)

Steve Patzer ~ Master Mason

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Q&A Meet the Board of Preservation Partners

At the December Star Dinner, when we introduced our Board members, it struck us that every one of them resides in a significant historic home -- representing great diversity in Architectural style and date of construction. Our next two Newsletters will profile our devoted Board as well as the houses they

take care of.

Pat Pretz • 214 Chestnut Ave • St. Charles Historic District • Circa 1883 ~ National style

Did your home start life as a house?Our house was actually a barn used by George Ferson for his grain and feed store on the east side of town. Around the turn of the (20th) century, it was moved by his daughter, Emma Satterlee, to its present location and converted into a residence.

Describe a major challenge in your recent renovation?We had to remove the exisiting aluminum siding and replace some of the underlying wood siding. Surprise – when the siding was removed from the dormer windows, it revealed “fish scales” in perfect shape.

What do you value about PPFV that might appeal to a new resident of the Tri-Cities?Preservation Partners offers wonderful opportunities to learn about the hid-den gems in our community.

Please cite one of your favorite local landmarks.Hard to narrow down, but I love Harold Zook’s c. 1940 Municipal Building in St. Charles, a striking example of Art Moderne.

Any fantasies about the future of PPFV?Perhaps in the future our fabulous Treasures of the Tri-Cities events will be sold out in a week!

Donelle Duvall • 315 S. Fifth Street • Geneva Historic District • c. 1865 Italianate

Share a little known historic fact about your home.It was a “Woman’s Hotel” in the early years. (Editor: some local research indicates that in the 50’s and 60’s, the very elegant home was “subdivided” into five apartments, with some families and perhaps single women as occupants.)

What very significant aspect of your home is not visible from the street?The high style front façade faced the east, or center of the block, in 1865. At that time, the home occupied the whole block and a carriage drive came to the front door.

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What recurring challenges do you face in maintaining your home?Our porches - the harsh weather requires frequent painting of their elaborate wood trim.

Is there a significant Tri-City Building whose fate worries you?On a small scale, the stone Grotto on the County Government property, and on a grand scale, the very significant Campana Building.

Where would you like to see PPFV in ten years?I would like us to have more visibility to the public; also hope that PPFV could access more state or federal funds.

Adam Gibbons • 33W777 Hill Drive, Geneva (NW corner of Hill & Kirk Road) • Queen Anne Cottage with Italianate Bays

Can you explain the age of your house?Our home is really a “work in progress” -The oldest part is 173 years, with other parts sections built in 1843, 1865, and 1868. The interior was modi-fied in 1881, and more exterior work was done in 1911.

Any intriguing architectural features?We have hand-hewn sill beams made from white oak (8” x 8”) and our old-est joists are called “rounds” - simply tree trunks flattened on top, used only in home construction in the earliest years of settlement, typically pre-1840.

Natural disasters?Our home has survived at least three fires – you can still see the blackened timbers from the 1936 fire in the attic; one tornado passed within a quarter mile of the Snow Farm!

What do you bring to the Board of PPFV?I bring a passion for history, I have been a history teacher for 12 years, as well as a love for architecture and genealogy. I’m devoted to preserving our community’s early structures, as I’ve seen what can happen (for ex-ample, in my home town, Amherst NY) when a community neglects its architectural heritage.

Do you stay awake at night worrying about the fate of any Tri-City structures?My most pressing worry right now is for the Middaugh-Stoakes House and the Hendrick Miller House next door #130 and 122 East State Street, Geneva. They have been vacant for some time, and they are not located in an historic district, which would afford some protection. Every day that passes sees them fall further into ruin.

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Happenings at the Fabyan Villa and GardenRenewed façadeThe squeaky wheel—gets the paint? Well, that’s what we were after! As preservation-minded stewards, we have pointed out to Forest Preserve staff over the last two years the need for repainting of the Villa’s exterior, to be expected on a 100 year old clapboard structure. This year funds were allocated and work began in early October and finished in late November (thank goodness for fair fall weather!)… the Villa received a thorough repainting, window frames to eave tips. A bonus—the storm door received its own facelift—recaulking of the 20 panes and revarnishing of the oak surface.

Exciting preservation opportunity Long-term preservation of the Fabyan Villa will be dependent on resolving the urgent need for a modern HVAC system at the museum, so we are continually looking for funding opportunities to address this need. In May 2010 the state announced that funding for the Illinois Public Museums Capital Grants program was available (for the first time since 2003!), which prompted our quick revival of the 2004 proposal for a Villa heating and cooling system. We assisted the Forest Preserve District in submitting the proposal for a geo-thermal HVAC system. In October we were notified that the Forest Preserve was awarded $100,000 towards project! This is a door-opening grant, providing the jump-start to pursue other grants to fund the remainder of project costs, as this grant covers less than half of the total project cost. This project is essential for both preservation and educa-tion, both major aspects of our mission, as it will stop deterioration due to severe fluctuations in temperature and humidity and allow the museum to be open potentially year round.

Japanese Garden Winter WalksThis year we planned four opportunities for a guid-ed walk to take in the winter beauty and wonders of the Japanese Garden. The first date provided excel-lent conditions—a few inches of snow cover and a decent temperature—for the 28 attendees. Knowl-edge of our garden gem is spreading—people from Evanston to Bartlett to Aurora were in attendance! We hope weather conditions will be conducive for tours scheduled on February 19th & 21st.

Volunteers neededMore begets more…need! As the public’s aware-ness of the Japanese Garden grows, our aware-ness of the need to be open more often has be-come acute! We are making plans to open the Garden on Thursdays this year in addition to Wednesdays and Sundays. This means we need more volunteers who enjoy being outdoors, in-teracting with people, sharing this historic and cultural treasure. A Japanese Garden Greeter is a wonderfully easy and enjoyable volunteer opportunity - and we provide the basic training. Won’t you consider donating some time this year to help us share the Fabyan Japanese Garden with the community? If you are interested, please call Lynn at 630-377-6424.

A moment in the Tea Ceremony that took place during the Japanese Garden Centennial Celebra-tion on September 12, 2010.

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Japanese Garden CentennialThe season-long commemoration of the Fabyan Japanese Garden’s 100th anniversary culminated in a Centen-nial Day Celebration on Sunday September 12th with two very special Japanese cultural events, photograph and floral displays and guided tours. It was a very full day, and blessed with excellent weather. Joyce Kubose, a second generation tea master, led two Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstrations in the Garden ‘wedding circle’ against the serene backdrop of the iconic moon bridge, lantern and waterfall. Guided tours led by expert do-cents and Geneva Garden Club members encompassed featured historic photographs carefully placed for a then and now view, as well as a stop at the tea house to view Ikebana created by Geneva Garden Club member Nancy Hollmeier. The celebration concluded with a koto recital by the Spring Valley Koto Ensemble in the same location as the tea ceremonies.Treasures of the Tri-CitiesThis year’s focus was on Arts and Crafts architectural design in the tri-cities. The Treasures event premiered with a lecture by Rolf Achilles of the Art Institute school on the distinctive design of Arts and Crafts. Six homes were featured on our annual Saturday site tour, of which at least four were built by Geneva’s renowned Wilson Brothers. This year’s Treasures concluded with a celebration at the home of Rob and Rowena Zimmers, whose 1920’s Colonial style home has been restyled and renovated into an Arts and Crafts extravaganza! At-tendees were treated to a sweet and savory buffet and tours of the expansive home and grounds by the home-owners themselves. This event is a successful fundraiser due to the generosity and enthusiasm of our members!Preservation Award Star DinnerThis year as last our Star and Award presentations were combined into one celebration on December 3rd. This year 3 different contributors to preservation and to Preservation Partners were recognized. Diane Honeyman of The PrivateBank secured full-on sponsorship of our seasonal concert series in the Japanese Garden, which al-lowed us to present additional events for the Japanese Garden centennial. Peter Barickman and Betty Wata-nabe have been contributors over the past several years through their close-to-our-heart-and-theirs project of researching and restoring the Oscar Wilson house. This past year they graciously opened their house for the 3rd time for a Preservation Partner event! Their continued support in this manner allowed us to see the restoration as it progressed, a rare and important opportunity. Nancy Hamill Winter grew up in a preservation-minded family. She has taken on that mantle with a very particular focus. As the owner of significant acreage in west-ern Illinois, she has protected 648 acres with perpetual conservation agreements and established an easement defense and stewardship fund with a generous gift to the county.

Highlights of 2010

Makena Barickman, Peter Barickman and Betty Watanabe receive their Preserva-tion Star Award from Liz and board president Carolyn Jerdee.

The Oscar Wilson house, now the home of the Barickman/Watanabe family, resplendent in it’s renewed façade.

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You Can Find Us At: WWW.PPFV.ORG

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE

PAID .00St. Charles

PERMIT NO. 67Preservation Partnersof the Fox Valley

P.O. Box 903St. Charles, IL 60174

The recently restored Fabyan garage is bracketed by the estate’s limestone wall, now severely deteriorated from 100 years of expo-sure to the elements. Preservation Partners is working with the Kane County Forest Preserve on a plan to retain prominent sec-tions of this iconic historic element.

President: Carolyn JerdeeVice-President: Laura RiceTreasurer: TBDDirectors:Amy CookDonelle DuvallAdam D. GibbonsBill HuberPatricia PretzJennifer WartaExecutive Director:Elizabeth Safanda, safanda@ppfv.orgDurant Museum Director:Alice Maupin, info@ppfv.orgFabyan Villa Museum Director:Lynn Dransoff, fabyanvilla@ppfv.orgMuseum Assistant:Hannah Walters1850 Wm. Beith House Office:630-377-6424

405 S. First Street, Geneva .... the insider’s view

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