NEWARK -- A house that was built in the 19th century has needs that can't be met by modern big-box home-improvement stores.
Terry Shipman discovered this reality when he began restoring his family's circa 1890 home here in Independence County.
Where does a homeowner get stove pipe covers, or a rod to open and close a transom window?
Wait a minute -- what's a transom window?
The Dearing House was built with what Shipman calls a 19th-century system of air conditioning. Ceilings were high, interior doors were tall, and above the doors were windows that opened to facilitate air flow. The rod, which hung down the side of the door frame, allowed the transom window to be opened and closed.
Shipman's transom rods came from the House of Antique Hardware in Portland, Ore., houseofantiquehardware.com. So did the locks, knobs and keys for the doors under the transom windows. As did the hinges for doors and transoms, sash weight pulleys and other window hardware.
The doors were manufactured to Shipman's specifications by Hoffmeyer's Mill in Sebringville, Ontario, hoffmeyersmill.on.ca. The doors were built, Shipman said, "like they built them in 1901."
What about those stove pipe covers? Shipman found them at Red Hill General Store in Hillsville, Va., redhillgeneralstore.com.
HomeStyle on 11/29/2014