Sizzling Summer Notes

After being away for a while, I'm hoping I can pick up where I left off in the Spring. So much has been happening around town, and around the battlefield. Gettysburg is in a "fix it up" mode and has been for most of the summer. It's been incredibly hot and the once green fields and lawns show that because the fields and lawns are brown and I haven't mowed the lawn in a few weeks, however, life goes on and the "spruce up" continues. The National Park Service has received funds to rehabilitate the existing farms  and other infrastructure on the battlefield. This farm house which began as a log cabin, changed and evolved over 100 plus years and I believe it is undergoing  the most impressive restoration so far. The pictures tell the story of the transformation of this historic farmhouse.

The Recovery Act sign graces the front entrance to the Klingel House. This photo was taken in  May, 2010 as  aggressive restoration has begun.

 

The red siding that covered the house was removed to reveal the log structure underneath. The porch at the rear of the house has been removed, as well as all the white picket fencing that surrounded the house.

Once all the red siding was taken away, some interesting features showed up, like the multi-colored doors, especially the purple one at the top floor..adds a whimsical look to the house.

 

 

The well pump was housed in a room that was attached to the kitchen area.

 Part of the summer kitchen was revealed when a side storage room was torn down.

The scaffolding is in place, a new roof (light brown shingles) has been installed. The mortar between the logs was repaired and in some spots it was added and holes have been plugged with lumber. There's now a new face, where once was a door, now is a window.

Brand new shiny white siding will cover the logs, the installation has begun.

There were many unusual items pushed into holes and openings in the log structure; little rocks here and there,  wood chips, old material, a piece of an old shirt  and of course, this very large nail sticking out.

This restoration will take some time to complete and I will keep posting the progress here on the site. I wonder what the finished product will look like, there's still quite a bit of material that needs to be put back to it's original place (fencing, gardens etc.) Come often and see the changes being made.

Since there is a barn at the Klingel Farmhouse, what better way to make good use of time than putting on a new coat of red paint to spruce it up for the Fall.