Captain Hardy Smith House

The Captain Hardy Smith House is located in Dublin, Georgia. It is the oldest home in Dublin on its original location. Built in 1873 it is located at 307 West Gaines Street in Downtown Dublin.

The restoration of the home included searching for mature pine suitable for cutting the large barge boards with no knots. The ones used came from the Altamaha Swamp around Hindsville, Georgia.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Plantation Bell for Captain Hardy Smith House


Purchased this plantation bell from the proceeds of selling scrap from a 1920's home across the street.


Research shows it is a Poke #3. The date shows 1886. That is the date the bell cast was made not necessarily when it was sold.




The process of sanding the rust down.



This part is called the clapper


Here is the upright


Spraying the bell black



Gold leaf on the bell


Painted the pole to reflect the colors of the house.



Monday, October 26, 2015

Front Dormers Restored


Front dormers had rotten wood and in need of restoration



Had to cover hole where bats used to get in..used a piece of glass and then painted


Restored!


New look for the front!


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Tear Drop Repair


How to repair a tear drop on the Hardy House.....Had to do a sketch of the original...or what was left of it...it was totally rotten....




Next examine the area from which the rotten wood was.


The view on the way up



As tall as it gets....yes climbing the ladder to the top to actually replace the rotten tear drop


Cut pieces to make the tear drop...


Puddy


Beginning to look like a tear drop


Add the angles that will meet the original wood.


Glue it all on....yes this is done while at the top of the ladder.....


Puddy...sand....next will be priming and painting.


On the entrance way to the house is an original tear drop. Cut in 1873. All of the woodwork was replaced as much was rotten after all those years...


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Window Dormer and Side window Repairs


Before starting the repairs and painting of the Dormers and windows they look ok from a distance.


However up close as you can see the windows are in bad shape with rotten wood and cracking caulk.



Close up of the rotten window.


Some of the windows survive when taking them out.....some don't...so replacing the majority with old original glass is ideal.


Repaired wood and windows cut to size. Difficult because the old window panes are not perfect. Each has a slight different size.


Caulking is difficult and time consuming.



All set for priming.



Finished window



Comparison of finished and window not started.


Top and Bottom Windows done.


Windows out and Dormer in need of restoration.



The hazards of window dormer work.





                                                                 Ready for priming.



From a distance.


All done on the left


Large view of completed Dormer on the left.



Now for Dormer on the right. Rotten wood. 



Close up view from the front....no more fixing this piece.




View of rotten piece and old timber parts ready to replace.


Before priming.... cut and nailed the two pieces together.


Like new!



Done!



Side view of both dormers complete!




Set of windows with crumbling caulk.


Primed and ready


Brand new look for the whole side!







Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Laddice and New Steps


New Laddice works were made from 100 year old timbers that were cut.
 These timbers were from an old building undergoing renovation in Downtown Dublin. They were saved from the Dump. Previous laddice works were from original wood from the House. That is Scarlet relaxing on some of the cut timbers :)


Each set of laddice works took time to measure
 and set as no two areas was the same.



After painting and setting


Front view of the newly painted laddice works.


Side view


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Another new addition was a set of steps for the side stairs. 
These bricks came from the old Dublin High School being torn down.


Dig in the ground and set for the bricks. 
Very tricky had to reset them two times to get the end results just right.


End result!