Restoration

 

In many small towns in Maine, one house, often that of the principal mill owner, stands out in size and elegance from other residences. Rarely, however, is it a house built by a woman, as is the case with the Mary Hurd House in North Berwick. Since its completion in 1894, Hurd Manor has been a historical treasure and jewel to the town of North Berwick as well as a testament to the incredible woman who built it.

Many previous owners have contributed to the restoration and preservation of this historically significant residence. A notable major step occurred in 1979 when then owners David and Janice Brooks successfully placed the Manor on the National Register of Historic Places.

Now it is our turn! Our mission is to oversee extensive restorations of the manor to preserve this landmark for generations to come. The building is not only a stunning example of Victorian era craftsmanship, but also of major historic significance to the community. Our goal is to invest in the accurate preservation of the manor while building community pride and a showcase for local talents.

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Beginning in 2021:

We commissioned a local historic painter to repair the painted ceilings and friezes in various rooms. Some of the areas needing repair required the custom blending of an average of 15 different colors.

We are replacing the slate roof, repairing the copper flashings and adding snow guards to the roof to limit snow and ice sliding to further prevent damage to the balconies and porches. The intricate ironwork on the peak has been carefully removed, repaired and reinstalled. The ironwork has been integrated into a new lightning rod system, replacing the original system that was in very bad condition. 

Under the watchful hand of a historic mason, we have addressed water damage to the chimneys. Brick by brick, all four of the chimneys have been dismantled, catalogued and rebuilt in exact likeness, replacing or repointing the mortar.  

We replaced the rotted wooden gutters with a fiberglass option to simulate the original woodwork while restoring the correct diversion of rainwater. We also repaired large sections of rotted woodwork in the eves from years of water damage.

We stabilized the falling porte cochere and spun new support posts and spindles, matching the originals, to put back into the structure. We milled new trim work. There are six different styles needed to replicate the original.

We have begun the tendious task of painting the exterior. Fortunately, we have uncovered the original green trim color from 130 years ago. We have custom matched the color and have begun returning the trim to the original color.

In the Fall of 2024, we rebuilt the widow’s walk and returned it to top of the manor. The original railings were replaced in the 1980s, only have have them lost in a snow storm in the early 2000s. It took 120 new spindles and 75 linear feet of railings, all carved mahogany, a more rot resistance material, to rebuild, but the “crown” is back in place.