(OT)Another historic building job

[GunnyMack]

We are working on a school house from the mid 1800s.
Up until about 10 years ago it was still associated with the local school even though it was falling apart. Roof leaked, enough lead paint to cast a couple hundred bullets, squirrels in the ceiling.
The board of education contacted the neighbor about if they wanted it - FREE !
So we were tasked with bringing it back to life, gutted it, patching floor boards that were rotted, plaster and lath off the walls & ceiling. New spray foam insulation, drywall and T&G pine ceiling.
We carefully removed the 4 peices of slate, 4'x4' for reinstallation. At one point the slates were flipped for a fresh side as we found drawings, initials & names on the back side.
Here's what it's looking like now.

20231109_114303.jpg

Just after WW1 this building was no longer used as a school and during WW2 it was the local Civil Defense HQ. On one of the slates was marked with L.T. C.D. one of the old timers who was a kid then said the Civil Defense would give a nickle to anybody that reported strange airplanes, people speaking a foreign language or acting strange.

The family that owns it now is going to use it as a music studio and for holiday family gatherings.

[gamekeeper]

Nice to see a old building brought back to life. That old timer would certainly earn a lot of nickles nowadays...

[GunnyMack]

Nice to see a old building brought back to life. That old timer would certainly earn a lot of nickles nowadays...

You're not Kidding !

[Bill in Oregon]

Nice work Will. Love the wainscoting and am a believer in mini-splits.

[Walt]

My daughter and her husband own a 112 year old house in the historic district of Oklahoma City. They have lived there for about 4 years. Getting a house that old back into tip top condition is a long and expensive proposition.