Restoration of the Sherwood

Architectural plans were finalized and the "ground breaking" ceremony was held on November 7th. The first order of business was to stabilize the house with structural improvements and reinforcement as well as raising the house. This will help to alleviate some of the lingering problems that have plagued the house. Tentative plans are to reopen the museum sometime in 2006.

A “ground breaking” ceremony for the half-million dollar restoration of the historic Sherwood-Davidson House was held in conjunction with The Society’s Harvest Dinner on Sunday, November 7, 2004,at 2:00 PM . Special guests included: Newark Mayor, Bruce Bain, State Senator, Jay Hottinger, County Commissioner elect, Tim Bubb, and architect Chris Gilbert from Chambers, Murphy, and Burge, the firm in charge of the restoration.

4/7/05

Work has begun! The orange warning fence now surrounds the Sherwood Davidson Museum and identifies it as a construction site. The first stage of the restoration was to replace the foundation. To accomplish this, entire building had to be raised while keeping it level to prevent damage to the structure. This tricky, precise maneuver, was completed in April, 2005.

Photos by Emily Larson and Phyllis Hartroft.

5/18/05 Concrete blocks in place. Note ledge at the bottom of the top two rows of blocks, leaving room for stone veneer.	7/20/05. Masons putting mortar in new stone veneer covering the top two rows of blocks.	5/26/05. Painters repairing siding and trim in preparation for painting prime coat.
6/10/05. Area of sill replacement. Being done 6 feet at a time.	7/19/05. Back filling around foundation starts.	7/20/05. Water proof coating being sprayed on crawl space walls.
8/19/05. Repair on wood siding.	8/22/05. First coat of the finish color going on the siding.	9/2/05. First coat of finish paint completed, and new grass on the lawn.
6/10/05. Open dining room ceiling showing reinforcing of second floor joists.	8/19/05. Electrician wiring new lighting in the library.	8/22/05. New drywall going up on dining room ceiling.
8/17/05. Layers of wallpaper in library. Wallpaper in many of the rooms has been removed for repair of the plaster.	8/29/05. Drawing on bare plaster underneath wallpaper on the library wall.	8/29/05. Writing on the wall in the library. Note John Carroll's signature in both views (and the previous photo) and the "No Smoking" in the lower one.
11/8/05 Framework for sidewalk that goes around to the back of the house.	11/8/05 Our beautiful fan door is painted.	11/8/05 Framework is constructed for laying new sidewalk.
11/14/05 Constructing ramp for handicapped access	11/14/05 Painting the railing of the new ramp	11/8/05 Stripping off the countless layers of paint on the front porch
11/14/05 Re-laying of the brick courtyard in the side garden	11/14/05 Sidewalk has been poured and sealed	11/14/05 Sealing the new sidewalk that goes around to the back of the house