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Restoration, Rebuilding Norlands Historical Cottage, Barn to Exceed $2 Million

January 19, 2010 - LIVERMORE -- Washburn-Norlands Living History Center trustees plan to start rebuilding the farmer's cottage and barn this year, a project that is estimated to cost more than $2 million.

Both were destroyed April 28, 2008, by a fire started from a heat lamp used to warm piglets in the barn.

Center Executive Director Kathy Beauregard said Thursday the work involves restoring what was damaged and rebuilding the structures to code. She is also president of the Center's Board of Trustees.

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center is the family homestead of Israel and Martha Washburn and their children. It is a nonprofit living museum dedicated to the preservation of 18th- and 19th-century rural Maine heritage.

"Our plan is to reconstruct the farmer's cottage this spring and summer, and during that time prepare for a barn-raising and putting the framework up for the barn this fall," she said.

Insurance has already covered nearly $500,000 to repair smoke and water damage to the mansion and its collection of clothing and textiles, she said.

The group hasn't set a fundraising goal but will once all of the costs are known. They need to raise additional money beyond what the insurance company covered, for code upgrades and replacement. The policy doesn't cover the full cost of the historical replica.

The plan is to build a replica of the original 1867 post-and-beam-style barn, not to replace the barn that burned.

"We'll be getting a full cost estimate for the barn to put it up in full, but honestly, I think it will be a $500,000 fund-raising goal to complete all of the buildings," Beauregard said. "I feel really confident we can meet that through not only raising cash donations but through volunteer labor services and donated supplies."

They have enough roofing shingles for the farmer's cottage already, but if they could get a donation of roofing shingles for the barn, that would bring them closer to getting the barn up in the fall, Beauregard said.

Barba & Wheelock Architecture Preservation & Design of Portland designed the barn, which will be about 40 feet wide and 80 feet long.

"When we hired them, they did a lot of research to discover what barn the Washburns built in 1867, and the idea is to replicate that," Beauregard said. "It's our goal as well to add an element that wasn't there, a public bathroom." The bathroom is designed so that it is concealed.

The code issues are pretty significant, Beauregard said. A sprinkler system has to be installed and there must be a full foundation.

Once the farmer's cottage is rebuilt, trustees plan to once again hold live-ins, in which people live life the way it was centuries ago. A construction management firm will oversee the project.

Trustees are looking at a variety of ways to raise money and get materials, including a benefit concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, in the auditorium of Treat Memorial Library in Livermore Falls.

Sherwin-Williams Co. of Lewiston has donated 80 gallons of paint to the project.

Trustees are also looking into putting together sponsorship of a historical window-making workshop. Participants would learn how to restore old windows, and at the same time restore Norlands' windows.

"It's a fun way for people to be able to have a thumbprint in rebuilding Norlands," Beauregard said. Another workshop may be kids learning to carve pegs.

Updates on fundraising efforts, workshops and progress will be posted at www.norlands.org and on Facebook.

Volunteers are welcome, Beauregard said.

"We love volunteers," she said. "They're the heartbeat of the place. I do think it is an important part that our board believes this place belongs to the community."

By Donna M. Perry, Staff Writer , Portland Press Herald
Jan 17, 2010


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