Newcomer House Porch Program May 21: How the Newcomer House Was Restored - Talk and Tour
A special program for National Preservation Month from the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area
KEEDYSVILLE, Md., May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area's (HCWHA) 2022 Porch Program Series continues on Saturday, May 21, with a special program for National Preservation Month at the historic Newcomer House on Antietam National Battlefield. The program will be a treat for those who "love old houses" -- a talk and tour by Eleanor Lakin, the architect for the 1999 restoration of the Newcomer House and David Gibney, who directed the restoration of the house nearly two decades ago.
Artist and master of historic building restorations David Gibney has restored many an old home, but he says the Newcomer House was his biggest and one of his favorite projects. "From having to raise the washed out foundation eight inches to being under the watchful eye of a black snake living in the old sycamore tree, this restoration took about a year and a half and close to half a million dollars to bring this gem of a home back to its original glory, and it was worth every bit of challenge," said Gibney during a recent phone call. Eleanor Lakin, architect and author, was charged with researching, documenting and designing the restoration which called for innovative solutions for the challenges entailed in creating an accurate restoration while planning for modern-day use.
There will be only one talk given at 11:30 a.m.
The Newcomer House will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM. Volunteer docents will be available to share knowledge about the Newcomer House and provide assistance to visitors within the three county Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.
This is the sixth season of Porch Programs at the Newcomer House, HCWHA's Exhibit and Visitor Center at Antietam National Battlefield. Porch Programs feature presentations, demonstrations, pop-up exhibits, interactives and more during the Newcomer House's open season.
The Newcomer House is located at 18422 Shepherdstown Pike in Keedysville, MD. The house is expected to be open weekends in May, October, and November and daily in June – September. For more information, contact Newcomer House Manager Rachel Nichols at [email protected] or 240-308-1740.
Media Contact
Rachel Nichols, Newcomer House Manager, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, 240-308-1740, [email protected]
SOURCE Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area
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