Forgotten Treasures of Southampton County/Franklin, VA

05/01/2025

02/09/2025

I saw a post earlier about a house with crumbling/disintegrating bricks. The term for that is usually "spalling." I didn't have time to type a reply earlier, but wanted to share some info in case it helps anyone else in the future... older bricks crumbling and disintegrating on the faces is almost always caused by repointing with mortar that was harder and less porous than the bricks. Older brick is much softer than newer bricks that have been fired at higher temperatures. As the bricks expand and contract through the seasons due to moisture and temperature variations, the harder mortar doesn't allow the bricks enough room to expand and it causes the bricks to fail internally and crumble.
A pointer/mason that isn't experienced with older brick can easily make this mistake (and in my experience, most commercial pointers aren't all that familiar with older brick... although thankfully I think this knowledge is spreading!). It often only takes a few years before the damage is noticeable, and it's often seen first on bricks lower on the wall (assuming the whole wall was repointed). It happened to my parents' 1859 house back in the early '90s. It's also SUPER common on late 19th to early 20th century buildings in almost every downtown in the Midwest, because they were "repaired" in the mid 20th century by people who didn't know any better.
If caught early enough, the way to fix the problem (or at least keep the damage from getting worse) is to remove the improper mortar (with a hammer and chisel, a grinder, etc.), replace the bricks that have been completely destroyed, and repoint with a softer, old-fashion mortar. If the newer, improper mortar is left in place, the bricks will continue to deteriorate and eventually the only structural part of the wall becomes the mortar itself (ie: it's not going to last long!). You can't really just cover over the problem if you want the house to continue standing in the long term.
Here are some guidelines for mortar mixes for old bricks in case it helps anyone!
Soft mud bricks, in use before the 1860s, were made by hand-packing clay into wood molds, then firing them in wood- or coal-burning kilns. The bricks are soft, with inconsistencies and irregular edges that give them character. Recommended mortar: 1 part lime to 3 parts sand. Cover and wet for 72 hours before use; to speed the curing process, add about ¼ part lime.
Pressed brick was first made in the mid-19th century; clay was pressed into moulds by machine, then fired in hotter kilns. Recommended mortar: 1 part Portland cement, 2 parts lime, 8–9 parts sand
Wire-cut bricks appeared in the late-19th century. Clay is mechanically extruded, then cut into brick shapes by wires. Wire-cut brick may or may not have holes. Recommended mortar: 1 part Portland cement, 1 part lime, 6–7 parts sand.
I "borrowed" this picture from a google image search as an example. Copied and pasted.

12/31/2023

Love these before and after shots of Detroit.

12/31/2023

https://bungalows101.com/how-to-clean-your-polyurethane-coated-wood-floor/?fbclid=IwAR18D16q-ywZI6876S96xa58YIareKAF7DgFXPs-Gv5j-cOu0oSJ1_XagII_aem_ATOhxaWoXPNxHmB9tgNICtoN4W5k2XmKnKY0dcT0ZCteOf4Fejr0iuFeFcOn_CYtdOg

Pro tips to keep your wood floors clean & beautiful!

12/31/2023

08/16/2023

02/08/2023

02/03/2023

WoWza’s!! Check out THIS domed octagonal home in NY!

The Armour–Stiner House is an octagon-shaped and domed Victorian-style house located at 45 West Clinton Avenue in Irvington, in Westchester County, New York. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. It is the only known fully domed octagonal residence. The house was modeled after Donato Bramante’s 1502 Tempietto in Rome, which in turn was based on a Tholos, a type of ancient classical temple. Photo by

01/28/2023

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/weatherization-of-historic-buildings-windows-and-doors.htm?fbclid=IwAR3s8By3r5GpC_Qzsb_MqZvmiP6vLLSV_JU-4LsrSl4gxJIa9NcoroUK1sU&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Historic windows and doors can often be repaired or upgraded to improve energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction. To further enhance energy saving qualities, a good storm window can be installed. However, even if historic windows are beyond repair and replacements are the only viable option, ther...

01/02/2023

This month we're sharing a look at our Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program!

Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HRTC) program is housed within the Preservation Incentives Division located in DHR’s Richmond Office. The rehabilitation tax credit team includes the Director of the Preservation Incentives Division (who also reviews tax credit applications that are for Easement properties), the Program Supervisor, two dedicated tax credit Review Staff members, and one Tax Credit Specialist. The Tax Credit Specialist is the primary point of contact for people interested in learning about the program, and the Program Supervisor and Review Staff members evaluate rehabilitation applications for their compliance with historic preservation best practices. Applicants with approved projects are eligible to receive 25% of their qualified rehabilitation costs back as state tax credits, and income-producing properties can also apply for the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program which can add an additional 25% of their qualified rehabilitation costs back as federal credits.

Virginia’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HRTC) program incentivizes the historic preservation of historic properties and has been a significant driver of economic investment in communities throughout the Commonwealth. Thousands of historic properties have been preserved and restored through participation in the program. More information on the economic benefits of the historic tax credit program can be found in the 2018 economic impact study conducted ty VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. The executive summary be found below -

12/18/2022

The pools officially open to the public on Saturday and cost $25 per person.