CHARLESTON, W.Va. - They call them the Little Lectures, because the W.Va. Humanities Council has limited space for audiences at their home in the MacFarland-Hubbard House. But the Sunday-afternoon series has proved surprisingly popular, attracting a large and loyal base of listeners.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - They call them the Little Lectures, because the W.Va. Humanities Council has limited space for audiences at their home in the MacFarland-Hubbard House. But the Sunday-afternoon series has proved surprisingly popular, attracting a large and loyal base of listeners.
"Every one of the lectures has overflowed into other rooms," said Ken Sullivan, the group's executive director.
Rather than busting out walls in the 1836-vintage home, certain to bring howls of protests from preservationists, Sullivan wanted to create an outdoor space for the lecture series and other events. He asked David Marshall of Paul D. Marshall Architects and Engineers for ideas.
Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 - Workers from Allegheny Restorations put the finishing touches on the pergola they built atop the expanded patio behind the MacFarland-Hubbard House. The W.Va. Humanities Council plans to hold its Little Lectures and other events there.
"My thought on that, after Ken told me how many people he wanted, was to locate a pergola where they might have had a formal garden." Pergolas were common features in the 19th century, he said. He designed one of heavy beams that would cover a concrete patio - larger than the old flagstone one.
So that's what the council decided to do. They hired Allegheny Restorations, the Morgantown-based contractors that have done the other renovations on the home and its carriage house since the council bought the property 10 years ago. The project is nearly complete.
This is no ordinary pergola, but one befitting a 172-year-old home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It perches on columns designed to match those on the front of the Greek Revival home, and is handcrafted of laminated southern pine beams. The largest is 8 by 16 inches, 31 feet long.
"You can put down 'heavy,'" crew leader Blair Lee told a note-taking reporter. "I think they weighed 1,500 pounds. We had a little hand-crane, a hoist, to lift them up."
Low brick walls conceal storage bins that will hold 50 or more folding chairs. The design also calls for lights, overhead fans and permanent speakers. "So it's plug and play," Sullivan said.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - They call them the Little Lectures, because the W.Va. Humanities Council has limited space for audiences at their home in the MacFarland-Hubbard House. But the Sunday-afternoon series has proved surprisingly popular, attracting a large and loyal base of listeners.
"Every one of the lectures has overflowed into other rooms," said Ken Sullivan, the group's executive director.
Rather than busting out walls in the 1836-vintage home, certain to bring howls of protests from preservationists, Sullivan wanted to create an outdoor space for the lecture series and other events. He asked David Marshall of Paul D. Marshall Architects and Engineers for ideas.
"My thought on that, after Ken told me how many people he wanted, was to locate a pergola where they might have had a formal garden." Pergolas were common features in the 19th century, he said. He designed one of heavy beams that would cover a concrete patio - larger than the old flagstone one.
So that's what the council decided to do. They hired Allegheny Restorations, the Morgantown-based contractors that have done the other renovations on the home and its carriage house since the council bought the property 10 years ago. The project is nearly complete.
This is no ordinary pergola, but one befitting a 172-year-old home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It perches on columns designed to match those on the front of the Greek Revival home, and is handcrafted of laminated southern pine beams. The largest is 8 by 16 inches, 31 feet long.
"You can put down 'heavy,'" crew leader Blair Lee told a note-taking reporter. "I think they weighed 1,500 pounds. We had a little hand-crane, a hoist, to lift them up."
Low brick walls conceal storage bins that will hold 50 or more folding chairs. The design also calls for lights, overhead fans and permanent speakers. "So it's plug and play," Sullivan said.
The project comes with a handsome budget to match its handsome design, he said.
"It's running $150,000. As with anything with a historic property, it's expensive. But it's money well spent."
Rather than dip into operating funds, the council is raising money separately to pay for the improvements, as it did for other building projects, Sullivan said. Private donations, corporations, foundations - "all of the above. We're fortunate in living in a community that supports historic properties."
Before starting, Sullivan checked with local historical groups - the Kanawha Valley Historical & Preservation Society and the State Office of Historic Preservation.
"We made a point of talking with everyone who has a stake with Charleston historic properties. I think their main concern was not to change the interior." The project will reduce wear and tear inside, without changing anything, he said.
Work began July 7 and has progressed steadily, helped by the lack of rain. "We hope to show this off to our board on Oct. 31," Sullivan said. "The board is scheduled to meet on the 31st."
Keep it clean. Comments that are obscene, sexually explicit, racist or offensive will be removed. If you wouldn’t say it to your mother, don’t post it here.
Be civil. Don’t threaten to hurt anyone. Personal attacks, insults or harassment of any kind are subject to removal.
Be truthful. Don’t lie about a situation or person.
Keep it brief. Keep your comment to one post. Redundant or multiple posts in a row aren’t allowed.
Stay on task. Stick to the topics relevant to the story and discussion.
Let us know about offensive comments. Click the “Report Abuse” button if you think a comment is against the rules.
Post a comment