Restore & Preserve • The Times-Standard CHURCH: New life...
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“It took us probably eight months to get through the permit process because of design review,” Jan said.“It was not easy going through that process, but the city was great in a lot of ways. They were really for this project... And the project turned out better because of design review.” Work finally began. Outside, the origi- nal siding was restored or replaced in- kind. New windows matched the old, and a compatible new roof went on. One side door was added. In front, the yellow wavy glass on the small peaked windows was replaced with clear glass. A vintage door, along with porch lights and a railing were also added, all in the craftsman style. Freeman Architects led the design process, and Mary Gearheart did the new landscaping. Kathleen Stanton was hired as a historical consultant. Inside, contractor Jeff Romberg refin- ished the original wood floors, while Eric DeMartini restored the original wainscot- ing. Peter Bartoo set granite and slate into the front hall and side nooks. “They had a lot of ideas,” Jan said,“and since the interior was not really a restora- tion, I let them do what they were best at individually.” The end results were more costly than originally hoped, the Hunts said, but it has proven to be a worthwhile endeavor. One unexpected bonus came from the Historical Sites Society of Arcata, which presented the Hunts with its annual Residential Adaptive Reuse Award in 2004. “We appreciated that,” Jan said. “It is a lot of work, and it becomes a project that you do not for the money so much. It becomes more of a satisfying project.” 6 Restore & Preserve • The Times-Standard March 2005 March 2005 Restore & Preserve • The Times-Standard 3 LACO ASSOCIATES provides consulting restoration services including structural analysis and design, foundation assessment and rehabilitation and construction materials testing. 21 W. 4th Street Eureka, CA 707-443-5054 www.lacoassociates.us Serving Northern California for over 45 years Kathy Dillon THE TIMES-STANDARD ARCATA — The Rev. Earle Sims was a determined man. A former missionary in China, he arrived in town in February 1913 to help the struggling Baptist congregation, whose few members had been meeting in a pri- vate home for seven years. In two weeks, Sims doubled the mem- bership and led the effort to build — and garner donations to pay for — a new bun- galow-style church building at 17th and H streets. Construction began on a Tuesday, and Sims told the Humboldt Times he expect- ed the first church service to be held in the new building the following Sunday. Only rain could postpone it, he added. It must have rained some, because it took a total of eight days to finish the largely volunteer effort, at a total cost of $748. Sims reported he had succeeded in simi- lar efforts in Los Angeles and Oroville, and was soon to be on his way out of town to continue his work. After his departure, the Arcata Baptist congregation continued to thrive, and many improvements, alterations and additions were made to the church build- ing over the years, the Arcata Union reported on the church’s 75th anniversary in 1981. In the 1940s, the congregation knew the little structure had reached its capacity. To solve the problem, they purchased two lots at the corner of 14th and H streets, including one with a two-story house on the corner that would be used for offices, socials and a nursery. The little church was then moved next to the house and services were doubled. Within a decade, these buildings were also outgrown, and plans began for a new church on Union Street. By 1955, the job was completed. The old building eventually became the home for a new denomination, the Church of Christ Seventh Day. “After a charismatic preacher died, it dissolved,” said Howard Hunt, who now owns the building with his wife, Jan. The Hunts, who discovered the building had been left empty for many years, first considered purchasing it in the late 1990s. But it took some effort even to discover who owned it. Eventually, the woman who was paying the property taxes was located in Florida. Letters to her went unanswered for two years. Finally, she contacted the Hunts. “She didn’t know what to do because she was the only one still living who had been a member of the congregation,” Howard said. Fortunately, the woman had been the secretary of the corporation that ran the church and had the ability to sign for it. The Hunts finally bought it in 2001. “Several other people were interested in it,” Howard added, “but it was important to them who bought it. They didn’t want it to turn into a Subway.” The building was looking a bit sad, and surely in need of paint. A homeless man had also taken up residence on the front porch, much to neighbors’ dismay. Inside, one large room with pews and a podium, a baptismal pool and an old piano remained. A small kitchen area was in a back room. “It was actually in pretty good shape,” Jan said.“There wasn’t any mold.” The Hunts originally hoped to move Howard’s Arcata orthodontist office into the building, but discovered it is in a resi- dential zone. Their plans evolved after a series of design review meetings with the city, which began in the fall of 2002. To help alleviate Arcata’s pressing housing needs, it was decided the church would be turned into two apartments — one three- bedroom unit and a studio. • See CHURCH/Page 6 The Arcata Baptist Church building was constructed in eight days in 1913. Over the ensuing decades it was moved, added onto and left empty for years before being converted into two apartments in 2003. The church’s his and hers bathrooms on each side of the front door are now office and dining nooks. New life for old Baptist church Now apartments, it was built in a week in 1913 by a resolute preacher Shaun Walker/The Times-Standard Shaun Walker/The Times-Standard The building’s original wainscotting and wood floors have been restored. CHURCH: An award-winning change for a 1913 building FROM PAGE 3 Construction began on a Tuesday, and Sims told the Humboldt Times he expected the first service to be held in the new building the following Sunday. Preserve Your Memories Give A Unique Gift • Original Pen & Ink/Watercolor • Home Or Garden • Surprise A Friend Or Loved One • Reasonably Priced Karen Merry • 616-8713 Open Studio, Eureka Arts Alive! Artistic Renderings
Transcript of Restore & Preserve • The Times-Standard CHURCH: New life...
“It took us probably eight months to getthrough the permit process because ofdesign review,” Jan said. “It was not easygoing through that process, but the citywas great in a lot of ways. They were reallyfor this project... And the project turnedout better because of design review.”
Work finally began. Outside, the origi-nal siding was restored or replaced in-
kind. New windows matched the old, anda compatible new roof went on. One sidedoor was added.
In front, the yellow wavy glass on thesmall peaked windows was replaced withclear glass. A vintage door, along withporch lights and a railing were also added,all in the craftsman style.
Freeman Architects led the design
process, and Mary Gearheart did the newlandscaping. Kathleen Stanton was hiredas a historical consultant.
Inside, contractor Jeff Romberg refin-ished the original wood floors, while EricDeMartini restored the original wainscot-ing. Peter Bartoo set granite and slate intothe front hall and side nooks.
“They had a lot of ideas,” Jan said, “andsince the interior was not really a restora-tion, I let them do what they were best atindividually.”
The end results were more costly thanoriginally hoped, the Hunts said, but ithas proven to be a worthwhile endeavor.
One unexpected bonus came from theHistorical Sites Society of Arcata, whichpresented the Hunts with its annualResidential Adaptive Reuse Award in 2004.
“We appreciated that,” Jan said. “It is alot of work, and it becomes a project thatyou do not for the money so much. Itbecomes more of a satisfying project.”
6 Restore & Preserve • The Times-Standard March 2005 March 2005 Restore & Preserve • The Times-Standard 3
LACO ASSOCIATES provides
consulting restoration services including
structural analysis and design,
foundation assessment and rehabilitation
and construction materials testing.
21 W. 4th Street
Eureka, CA
707-443-5054
www.lacoassociates.us
Serving Northern California for over 45 years
Kathy DillonTHE TIMES-STANDARD
ARCATA — The Rev. Earle Sims was adetermined man.
A former missionary in China, hearrived in town in February 1913 to helpthe struggling Baptist congregation, whosefew members had been meeting in a pri-vate home for seven years.
In two weeks, Sims doubled the mem-bership and led the effort to build — andgarner donations to pay for — a new bun-galow-style church building at 17th andH streets.
Construction began on a Tuesday, andSims told the Humboldt Times he expect-ed the first church service to be held in thenew building the following Sunday. Onlyrain could postpone it, he added. It musthave rained some, because it took a totalof eight days to finish the largely volunteereffort, at a total cost of $748.
Sims reported he had succeeded in simi-lar efforts in Los Angeles and Oroville,and was soon to be on his way out oftown to continue his work.
After his departure, the Arcata Baptistcongregation continued to thrive, andmany improvements, alterations andadditions were made to the church build-ing over the years, the Arcata Unionreported on the church’s 75th anniversaryin 1981.
In the 1940s, the congregation knew thelittle structure had reached its capacity. Tosolve the problem, they purchased twolots at the corner of 14th and H streets,including one with a two-story house onthe corner that would be used for offices,socials and a nursery. The little churchwas then moved next to the house andservices were doubled.
Within a decade, these buildings werealso outgrown, and plans began for a new
church on Union Street. By 1955, the jobwas completed.
The old building eventually became thehome for a new denomination, theChurch of Christ Seventh Day.
“After a charismatic preacher died, itdissolved,” said Howard Hunt, who nowowns the building with his wife, Jan.
The Hunts, who discovered the buildinghad been left empty for many years, firstconsidered purchasing it in the late 1990s.But it took some effort even to discoverwho owned it.
Eventually, the woman who was payingthe property taxes was located in Florida.Letters to her went unanswered for twoyears. Finally, she contacted the Hunts.
“She didn’t know what to do becauseshe was the only one still living who hadbeen a member of the congregation,”Howard said.
Fortunately, the woman had been thesecretary of the corporation that ran thechurch and had the ability to sign for it.The Hunts finally bought it in 2001.
“Several other people were interested init,” Howard added, “but it was importantto them who bought it. They didn’t wantit to turn into a Subway.”
The building was looking a bit sad, andsurely in need of paint. A homeless manhad also taken up residence on the frontporch, much to neighbors’ dismay.
Inside, one large room with pews and apodium, a baptismal pool and an oldpiano remained. A small kitchen area wasin a back room.
“It was actually in pretty good shape,”Jan said. “There wasn’t any mold.”
The Hunts originally hoped to moveHoward’s Arcata orthodontist office intothe building, but discovered it is in a resi-dential zone. Their plans evolved after aseries of design review meetings with thecity, which began in the fall of 2002. Tohelp alleviate Arcata’s pressing housingneeds, it was decided the church would beturned into two apartments — one three-bedroom unit and a studio.
• See CHURCH/Page 6
The Arcata Baptist Church building was constructed in eightdays in 1913. Over the ensuing decades it was moved, addedonto and left empty for years before being converted into twoapartments in 2003. The church’s his and hers bathrooms oneach side of the front door are now office and dining nooks.
New lifefor oldBaptistchurchNow apartments, it wasbuilt in a week in 1913by a resolute preacher
Shaun Walker/The Times-Standard
Shaun Walker/The Times-Standard
The building’s original wainscotting and wood floors have been restored.
CHURCH: An award-winning change for a 1913 buildingFROM PAGE 3
Construction began on aTuesday, and Sims toldthe Humboldt Times heexpected the first service
to be held in thenew building thefollowing Sunday.
Preserve Your Memories Give A Unique Gift
• Original Pen & Ink/Watercolor • Home Or Garden • Surprise A Friend Or Loved One • Reasonably Priced
Karen Merry • 616-8713 Open Studio, Eureka Arts Alive!
Artistic Renderings
