Project Overview:

Abandoned in the 1960s, the house suffered significant damage from weather and vandalism. The restoration involved several key phases:

The deteriorated foundation was replaced with a new crawl space. To preserve the home’s historic character, the original masonry was retained for the top two courses of the foundation.

Schamber Historic Restoration of Hays, Kansas restored the exterior siding, windows, and doors. Inside, the structure was stripped down to the studs. Every salvageable element was carefully repaired and reinstalled in its original location, or used as a template to recreate matching materials.

Working with extensive research conducted by the Cather Foundation, the team restored the house to reflect a specific historical period. Original wood floors and attic stairs were refinished and preserved. Modern electrical and HVAC systems were installed to meet current standards.

To improve accessibility, a minimally invasive ramp was added at the front entrance, making the house ADA compliant while respecting its historic integrity.