ALBERTON – The old kitchen range has been fitted with a modern cook-top insert. The bricks of an old fireplace have been removed and the space filled in with an antique-looking mantle and two-sided propane fireplace.
An old rocking chair that had been stuffed with 50 pairs of nylons has been re-upholstered. Ships’ ballast, found on the property, is at the base of lampposts.
The O’Brien family homestead on Church Street in Alberton has been modernized while keeping many of its characteristics from yesteryear.
“We rebuilt the house from inside out,” Cheryl O’Brien said.
The Alberton Historical Preservation Committee presented Fred and Cheryl O’Brien with the 2011 Ken Quigley Memorial Heritage Preservation Award Thursday night in recognition of the work they’ve done to their nearly 150-year-old house.
Benjamin Rogers had the house built for his bride, Susan Hubbard, in 1862. Alton and Jean O’Brien moved in as newlyweds in 1943 and raised their family there.
Cheryl said her mother-in-law was pleased that they planned to renovate the homestead.
“When we bought the house, we told her what we were going to do. She approved. I didn’t want it changed. I had watched enough ‘Home and Garden Television,’” Cheryl stressed.
“You can tweak it while still keeping the character of the original house.”
Alton died in October 2002 and Jean died eight months later. Renovations started in 2004. Fred and Cheryl and their three sons moved into the new-look house in August 2005.
Fred’s old desk, now mounted on a stand from Alton’s old sewing machine, is in its regular place in a hallway.
“It was just like an empty shell,” Cheryl said of the view she had on one of her first visits home from Ontario after the renovations started.
Two layers of lathe board and plaster had been peeled away from the walls upstairs and down, leaving just the bare studs. The house was raised and a new foundation poured. All windows were replaced and the entire house re-shingled.
She visited regularly, usually clutching a red binder. It contained sketches outlining projects she envisioned. She still has the binder, a ready resource of information on window sizes, paint colours and design features.
Many of the home’s characteristics, including the hall stairs, living room hardwood floor and light fixtures were retained.
Ray Arsenault headed up the renovation project and nicknamed Cheryl “The Colonel.” He was first to congratulate the O’Briens after they were presented with their heritage award.
Alf Gallant was able to build an antique-looking two-sided fireplace mantle and to duplicate the home’s original pantry cupboards. A new kitchen island also retains the original design features.
There have been some additions, a two-car garage and a pool, but Lynda Curtis, president of the Alberton Historical Preservation Foundation said those additions blend in and actually enhance the beauty of the structure.
ALBERTON – The old kitchen range has been fitted with a modern cook-top insert. The bricks of an old fireplace have been removed and the space filled in with an antique-looking mantle and two-sided propane fireplace.
An old rocking chair that had been stuffed with 50 pairs of nylons has been re-upholstered. Ships’ ballast, found on the property, is at the base of lampposts.
The O’Brien family homestead on Church Street in Alberton has been modernized while keeping many of its characteristics from yesteryear.
“We rebuilt the house from inside out,” Cheryl O’Brien said.
The Alberton Historical Preservation Committee presented Fred and Cheryl O’Brien with the 2011 Ken Quigley Memorial Heritage Preservation Award Thursday night in recognition of the work they’ve done to their nearly 150-year-old house.
Benjamin Rogers had the house built for his bride, Susan Hubbard, in 1862. Alton and Jean O’Brien moved in as newlyweds in 1943 and raised their family there.
Cheryl said her mother-in-law was pleased that they planned to renovate the homestead.
“When we bought the house, we told her what we were going to do. She approved. I didn’t want it changed. I had watched enough ‘Home and Garden Television,’” Cheryl stressed.
“You can tweak it while still keeping the character of the original house.”
Alton died in October 2002 and Jean died eight months later. Renovations started in 2004. Fred and Cheryl and their three sons moved into the new-look house in August 2005.
Fred’s old desk, now mounted on a stand from Alton’s old sewing machine, is in its regular place in a hallway.
“It was just like an empty shell,” Cheryl said of the view she had on one of her first visits home from Ontario after the renovations started.
Two layers of lathe board and plaster had been peeled away from the walls upstairs and down, leaving just the bare studs. The house was raised and a new foundation poured. All windows were replaced and the entire house re-shingled.
She visited regularly, usually clutching a red binder. It contained sketches outlining projects she envisioned. She still has the binder, a ready resource of information on window sizes, paint colours and design features.
Many of the home’s characteristics, including the hall stairs, living room hardwood floor and light fixtures were retained.
Ray Arsenault headed up the renovation project and nicknamed Cheryl “The Colonel.” He was first to congratulate the O’Briens after they were presented with their heritage award.
Alf Gallant was able to build an antique-looking two-sided fireplace mantle and to duplicate the home’s original pantry cupboards. A new kitchen island also retains the original design features.
There have been some additions, a two-car garage and a pool, but Lynda Curtis, president of the Alberton Historical Preservation Foundation said those additions blend in and actually enhance the beauty of the structure.
