Ongoing rehabilitation of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home celebrates a milestone for Historic Columbia Foundation and ushers in a new era for visitor interaction.
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Historic Columbia Foundation. In 1961, a group of preservation minded individuals embarked on a campaign to save what is known today as the Robert Mills House. The momentum created by the rehabilitation of the Robert Mills House has perpetuated Historic Columbia Foundation’s 50 years of tireless dedication to Columbia’s architectural heritage and irreplaceable cultural resources. Historic Columbia Foundation’s golden anniversary will not only celebrate its past accomplishments, but will also showcase its ongoing historic preservation efforts within the city. The rehabilitation of South Carolina’s only presidential site, the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, is currently in progress and will continue to be one of Historic Columbia Foundation’s top priorities throughout 2011. Read the rest of this entry »
Project Architect Describes the Rehab Process
Christopher Quirk, project architect for the rehabilitation of the WWFH Rehabilitation, explains the partnership between Historic Columbia Foundation and John Milner Associates, Inc. See hard hat tours of preservation in progress!
WWFH Phase 1 Rehabilitation: Sills and Studs
The physical work on the Woodrow Wilson Family Home began in April 2009 with a structural investigation led by project architects John Milner Associates, Inc. and general contractor Huss, Inc. Once the contractor removed architectural finishes to reveal the existing framing conditions, the following was noted by John Dumsick (Robert Silman Associates Structural Engineers):
“…the structure is a unique combination of heavy timer framing and light building construction. Whereas the sill, corner braces, king studs and stairwell framing are of more traditional heavy timber construction with the incorporation of mortise and tenon connections with and without hardwood pegs; the remaining structural framing elements (common studs, joists and ribbon boards) are of balloon framed construction. This may represent a reaction of the economic times in the south following the Civil War and the new embrace of technology and industry for rapidly produced building materials.”
The amount of rot at the sills and studs is much more significant than originally estimated. Due to deterioration from trapped moisture and past insect infestation, close to 90% of the sill, most of which was original to the 1870s structure, is being 
replaced.
WWFH: Historic Rehab Workshops
WWFH: Historic Rehabilitation Workshops
In order to protect South Carolina’s only presidential site for future generations, Historic Columbia Foundation (HCF) is totally rehabilitating the 1872 residence. The major elements of this first phase include exterior repairs to the masonry foundation; wood sills, studs and siding; windows restoration and replacement (when necessary) and the installation of a new wood-shingle roof.
As we move through the next few months, HCF is hosting a series of hands-on workshops. On July 18, in partnership with general contractor Huss, Inc., attendees learned how to restore and maintain old windows.
Hunter Huss explains 1870s window construction at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home Rehabilitation Workshop in July 2009
In August the following workshops will be held:
August 8: Mending Masonry
August 29: Final Touches
For descriptions, dates, fees and contact information visit Historic Columbia Foundation.
Follow Preservation and Progress with Historic Columbia Foundation
In October 2005 Historic Columbia Foundation (HCF) closed the Woodrow Wilson Family Home (WWFH) to visitors, removed all collections, documented the conditions, and began the road to rehabilitating this nationally significant historic site.
A complete rehabilitation of the property includes:
- repairing every ailing inch (interior and exterior) of the 1872 wood-frame structure
- renovating the landscape to interpret a Victorian-era formal front and working back yard, and
- constructing a new outbuilding to house the state-of-the-art mechanical systems as well as visitor amenities and a catering kitchen.
The current cost estimated for full rehabilitation of the WWFH totals $3,350,000. Thanks to generous support from Richland County, the recent receipt of a National Parks Service Save America’s Treasures grant and 100% participation from the HCF Board of Trustees, in April we initiated Phase One of the rehabilitation.
