POINT PLEASANT — The second phase in the restoration of the historic A.F. Kisar (Kincaid) House on Third St. is one step closer to being realized.
On Tuesday, a proposal for the second phase of work to the home was presented to Charles Humphreys, director of Main Street Point Pleasant. Touring the home with Humphreys was Dan Hart, architect with DLH, PLLC, Andrea Radford, interior designer, Michael Gioulis, historic preservation consultant and Mark Estep, project engineer.
The proposal for phase two is now going before a state agency for review. Main Street Point Pleasant has already been approved for the $276,000 Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant. Part of these funds have already been expended on developing the proposal for the work. It could take up to six months for the proposal to get the green light though there are hopes it could happen sooner so the bidding process, and subsequent work, could begin this year.
As Hart and Gioulis circled the historic home Tuesday, they explained the scope of the work for phase two which will include replacement of 47 windows and the rehabilitation of four additional, original windows - all of the windows are to appear as they did when the home was built 118 years ago. The doors, barring the original front entrance, will all also be replaced.
Mortar work on all the exterior brick will be done - this point work will be nearly 100 percent on the front of the home where it has sustained the most exposure. The other sides of the house containing brick won’t require mortar work which is quite as extensive as the front though every bricked side of the home will receive a “touch up.” The brick will be cleaned because its original color appears to be more of a “buff” shade as opposed to the slightly reddish tint.
In addition, some of the sandstone along the base of the home is flaking - this will be removed to reveal the stone work beneath. A back entrance into the home’s basement will be demolished and a wheelchair accessible ramp will be installed for entrance on to the first floor, also near the back of the home. This backside of the structure which faces the alley behind Third St. and contains no brick, will be primed, prepped and painted to match the newly washed brick.
Gioulis guessed once the work began, it would take around nine months to complete. All of the work during this phase of restoration is to bring the exterior of the home back to its original glory so that it matches homes of that era - in short, all modern additions will be stripped away. If funds are left from phase two, a new heating and cooling system will also be installed.
Gioulis, who works on historic homes around the state, said the Kisar House is a solid house on the exterior but once a person walks inside, it’s one of the best, if not “the best” home in the state in terms of the woodwork and tile.
Hart said there are extraordinary homes across the state but there are very few which are both “big and extraordinary” and the Kisar House is one of them.
“It’s the best of the best,” Hart said, explaining even those in the state historic preservation office realize there’s no finer home in West Virginia when it comes to the interior craftsmanship.
“Main Street Point Pleasant is excited about this project,” Humphreys said. “It means sustainability for our tourism.”
Humphreys said the work will hopefully give the home another 118 years of life in Point Pleasant.
Phase three will include funding for interior restorations and after that is completed, Humphreys hopes to find funding for an exterior, Victorian era garden to be dedicated as the Margaret Kincaid Memorial Garden - Kincaid was the home’s former owner. The garden would also pay tribute to other women in Mason County who took an interest in celebrating and creating local history.
In all, Main Street Point Pleasant hopes to eventually invest $1 million into the home’s renovations via grant funding. The home will eventually be open for tours and possibly be offered as a venue for hosting special events related to local tourism.
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