uncovering the charm

An eye-popping restoration followed when the owners removed faceless aluminum siding to find a handsome brick exterior with original details intact.

- HELAINA LEAIST

WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT PHOTOS OF THE HOUSE as we purchased it in 2016, we wonder what we were thinking. A hideous box of aluminum siding, devoid of any century-home charm, it had no curb appeal. The interior, though, held some promise with its beautiful trim and mouldings and a comfortable floor plan. We weren't swayed when the agent disclosed that the house was reportedly haunted; it had been a filming location for the television show "Rescue Mediums."

RIGHT The front-door surround and transom had been covered over for decades.
FAR RIGHT A date stone was added to the center gable.
OPPOSITE "I had an idea of what the diningroom furniture should be-classic; a table with Phyfe-style legs," says the owner. She was thrilled to find a vintage set online. The table seats 12 with all the leaves in.

Hoping for a better façade-maybe even brick-we were disappointed when our inspector told us there was no brick behind the siding. We'd later discover that where he'd inspected, between the original house and an addition, an old roofline left a gaping area under the siding. (No wonder previous owners had so many issues with squirrels!) We bought the house anyway, with grand plans to research and redo the exterior to something more attractive or historical.

Within weeks, my husband, David, made his discovery. He found original, beautiful, red brick while he was installing an air conditioner. We also found the first of many names carved into the house over the years, which would help us research the people who’d once lived here.