JHN Media Visit: Façade Restoration Update
Joplin Historical Neighborhoods (JHN) announced the start of the slate roof reconstruction at a media visit day on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at the JHN worksite in Joplin.
Brad Belk, JHN Preservation Director and Curator, began the day with an update on the restoration of The Schifferdecker Home and Carriage House and The Zelleken Home and Garage (scroll down for full remarks), and introduced Renaissance Roofing to the project. Debra Humphreys, JHN Founder, expressed her family’s appreciation and passion for this historic preservation project that will “bring [history] alive for our local children, families, and visitors so they can have a window into the fascinating and rich history of Joplin at the turn of the century.”
Guests were then led on an in-depth, guided tour by JHN Staff, and Tony Raleigh, Renaissance Roofing, to see the finished masonry, Buckingham® slate, and other architectural elements of the project.
Links to media coverage:
Brad Belk’s full remarks:
“Good morning, and welcome!
We have called this press conference to update everyone on the façade restoration. We continue to make progress on the Schifferdecker home and carriage house as well as the Zelleken residence and garage. We have a lot of moving parts of activity, and on any given workday, a workforce of 20 craftsman are laboring in their respective fields of window restoration, masonry, and slate roofing.
The most complete of the four structures is the Schifferdecker carriage house where the masonry work, copper gutters, and slate roofing are nearing completion. Other enhancements include the tuck-pointing of the Zelleken home which is almost finished. Bob and Sam McCarty continue to make headway on the window restoration for the Schifferdecker home. And Sam Lopp is moving forward in restoring the stained glass windows there as well.
Following my brief remarks, Michael Griffin will be providing insights from the architect’s point of view.
For those who want to know more about our project, please consult our web page at www.joplin-hn.org. The site continues to grow, and is in the capable hands of Wendy Wright and Anne McLaughlin. You can view our progress through the photos of Mark Neuenschwander.
Earlier this year we launched our façade restoration program by introducing the masonry company of Mid-Continental of Fort Scott. Today, we are showcasing our roofing specialist, Renaissance Roofing Company from St. Louis. Representing Renaissance is Tony Raleigh. Tony will be available for interviews as well.
In 1992, Robert Raleigh Jr. established Renaissance Roofing, Inc. with his sons Robert Raleigh III and James Zipse. Over the last 25 years, Renaissance Roofing has restored more than 1,000 historic roofing systems nationwide, utilizing a variety of materials: slate, copper, wood, metal, and tile roofing. They specialize in slate roofing and have had a hand in some extremely high-profile restorations such as government projects, universities, churches, and historic structures that demand only the greatest attention to specific details performed by highly trained craftsman.
Renaissance Roofing’s impressive resumé includes residences by Frank Lloyd Wright, David Adler, HT Lindberg, Howard Van Doren Shaw, Weber and Groves. In addition, Renaissance Roofing has been featured on the History Channel’s “Back to the Blueprint.”
We are extremely pleased to have Debra Humphreys with us today. We are forever grateful to Debra and David’s generosity. And it is the “forever part” that is most fascinating. Debra and David have made a commitment to future generations with today’s historic restoration work. The preservation efforts now will greatly impact visitors for decades to come. Restoration is slow, tedious, and expensive, but when the restoration is complete, people 100 years from now will be delighted to be transmitted back to the Joplin era of the 1890s. We greatly appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys’ vision and passion for this truly remarkable historical site.
We remain focused on the jobs ahead while pursuing our mission. Joplin Historical Neighborhoods will restore, maintain, interpret, and promote the homes into history museums by educating and encouraging an appreciation of the 1890s and their role in the development of Joplin, Missouri.
To me it is amazing how far we have progressed since April. Thank you for being with us today, and we look forward to future updates as we continue to move forward.”