Category: Restoration

A Preservation Journey Throughout the years, I’ve maintained a catalog of Cincinnati’s architectural gems, a cityscape marked by the rich heritage of my ancestors. Yet, the passage of time has seen much of this legacy erased. In the past 26 years alone, I’ve witnessed structures torn down, an architectural lineage disappearing brick by brick. This…

Exploring the rich history embedded within natural stone is a passion of mine. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to salvage and repurpose an 1860 train station nestled along the Norfolk Southern Railway in Bluefield, Virginia. This historical gem was crafted from a remarkable iron-rich sandstone, boasting a distinct tight grain that retains the unique…

I’m thrilled to reconnect with you about a project that holds immense historical and cultural significance—the salvage of St. Andrews Church. This architectural gem, a product of Samuel Hannaford and Sons’ ingenuity, stands tall as a beacon of Gothic Revival design. Constructed painstakingly over a four-year period from 1917 to 1921, this awe-inspiring structure is…

In the heart of the Midwest lies a piece of transportation history frozen in time. Imagine walking through the remnants of a manufacturing facility built over a century ago, where the bustling energy of crafting trolley cars for Midwest transport once thrived. This is the story of salvaging dolostone from two unique trolley car manufacturing…

Restoring History There’s something inherently captivating about historical structures that stand as silent witnesses to bygone eras. Their architectural prowess, intricate details, and storied pasts evoke a sense of wonder and admiration. Such was the case with the 1886 Gilded Age stone castle designed by the illustrious Cincinnati architect, Samuel Hannaford. Over the course of…