Inside 113 E. 3rd St.

[sheclown]

I had the delightful pleasure to get inside this house this morning.



Billy Motes invited to take a look at this gorgeous place -- a real hidden gem.  Outside all you can see is a green house with fire damage, but wait until you see inside!

[sheclown]

The staircase is intact.  It is unusual and ornate.

[sheclown]

tiny corner trim and fancy plinth blocks indicate its age...1890s

[John P]

is this the same bill moates that chopped up all the houses, turned them into rooming houses, and packed them full of prostitutes and drug dealers? The same bill moates that ran drugs through those houses and then let them all fall apart? The same bill moates that got ran out ten years ago for all the trouble he caused? good riddance! By the way I offered to buy that house and the one next to it three years ago just to get him completely out of springfield but he wasnt interested in selling.

[sheclown]

check out the fancy transom divided light.

[sheclown]

[sheclown]

All of the door and window trim have flower carvings in them:



And the picture rail has flower patterned carved in it as well

[sheclown]

The house has sustained some fire damage: however, it seems contained to superficial charring.  The framing looks solid, there is no evidence of roof leak (miracle that is!) and the floors are solid.





In fact, the floor boards are surprisingly undamaged by termites.  They are the wider boards, probably a full three inch, as was common in the older houses.

[sheclown]

At one time, this house was a full 5000 square feet.

Plans for the future?

We, Preservation SOS, are going to help Billy Motes get a COA for mothballing this house. He plans on renovating it over the course of the next couple of years. Mothballing will protect this house from a certain death-by-bulldozer.

We are very excited about this house, and about Mr. Mote's plans to save it.

[Timkin]

She is a beauty

[sheclown]

...and by the way, did I mention there are five fireplaces?

[iloveionia]

Many people (as our SOS sign was on this property many months ago) told me this house should be torn down and why were we trying to save it? 

One should not judge a book by its cover.  This house, though needing attention on the outside is gorgeous AND old.  I personally have not see this kind of woodwork in any house currently.  I am sure someone has, but doubtful it is common. 

Our sole mission is to "save the houses." 

Save the houses.
Save the houses.
Save the houses.

I live in the present and look towards the future.  The past is only preventative when trying to move forward. 

[sheclown]

save the houses

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I personally have not see this kind of woodwork in any house currently.  I am sure someone has, but doubtful it is common. 

Just an FYI:  In the old days of millwork everything was done by hand (of course), so the 'ornate' work:  Plinth Blocks, Corner Blocks, Rosettes, etc.. were used in 'production' homes due to the limited skills of the installers and they allowed them to use straight cuts for all the moulding terminations.  The homes with the coped miters and the broken pediment heads, etc.. were truly the homes that were trimmed out by craftsmen.  The funny thing is today, we can charge more to use the blocks even though it's a much simpler install.

Another thing - anyone can flat miter a piece of trim using a compound miter saw, but only a true woodworker will still use coped miteres - you can't really tell with anything that has a field finish - paint or stain, but if you ever want a furniture grade, prefinished moulding installed in your home or business - trust me, pay for the talent - there's a huge difference.

[NotNow]

is this the same bill moates that chopped up all the houses, turned them into rooming houses, and packed them full of prostitutes and drug dealers? The same bill moates that ran drugs through those houses and then let them all fall apart? The same bill moates that got ran out ten years ago for all the trouble he caused? good riddance! By the way I offered to buy that house and the one next to it three years ago just to get him completely out of springfield but he wasnt interested in selling.

Yep.  Same POS.